Santa Cruz County · Zoning · C-4
Santa Cruz County C-4 zoning: height, setbacks and lot size
In Santa Cruz County's C-4 zone, buildings can be up to 40 ft (3 stories) tall, the front setback is 10 ft and the minimum lot size is 10,000 sq ft (Santa Cruz County code, read October 2026).
Key points
- Maximum building height: 40 ft
- Maximum number of stories: 3 stories
- Minimum front setback: 10 ft
- Minimum side setback: 0 ft
- Minimum rear setback: 0 ft
- Minimum lot size: 10,000 sq ft
- Maximum floor area ratio (FAR): 1.0
C-4 is a zoning district in Santa Cruz County. Every value below was read from the Santa Cruz County 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 C-4
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 § 13.10.333 · code textTable row “Maximum building height”, column “C-4”: 3 stories (40 feet) |
|---|---|
| Maximum number of stories | 3 stories § 13.10.333 · code textTable row “Maximum building height”, column “C-4”: 3 stories (40 feet) |
| Minimum front setback | 10 ft § 13.10.333 · code textTable row “Front yard setback (feet)”, column “C-4”: 10 |
| Minimum side setback | 0 ft § 13.10.333 · code textTable row “Side yard setback (feet)”, column “C-4”: 0 |
| Minimum rear setback | 0 ft § 13.10.333 · code textTable row “Rear yard setback (feet)”, column “C-4”: 0 |
| Minimum lot size | 10,000 sq ft § 13.10.333 · code textTable row “Minimum gross site area per parcel (square feet)”, column “C-4”: 10,000 |
| Maximum floor area ratio (FAR) | 1.0 § 13.10.333 · code textTable row “Maximum FAR 5”, column “C-4”: 1.0 |
When a different number applies
The code sets other values for particular lots, buildings or locations in C-4:
- Minimum front setback: 10 ft additional — Parcels abutting residential or non-commercial agricultural districts: at least 50 percent of third floor walls set back an additional 10 feet. § 13.10.333
- Minimum side setback: 30 ft — Abutting an RM or RF District § 13.10.333
- Minimum side setback: 30 ft — Side or rear yard abutting an R-1, A, RM or RF district. § 13.10.333
- Minimum side setback: 10 ft additional — Parcels abutting residential or non-commercial agricultural districts: at least 50 percent of third floor walls set back an additional 10 feet. § 13.10.333
- Minimum rear setback: 30 ft — Abutting an RM or RF District § 13.10.333
- Minimum rear setback: 30 ft — Abutting an R-1 or A District § 13.10.333
- Minimum rear setback: 10 ft additional — Parcels abutting residential or non-commercial agricultural districts: at least 50 percent of third floor walls set back an additional 10 feet. § 13.10.333
Not on this page
We did not find a general lot coverage, density limit for C-4 in the zoning tables we read. The code may still set one elsewhere — check the Santa Cruz County Municipal Code.
Other Santa Cruz County zoning districts
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum building height in Santa Cruz County's C-4 zone?
40 ft — Santa Cruz County Municipal Code § 13.10.333.
What is the maximum number of stories in Santa Cruz County's C-4 zone?
3 stories — Santa Cruz County Municipal Code § 13.10.333.
What is the minimum front setback in Santa Cruz County's C-4 zone?
10 ft — Santa Cruz County Municipal Code § 13.10.333.
What is the minimum side setback in Santa Cruz County's C-4 zone?
0 ft — Santa Cruz County Municipal Code § 13.10.333.
What is the minimum rear setback in Santa Cruz County's C-4 zone?
0 ft — Santa Cruz County Municipal Code § 13.10.333.
General information, not legal advice.
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