Huntington Beach · Zoning · RMH-A
Huntington Beach RMH-A zoning: height, setbacks and lot size
In Huntington Beach's RMH-A zone, generally buildings can be up to 35 ft tall, the front setback is 12 ft and the minimum lot size is 2,500 sq ft, with the conditions listed below (Huntington Beach code, read October 2026).
Key points
- Maximum building height: 35 ft (single-family dwellings over 30 ft need a conditional use permit (Zoning Administrator); lots under 50 ft frontage have the limits below)
- Minimum front setback: 12 ft
- Minimum side setback: 10% of lot width, min 3 ft, max 5 ft (interior side yard; next to an RL district at least 10 ft, or 14 ft for units above two stories)
- Minimum rear setback: 7.5 ft
- Minimum lot size: 2,500 sq ft
- Maximum lot coverage: 50%
- Maximum floor area ratio (FAR): 1.0
- Maximum density: 1 unit per 25 ft of frontage (lots 50 feet or less in width)
RMH-A (RMH-A Subdistrict) is a zoning district in Huntington Beach. Every value below was read from the Huntington Beach 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 RMH-A
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 Applies: single-family dwellings over 30 ft need a conditional use permit (Zoning Administrator); lots under 50 ft frontage have the limits below § 210.06 · code textTable row “Dwellings”, column “RMH-A Subdistrict”: 35 |
|---|---|
| Minimum front setback | 12 ft § 210.06 · code textTable row “Front (ft.)”, column “RMH-A Subdistrict”: 12 |
| Minimum side setback | 10% of lot width, min 3 ft, max 5 ft Applies: interior side yard; next to an RL district at least 10 ft, or 14 ft for units above two stories § 210.07 · code textIn the RL, RM, RMH, including RMH-A subdistrict, and RH Districts, interior side Setbacks shall be minimum 10% of lot width, but not less than three feet and need not exceed five feet, except as stated below. |
| Minimum rear setback | 7.5 ft § 210.06 · code textTable row “Rear (ft.)”, column “RMH-A Subdistrict”: 7.5 |
| Minimum lot size | 2,500 sq ft § 210.06 · code textTable row “Min. Building Site”, column “RMH-A Subdistrict”: 2,500 |
| Maximum lot coverage | 50% § 210.06 · code textTable row “Max. Lot Coverage (%)”, column “RMH-A Subdistrict”: 50 |
| Maximum floor area ratio (FAR) | 1.0 § 210.06 · code textTable row “Max. Floor Area Ratio (FAR)”, column “RMH-A Subdistrict”: 1.0 |
| Maximum density | 1 unit per 25 ft of frontage Applies: lots 50 feet or less in width § 210.06 · code textLots 50 feet or less in width = 1 unit per 25 feet of frontage |
When a different number applies
The code sets other values for particular lots, buildings or locations in RMH-A:
- Maximum building height: 25 ft — single-family dwellings on lots with less than 50 feet of frontage, in the front and rear 25 feet of the lot § 210.07
- Minimum lot size: 12,000 sq ft — general day care, general residential care, and public or private schools § 210.07
- Maximum density: 1 unit per 1,900 sq ft — lots greater than 50 feet in width § 210.06
Not on this page
We did not find a general stories limit for RMH-A in the zoning tables we read. The code may still set one elsewhere — check the Huntington Beach Municipal Code.
Other Huntington Beach zoning districts
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum building height in Huntington Beach's RMH-A zone?
35 ft (single-family dwellings over 30 ft need a conditional use permit (Zoning Administrator); lots under 50 ft frontage have the limits below) — Huntington Beach Municipal Code § 210.06.
What is the minimum front setback in Huntington Beach's RMH-A zone?
12 ft — Huntington Beach Municipal Code § 210.06.
What is the minimum side setback in Huntington Beach's RMH-A zone?
10% of lot width, min 3 ft, max 5 ft (interior side yard; next to an RL district at least 10 ft, or 14 ft for units above two stories) — Huntington Beach Municipal Code § 210.07.
What is the minimum rear setback in Huntington Beach's RMH-A zone?
7.5 ft — Huntington Beach Municipal Code § 210.06.
What is the minimum lot size in Huntington Beach's RMH-A zone?
2,500 sq ft — Huntington Beach Municipal Code § 210.06.
General information, not legal advice.
Ask about a Huntington Beach property in RMH-A
Ask GoCodebook what you can build at a specific address and get an answer that cites the section.
Ask your question