Nevada City · Zoning · R3
Nevada City R3 zoning: height, setbacks and lot size
In Nevada City's R3 zone, generally buildings can be up to 40 ft (3 stories) tall, the front setback is 10 ft and the minimum lot size is 0.5 acres, with the conditions listed below (Nevada City code, read October 2026).
Key points
- Maximum building height: 40 ft (40 ft or 3 stories, whichever is less; applies on a site-specific basis and some sites have their own height rules)
- Maximum number of stories: 3 stories (40 ft or 3 stories, whichever is less; applies on a site-specific basis and some sites have their own height rules)
- Minimum front setback: 10 ft (5 ft for a front porch or non-living area entryway structure)
- Minimum side setback: 5 ft (measured to the eave overhang; add 5 ft for each story)
- Minimum rear setback: 20 ft
- Minimum lot size: 0.5 acres (newly created lot)
- Maximum density: 16 units per acre
R3 (High Density Multiple-Family Residential Zone) is a zoning district in Nevada City. Every value below was read from the Nevada City Municipal Code and links to its section (read October 2026). State laws such as the ADU and SB 9 rules can allow more on a residential lot. General information, not legal advice — read the code text and check with the city before you build.
Development standards in R3
The general rule for a typical lot in this zone. Zoning tables often attach notes, such as rules for corner lots, lots next to a residential zone, or new subdivisions only. Open “code text” under a value to see the table cell or sentence it was read from.
| Maximum building height | 40 ft Applies: 40 ft or 3 stories, whichever is less; applies on a site-specific basis and some sites have their own height rules § 17.30.050 · code textOn a site specific basis, the maximum building height in the R3 zone is forty (40) feet or three stories whichever is less. |
|---|---|
| Maximum number of stories | 3 stories Applies: 40 ft or 3 stories, whichever is less; applies on a site-specific basis and some sites have their own height rules § 17.30.050 · code textOn a site specific basis, the maximum building height in the R3 zone is forty (40) feet or three stories whichever is less. |
| Minimum front setback | 10 ft Applies: 5 ft for a front porch or non-living area entryway structure § 17.30.060 · code textFront yards, ten (10) feet to the building façade, five (5) feet for a front porch or non-living area entryway structure; |
| Minimum side setback | 5 ft Applies: measured to the eave overhang; add 5 ft for each story § 17.30.060 · code textSide yards, five (5) feet to the eave overhang with an additional five (5) feet for each story; |
| Minimum rear setback | 20 ft § 17.30.060 · code textRear yards, twenty (20) feet. |
| Minimum lot size | 0.5 acres Applies: newly created lot § 17.30.070 · code textThe minimum lot size for a newly created lot shall be 0.5 acres or twenty-one thousand seven hundred eighty (21,780) square feet. |
| Maximum density | 16 units per acre § 17.30.070 · code textThe maximum density shall be established at sixteen (16) units per acre or one (1) unit per two thousand seven hundred twenty-two (2,722) square feet of land area. |
When a different number applies
The code sets other values for particular lots, buildings or locations in R3:
- Minimum front setback: 5 ft — front porch or non-living area entryway structure § 17.30.060
Not on this page
We did not find a general lot coverage, FAR limit for R3 in the zoning tables we read. The code may still set one elsewhere — check the Nevada City Municipal Code.
Other Nevada City zoning districts
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum building height in Nevada City's R3 zone?
40 ft (40 ft or 3 stories, whichever is less; applies on a site-specific basis and some sites have their own height rules) — Nevada City Municipal Code § 17.30.050.
What is the maximum number of stories in Nevada City's R3 zone?
3 stories (40 ft or 3 stories, whichever is less; applies on a site-specific basis and some sites have their own height rules) — Nevada City Municipal Code § 17.30.050.
What is the minimum front setback in Nevada City's R3 zone?
10 ft (5 ft for a front porch or non-living area entryway structure) — Nevada City Municipal Code § 17.30.060.
What is the minimum side setback in Nevada City's R3 zone?
5 ft (measured to the eave overhang; add 5 ft for each story) — Nevada City Municipal Code § 17.30.060.
What is the minimum rear setback in Nevada City's R3 zone?
20 ft — Nevada City Municipal Code § 17.30.060.
General information, not legal advice.
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