Los Gatos · Zoning · R-1
Los Gatos R-1 zoning: height, setbacks and lot size
In Los Gatos's R-1 zone, generally buildings can be up to 30 ft tall and the front setback is 25 ft, with the conditions listed below (Los Gatos code, read October 2026).
Key points
- Maximum building height: 30 ft (Principal building)
- Minimum front setback: 25 ft (R-1 zones with a minimum lot area of 8,000 to 15,000 sq ft)
- Minimum side setback: 8 ft (Lot area 8,000 sq ft)
- Minimum rear setback: 20 ft (Lot area 8,000, 10,000, or 12,000 sq ft)
- Maximum lot coverage: 40% (Including any type of accessory building)
R-1 (Single-Family Residential Zone) is a zoning district in Los Gatos. Every value below was read from the Los Gatos 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 R-1
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 | 30 ft Applies: Principal building § 29.40.410 · code textThe maximum height of any principal building in a R-1 or single-family residential zone is thirty (30) feet. |
|---|---|
| Minimum front setback | 25 ft Applies: R-1 zones with a minimum lot area of 8,000 to 15,000 sq ft § 29.40.405 · code textTable row “R-1: 8,000”, column “Front Yard”: 25 ft. |
| Minimum side setback | 8 ft Applies: Lot area 8,000 sq ft § 29.40.405 · code textTable row “R-1: 8,000”, column “Side Yard”: 8 ft. |
| Minimum rear setback | 20 ft Applies: Lot area 8,000, 10,000, or 12,000 sq ft § 29.40.405 · code textTable row “R-1: 8,000”, column “Rear Yard”: 20 ft. |
| Maximum lot coverage | 40% Applies: Including any type of accessory building § 29.40.415 · code textMaximum building coverage on a lot in a R-1 or single-family residential zone, including any type of accessory building, is forty (40) percent. |
When a different number applies
The code sets other values for particular lots, buildings or locations in R-1:
- Minimum front setback: 30 ft — Lot area 20,000 or 30,000 sq ft § 29.40.405
- Minimum side setback: 10 ft — Lot area 10,000 or 12,000 sq ft § 29.40.405
- Minimum side setback: 12 ft — Lot area 15,000 sq ft § 29.40.405
- Minimum side setback: 15 ft — Lot area 20,000 sq ft § 29.40.405
- Minimum rear setback: 25 ft — Lot area 15,000, 20,000, or 30,000 sq ft § 29.40.405
Not on this page
We did not find a general stories, lot size, FAR, density limit for R-1 in the zoning tables we read. The code may still set one elsewhere — check the Los Gatos Municipal Code.
Other Los Gatos zoning districts
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum building height in Los Gatos's R-1 zone?
30 ft (principal building) — Los Gatos Municipal Code § 29.40.410.
What is the minimum front setback in Los Gatos's R-1 zone?
25 ft (r-1 zones with a minimum lot area of 8,000 to 15,000 sq ft) — Los Gatos Municipal Code § 29.40.405.
What is the minimum side setback in Los Gatos's R-1 zone?
8 ft (lot area 8,000 sq ft) — Los Gatos Municipal Code § 29.40.405.
What is the minimum rear setback in Los Gatos's R-1 zone?
20 ft (lot area 8,000, 10,000, or 12,000 sq ft) — Los Gatos Municipal Code § 29.40.405.
What is the maximum lot coverage in Los Gatos's R-1 zone?
40% (including any type of accessory building) — Los Gatos Municipal Code § 29.40.415.
General information, not legal advice.
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