Santa Cruz County · Zoning · RB
Santa Cruz County RB zoning: height, setbacks and lot size
In Santa Cruz County's RB zone, buildings can be up to 25 ft (2 stories) tall, the rear setback limit is 10 ft and the lot coverage limit is 40% (Santa Cruz County code, read October 2026).
Key points
- Maximum building height: 25 ft
- Maximum number of stories: 2 stories
- Minimum rear setback: 10 ft
- Maximum lot coverage: 40%
- Maximum floor area ratio (FAR): 0.5
- Maximum density: 1 unit per 4,000 sq ft
RB (Ocean Beach Residential) is a zoning district in Santa Cruz County. Every value below was read from the Santa Cruz County 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 RB
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 | 25 ft § 13.10.323 · code textTable row “Maximum building height”, column “Special standards in RB”: 25 (17 for beach lots) |
|---|---|
| Maximum number of stories | 2 stories § 13.10.323 · code textTable row “Maximum number of stories”, column “Special standards in RB”: 2 (1 for beach lots) |
| Minimum rear setback | 10 ft § 13.10.323 · code textTable row “Rear yard setback (feet)”, column “Special standards in RB”: 10 (0 for beach lots) |
| Maximum lot coverage | 40% § 13.10.323 · code textTable row “Maximum parcel coverage ("lot coverage")”, column “Special standards in RB”: 40% |
| Maximum floor area ratio (FAR) | 0.5 § 13.10.323 · code textTable row “Maximum floor area ratio (FAR) 3”, column “Special standards in RB”: 0.5 |
| Maximum density | 1 unit per 4,000 sq ft § 13.10.323 · code textMinimum land area per dwelling unit is 4,000 square feet. |
When a different number applies
The code sets other values for particular lots, buildings or locations in RB:
- Maximum building height: 17 ft — beach lots § 13.10.323
- Maximum number of stories: 1 story — beach lots § 13.10.323
- Minimum front setback: 0 ft — where the site abuts an existing street, road, or easement for road purposes recorded in the County Recorder's Office before March 25, 1969, and where the front 30 feet of the site exceeds a slope of 25% § 13.10.323
- Minimum rear setback: 0 ft — beach lots § 13.10.323
Not on this page
We did not find a general front setback, side setback, lot size limit for RB in the zoning tables we read. The code may still set one elsewhere — check the Santa Cruz County Municipal Code.
Other Santa Cruz County zoning districts
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum building height in Santa Cruz County's RB zone?
25 ft — Santa Cruz County Municipal Code § 13.10.323.
What is the maximum number of stories in Santa Cruz County's RB zone?
2 stories — Santa Cruz County Municipal Code § 13.10.323.
What is the minimum rear setback in Santa Cruz County's RB zone?
10 ft — Santa Cruz County Municipal Code § 13.10.323.
What is the maximum lot coverage in Santa Cruz County's RB zone?
40% — Santa Cruz County Municipal Code § 13.10.323.
What is the maximum floor area ratio (far) in Santa Cruz County's RB zone?
0.5 — Santa Cruz County Municipal Code § 13.10.323.
General information, not legal advice.
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