Merced County · Land use · Single-family home
Where is a single-family home allowed in Merced County?
In Merced County, a single-family home is allowed in 10 base zones (A-1, A-1-40, A-2, R-R, R-1 and 5 more) and needs an administrative permit in 6 (CP, C-1, C-2, C-3, H-I-C and 1 more) (Merced County use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Allowed: A-1, A-1-40, A-2, R-R, R-1, R-1-5000, R-2, R-3 and 2 more
- Needs a permit: CP, C-1, C-2, C-3, H-I-C and MU
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Merced County Municipal Code use tables (read October 2026). Base zones only. General information, not legal advice — check with the city before you apply.
Zones where a single-family home can go
Merced County's code calls this use “Single-Family Dwelling(s)”. Each row links to the use table it comes from. A zone marked “see note” has a condition in the code, for example upper floors only or a larger lot.
| Zone | Status | Code |
|---|---|---|
| A-1 | Allowed | § 18.10.020 |
| A-1-40 | Allowed | § 18.10.020 |
| A-2 | Allowed | § 18.10.020 |
| R-R | Allowed | § 18.12.020 |
| R-1 | Allowed | § 18.12.020 |
| R-1-5000 | Allowed | § 18.12.020 |
| R-2 | Allowed | § 18.12.020 |
| R-3 | Allowed | § 18.12.020 |
| R-4 | Allowed | § 18.12.020 |
| M-H | Allowed | § 18.12.020 |
| CP | Needs an administrative permit | § 18.14.020 |
| C-1 | Needs an administrative permit | § 18.14.020 |
| C-2 | Needs an administrative permit | § 18.14.020 |
| C-3 | Needs an administrative permit | § 18.14.020 |
| H-I-C | Needs an administrative permit | § 18.14.020 |
| MU | Needs an administrative permit | § 18.14.020 |
What else applies
- Standards for this use: § 18.12.040A, § 18.12.040B (residential); § 18.10.040N (agricultural); § 18.14.040A (commercial). Section texts not in the packet..
- State law: State law lets most single-family lots add an ADU and a JADU (California ADU law) and a second home or a lot split under SB 9 (Gov. Code § 65852.21).
- Not covered here: Castle Commerce Center and Airport SPZ (S5) and Fox Hills Community Specific Plan (S6) zones: separate specific-plan tables, not used; Article 8 definitions (Places of Assembly, Farm Animal Keeping/Raising) are not in the packet; Chapters 18.60, 18.12.040, 18.10.040 use standards are not in the packet. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Merced County
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a single-family home in the CP zone in Merced County?
Only with an administrative permit. Merced County's use table lists it that way in CP (§ 18.14.020).
Can I have a single-family home in the A-1 zone in Merced County?
Yes. Merced County's use table lists it as allowed in A-1 (§ 18.10.020).
General information, not legal advice.
Ask about a single-family home at an address in Merced County
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