Nevada City EC zoning: height, setbacks and lot size

EC (Employment Center Zone) is a zoning district in Nevada City. Every value below was read from the Nevada City 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 EC

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 § 17.44.050 · code text In the EC zone, the height regulation is thirty-five (35) feet.
Minimum front setback	25 ft Applies: the R1 zone front yard applies where the frontage between two intersecting streets is partly in this zone and partly in an R1 zone § 17.44.060 · code text Front yards, twenty-five feet, except that where the frontage between two intersecting streets is located partly in this zone and partly in an R1 zone, the front yard requirement of the R1 zone shall apply to this zone;
Minimum side setback	9 ft § 17.44.060 · code text Interior, nine feet, except for unattached accessory uses, unless there is a party wall, in which case it shall be five feet;
Minimum rear setback	10 ft § 17.44.060 · code text Rear yards, 10 feet, except for unattached accessory uses, unless there is a party wall, in which case it shall be five feet;
Maximum lot coverage	75% Applies: 50 percent when the lot abuts a residentially zoned area § 17.44.060 · code text Lot coverage shall not exceed seventy-five percent of the total lot area, except when the lot abuts a residentially zoned area, in which case the lot coverage shall not exceed fifty percent.

When a different number applies

The code sets other values for particular lots, buildings or locations in EC:

Minimum side setback: 5 ft — where there is a party wall; the code also makes an exception for unattached accessory uses § 17.44.060
Minimum side setback: 10 ft — Street side of corner lot § 17.44.060
Minimum rear setback: 5 ft — where there is a party wall; the code also makes an exception for unattached accessory uses § 17.44.060
Maximum lot coverage: 50% — When the lot abuts a residentially zoned area § 17.44.060

Not on this page

We did not find a general stories, lot size, FAR, density limit for EC in the zoning tables we read. The code may still set one elsewhere — check the Nevada City Municipal Code.

Other Nevada City zoning districts

Who this affects

HomeownersArchitects and designersDevelopersReal estate agents

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum building height in Nevada City's EC zone?

35 ft — Nevada City Municipal Code § 17.44.050.

What is the minimum front setback in Nevada City's EC zone?

25 ft (the R1 zone front yard applies where the frontage between two intersecting streets is partly in this zone and partly in an R1 zone) — Nevada City Municipal Code § 17.44.060.

What is the minimum side setback in Nevada City's EC zone?

9 ft — Nevada City Municipal Code § 17.44.060.

What is the minimum rear setback in Nevada City's EC zone?

10 ft — Nevada City Municipal Code § 17.44.060.

What is the maximum lot coverage in Nevada City's EC zone?

75% (50 percent when the lot abuts a residentially zoned area) — Nevada City Municipal Code § 17.44.060.

General information, not legal advice.