Building on a hillside in Murrieta: the local rules

Each rule below links to the section of the Murrieta Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Murrieta's code says

Murrieta code What Murrieta's code adds
Soils or geology report	A geotechnical and soils report by a registered geotechnical engineer, detailed enough to support the design, is required. Applies: Development applications in the hillside overlay zoning district. § 16.24.040 · code text A geotechnical and soils report, prepared by a registered geotechnical engineer to city standards and in sufficient detail to substantiate and support the design concepts presented in the application as submitted.
Height on hillside lots	At most 30 feet. Applies: Downhill lot; measured from finished grade at the front setback line toward the rear. § 16.24.060 · code text The maximum structure height shall be thirty (30) feet, measured from finished grade at the front setback line extending towards the rear of the lot. At most 15 feet at the side setbacks. Applies: Downhill lot; height then rises toward the lot center at a 45-degree angle to at most 30 feet. § 16.24.060 · code text The maximum height at the side setbacks shall be fifteen (15) feet extending up toward the center of the lot at a forty-five (45) degree angle to a maximum height of thirty (30) feet as measured from finished grade. At most 30 feet. Applies: Uphill lot: 15 feet at the front and side setbacks, rising at a 45-degree angle to at most 30 feet. § 16.24.060 · code text The maximum height at the side setbacks shall be fifteen (15) feet extending up towards the center of the lot at a forty-five- (45-) degree angle to a maximum height of thirty (30) feet as measured from finished grade. At most 30 feet. Applies: Cross-slope lot; measured from finished grade at the maximum front setback line toward the rear. § 16.24.060 · code text The maximum structure height shall be thirty (30) feet, measured from finished grade at the maximum front setback line extending towards the rear of the lot. At most 15 feet at the side setbacks. Applies: Cross-slope lot; height then rises toward the lot center at a 45-degree angle to at most 30 feet. § 16.24.060 · code text The maximum height at the side setbacks shall be fifteen (15) feet extending up towards the center of the lot at a forty-five-(45-) degree angle to a maximum of thirty (30) feet as measured from finished grade.
When hillside rules apply	Slopes of 20% or more. Applies: The rules also cover areas on the significant features map; hillside development needs a development plan permit. § 16.24.020 · code text The standards contained in this chapter apply to uses and structures within areas that have a slope of twenty (20) percent or greater and/or are designated on the significant features map on file with the department. Natural slopes over 25%. Applies: The hillside standards apply to land where such slopes predominate. § 16.24.020 · code text The development standards, guidelines and provisions of this chapter shall be applied to those portions of land with a predominance of significant natural slopes exceeding twenty-five (25) percent and areas that are integrally contiguous or slopes determined as significant by the director. 25% up to 50% natural slope is a hillside condition; build only on less visible slopes, with special hillside design. § 16.24.060 · code text 25% up to 50% \| This is a hillside condition. Natural slopes of 50% and over: development is prohibited. § 16.24.060 · code text 50% and over \| This is an excessive slope condition and development is prohibited.

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What extra rules apply to a hillside lot in Murrieta?

Murrieta's code: Slopes of 20% or more. (The rules also cover areas on the significant features map; hillside development needs a development plan permit.) (§ 16.24.020); A geotechnical and soils report by a registered geotechnical engineer, detailed enough to support the design, is required. (Development applications in the hillside overlay zoning district.) (§ 16.24.040).

Building on a hillside in Murrieta

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