Cerritos RS-6500 zoning: height, setbacks and lot size

RS-6500 is a zoning district in Cerritos. Every value below was read from the Cerritos 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 RS-6500

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	35 ft § 22.22.700 · code text The building height shall be no greater than thirty-five feet;
Minimum front setback	20 ft § 22.22.700 · code text There shall be a minimum front yard setback of twenty feet.
Minimum side setback	5 ft Applies: Side yard between two residences. § 22.22.700 · code text For a side yard abutting a street, there shall be a minimum ten-foot setback for the first floor and a fifteen-foot setback for the second floor from the property line, except that an encroachment, such as a bay window or similar architectural feature deemed compatible in size and design with the residence by the director of community development, may be allowed if the encroachment is not more than twenty-four inches into the setback distance;
Minimum rear setback	10 ft Applies: when the rear line abuts a street, the second story must be set back 20 ft § 22.22.700 · code text The rear yard setback of each lot shall be no less than ten feet; except, when the rear property line abuts a street, the setback of the second story shall be a minimum of twenty feet from the rear property line;
Minimum lot size	6,000 sq ft Applies: No more than 20% of lots in a subdivision may be under 6,500 sq ft. § 22.22.700 · code text RS-6500: Six thousand square feet; provided, that no more than twenty percent of the lots in a subdivision shall be less than six thousand five hundred square feet;
Maximum floor area ratio (FAR)	0.70 § 22.22.600 · code text The floor area ratio (FAR) for both RS-5000 and RS-6500 lots shall not exceed 0.70;

When a different number applies

The code sets other values for particular lots, buildings or locations in RS-6500:

Minimum front setback: 18 to 25 ft — Lot in a subdivision; permitted range of setbacks, with an average of at least 20 ft § 22.22.700
Minimum front setback: 15 ft — Lots with a turn-in garage, or on a cul-de-sac turnaround (50% of frontage) or a curvilinear street under 100 ft radius. § 22.22.700
Minimum side setback: 15 ft — Side yard abutting a street, second floor; the first floor needs 10 ft. § 22.22.700
Minimum rear setback: 20 ft — second story when rear property line abuts a street § 22.22.700
Minimum lot size: 6,500 sq ft — average lot area of all lots in a subdivision § 22.22.700

Not on this page

We did not find a general stories, lot coverage, density limit for RS-6500 in the zoning tables we read. The code may still set one elsewhere — check the Cerritos Municipal Code.

Other Cerritos zoning districts

Who this affects

HomeownersArchitects and designersDevelopersReal estate agents

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum building height in Cerritos's RS-6500 zone?

35 ft — Cerritos Municipal Code § 22.22.700.

What is the minimum front setback in Cerritos's RS-6500 zone?

20 ft — Cerritos Municipal Code § 22.22.700.

What is the minimum side setback in Cerritos's RS-6500 zone?

5 ft (side yard between two residences) — Cerritos Municipal Code § 22.22.700.

What is the minimum rear setback in Cerritos's RS-6500 zone?

10 ft (when the rear line abuts a street, the second story must be set back 20 ft) — Cerritos Municipal Code § 22.22.700.

What is the minimum lot size in Cerritos's RS-6500 zone?

6,000 sq ft (no more than 20% of lots in a subdivision may be under 6,500 sq ft) — Cerritos Municipal Code § 22.22.700.

General information, not legal advice.