§131.0449 Garage Regulations in Residential Zones — San Diego Zoning Code

(a) Garages within an existing embankment in the RS and RX Zones, and in small lot subdivisions in accordance with Section 143.0365.

Attached or detached garages, not exceeding 12 feet in height, including parapets and handrails, may encroach into the front and street side yards , as shown in Diagram 131-04N, subject to the following conditions:

(1) The building is used only for required parking and incidental storage related to residential use;

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San Diego Municipal Code

Chapter 13: Zones

(3-2026)

(2) The building is located entirely within a pre-existing embankment at least 6 feet high, which shall be maintained. The embankment must have an average height of at least 6 feet within the area where the building is proposed.
(3) The building facade is set back a minimum of 6 feet from the property line ;
(4) The building elevation facing the street is no more than 24 feet wide;
(5) No garage door opens so that it projects into the public right-of-way at any time;
(6) In the RS zones the building does not exceed 525 square feet in gross floor area ;
(7) In the RX zone the building does not exceed 400 square feet in gross floor area ; and
(8) If the building is constructed in conjunction with a retaining wall that will be located within the required front yard , the retaining wall must be flared outward from the corners of the building at a minimum 45-degree angle to provide a visibility area .

Diagram 131-04N Garage Within Existing

Embankment

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CL
Front
Retaining wall property line
Slope
45 min angle0 Grade
24' max Garage
Garage
12' max Slope
Retaining wall Slope R etaining Wall
6' 6'
min min
Plan View Section View
----- End of picture text -----

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Chapter 13: Zones

(3-2026)

(b) Garages in RT Zones
- (1) Two off-street parking spaces are required, except for residential or commercial development in a transit priority area where any portion of the premises is located within a transit priority area. Off-street parking spaces provided in a transit priority area are exempt from the unbundled parking requirement in Section 142.0528(b)(1). An enclosed and detached one-car garage is required except as otherwise provided in this section. The second off-street parking may be provided in an enclosed and detached garage or an unenclosed space located consistent with the garage location requirements in Section 131.0449(b)(5).
- (2) A two-car garage may provide parking in tandem spaces.
- (3) Access to required parking shall be from an alley abutting the premises In lieu of public alleys in new subdivisions , private easements may be used to provide access for abutting residents and authorized service vehicles only.
(4) The garage shall provide at least one 9-foot by 20-foot off-street parking space perpendicular to, and directly accessible from, the abutting alley .
- (5) The garage shall be located within the rear 30 feet of the lot , except to the extent that it is necessary to accommodate a 21-foot distance between the edge of the garage and the edge of the alley opposite the lot .
- (6) The detached garage shall not exceed 12 feet in height.
- (7) The garage may have a roof deck with open or solid safety fencing not to exceed 42 inches in height.
- (8) The garage shall abut one interior property line .
- (9) The garage may be attached to the dwelling unit , subject to the following conditions:
  - (A) A court yard with minimum dimensions of 10 feet by 10 feet must be provided within the rear 50 percent of the lot , as shown in Diagram 131-04O, or within the dwelling unit . The court yard shall extend the full height of the structure and must be at least 75 percent open to sunlight;

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San Diego Municipal Code

Chapter 13: Zones

(3-2026)

Diagram 131-04O

Courtyard Requirement with Attached Garage

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3' rear
setback
CL
Building
Garage
Court
yard
10' min
Building
ALLEY
10' min
----- End of picture text -----

(B) The vehicle entry facade of the garage may not be more than 24 feet from the rear property line ; and
(C) The garage is subject to the same height limits as the dwelling unit.
(10) Habitable space may be located above an attached garage.

(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000; amended 6-19-2000 by O-18814 N.S.)

(Amended 11-13-2008 by O-19801 N.S.; effective 12-13-2008.) (Amended 5-5-2015 by O-20483 N.S.; effective 6-4-2015) (Amended 7-10-2015 by O-20512 N.S.; effective 8-9-2015.) (Amended 1-8-2020 by O-21164 N.S.; effective 2-9-2020.) (Amended 1-16-2024 by O-21758 N.S.; effective 3-16-2024.) (Amended 7-22-2024 by O-21836 N.S.; effective 10-5-2024.)

[Editors Note: Amendments as adopted by O-21836 N.S. will not apply within the Coastal Overlay Zone until the California Coastal Commission certifies it as a Local Coastal Program Amendment.

Click the link to view the Strikeout Ordinance highlighting changes to prior language http://docs.sandiego.gov/municode_strikeout_ord/O-21836-SO.pdf ]

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San Diego Municipal Code (3-2026)

Chapter 13: Zones