Stanislaus County R-3 zoning: height, setbacks and lot size

R-3 (Multi-Family Residential District) is a zoning district in Stanislaus County. Every value below was read from the Stanislaus 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 R-3

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	45 ft Applies: main buildings § 21.36.040 · code text A. Maximum of forty-five feet for main buildings;
Minimum front setback	70 ft from existing street centerline and 15 ft from planned street line, whichever is greater Applies: Major street or expressway § 21.36.070 · code text 1. Not less than seventy feet from the existing centerline of the street nor less than fifteen feet from the planned street line on a major street or expressway, whichever is the greater.
Minimum side setback	5 ft Applies: Interior lot line § 21.36.070 · code text B. Side Yard, Interior Lot Line and Rear Yard. Five feet;
Minimum rear setback	5 ft § 21.36.070 · code text B. Side Yard, Interior Lot Line and Rear Yard. Five feet;
Minimum lot size	4,000 sq ft Applies: Sites serviced by public sewer and water facilities § 21.36.050 · code text A. Sites serviced by public sewer and water facilities, four thousand square feet;
Maximum lot coverage	70% § 21.36.060 · code text Percentage of lot coverage, for aggregate buildings, maximum seventy percent.

When a different number applies

The code sets other values for particular lots, buildings or locations in R-3:

Minimum front setback: 45 ft from existing street centerline and 15 ft from planned street line — Collector street (sixty feet wide), where a specific plan has been adopted § 21.36.070
Minimum front setback: 40 ft from existing street centerline and 15 ft from planned street line — Minor street (fifty feet wide), where a specific plan has been adopted § 21.36.070
Minimum side setback: 5 ft closer to planned right-of-way line than the front yard — Corner lot; main building and garage or accessory buildings without direct vehicular access to the street § 21.36.070
Minimum lot size: 20,000 sq ft — Sites serviced by public water and septic tank facilities or private well and public sewer facilities § 21.36.050
Minimum lot size: 1 acre — Sites serviced by private well and septic tank facilities § 21.36.050

Not on this page

We did not find a general stories, FAR, density limit for R-3 in the zoning tables we read. The code may still set one elsewhere — check the Stanislaus County Municipal Code.

Other Stanislaus County zoning districts

Who this affects

HomeownersArchitects and designersDevelopersReal estate agents

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum building height in Stanislaus County's R-3 zone?

45 ft (main buildings) — Stanislaus County Municipal Code § 21.36.040.

What is the minimum front setback in Stanislaus County's R-3 zone?

70 ft from existing street centerline and 15 ft from planned street line, whichever is greater (major street or expressway) — Stanislaus County Municipal Code § 21.36.070.

What is the minimum side setback in Stanislaus County's R-3 zone?

5 ft (interior lot line) — Stanislaus County Municipal Code § 21.36.070.

What is the minimum rear setback in Stanislaus County's R-3 zone?

5 ft — Stanislaus County Municipal Code § 21.36.070.

What is the minimum lot size in Stanislaus County's R-3 zone?

4,000 sq ft (sites serviced by public sewer and water facilities) — Stanislaus County Municipal Code § 21.36.050.

General information, not legal advice.