Scotts Valley R-H zoning: height, setbacks and lot size

R-H (R-H High-Density Residential) is a zoning district in Scotts Valley. Every value below was read from the Scotts Valley 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-H

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 § 17.10.040 · code text No structure in the R-H zoning district shall exceed thirty-five feet in height unless otherwise provided in Section 17.46.050 of this title.
Minimum front setback	20 ft § 17.10.040 · code text The minimum front yard shall be twenty feet.
Minimum side setback	10% of site width, min 5 ft, max 10 ft Applies: Permitted uses; a side yard of more than 10 feet is not required. § 17.10.040 · code text The minimum side yard for a permitted use shall be ten percent of the width of the site; provided, that a side yard of more than ten feet shall not be required and a side yard of less than five feet shall not be permitted, subject to the following exceptions:
Minimum rear setback	20% of lot depth, min 15 ft, max 25 ft § 17.10.040 · code text The rear yard shall be twenty percent of the depth of the lot, provided that a rear yard of more than twenty-five feet shall not be required and a rear yard of less than fifteen feet shall not be permitted, subject to the following exceptions:
Minimum lot size	6,000 sq. ft. § 17.10.040 · code text Table row “R-H”, column “Minimum Lot Area”: 6,000 sq. ft.
Maximum lot coverage	55% § 17.10.040 · code text The maximum site coverage in the R-H zoning district shall be fifty-five percent.
Maximum density	1 unit per 3,000 sq ft Applies: An extra unit is allowed when the leftover lot area is more than 90% of the area needed for one unit § 17.10.040 · code text Table row “R-H”, column “Maximum Lot Density*”: 3,000 sq. ft./dwelling unit

When a different number applies

The code sets other values for particular lots, buildings or locations in R-H:

Minimum side setback: 20% of site width, min 8 ft, max 20 ft — Street side of a corner lot; a side yard of more than 20 feet is not required. § 17.10.040
Minimum side setback: 12 ft — Side yard providing access to more than one dwelling. § 17.10.040
Minimum side setback: 10% of average site width, min 10 ft, max 20 ft — Conditional use. § 17.10.040
Minimum side setback: 20% of site width, min 15 ft, max 40 ft — Street side of a corner lot with a conditional use. § 17.10.040
Minimum rear setback: 15 ft — May be reduced to 15 feet if one side yard is at least 25 feet. § 17.10.040

Not on this page

We did not find a general stories, FAR limit for R-H in the zoning tables we read. The code may still set one elsewhere — check the Scotts Valley Municipal Code.

Other Scotts Valley zoning districts

Who this affects

HomeownersArchitects and designersDevelopersReal estate agents

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum building height in Scotts Valley's R-H zone?

35 ft — Scotts Valley Municipal Code § 17.10.040.

What is the minimum front setback in Scotts Valley's R-H zone?

20 ft — Scotts Valley Municipal Code § 17.10.040.

What is the minimum side setback in Scotts Valley's R-H zone?

10% of site width, min 5 ft, max 10 ft (permitted uses; a side yard of more than 10 feet is not required) — Scotts Valley Municipal Code § 17.10.040.

What is the minimum rear setback in Scotts Valley's R-H zone?

20% of lot depth, min 15 ft, max 25 ft — Scotts Valley Municipal Code § 17.10.040.

What is the minimum lot size in Scotts Valley's R-H zone?

6,000 sq. ft. — Scotts Valley Municipal Code § 17.10.040.

General information, not legal advice.