Setback Requirements in Residential Zones
San Diego Municipal Code § 131.0443
in effect§131.0443 Setback Requirements in Residential Zones
(a) Setbacks in RS Zones
(1) Front Setbacks in RS Zones
For that portion of a lot that fronts a cul-de-sac, the minimum front setback may be reduced 5 feet below the requirement specified in Table 131-04D; however, in no case shall the setback be less than 5 feet.
(2) Rear Setback in the RS-1-1, RS-1-2, RS-1-3, RS-1-4, RS-1-5, RS-1-6, RS-1-7 Zones
(A) The required rear setback is at least the dimension shown in Table 141-04D, except as follows:
(i) For lots less than 100 feet in depth, the rear setback is at least 10 percent of the lot depth, but not less than 5 feet; and
(ii) For lots greater than 150 feet in depth, the rear setback is at least 10 percent of the lot depth or the dimension shown in Table 131-04D, whichever is greater.
(B) Where a rear yard abuts an alley, one-half of the alley width, but not more than 10 feet, may be counted toward the required rear setback. In no case shall a rear setback using this provision be less than 5 feet on the premises. See Diagram 131-04B.
Diagram 131-04B Rear Yard Abutting Alley
ALLEY CL Rear setback One-half of alley width (10' max)
5' min on the premises Rear yard
(C) Where access for parking is taken from the alley and the parking spaces are not parallel to the alley, a minimum distance of 21 feet shall be provided between the edge of the alley public right-of-way opposite the lot and the outside edge of the parking garage or parking stall closest to the alley. See Diagram 131-04C.
Diagram 131-04C Parking Adjacent to Alley
ALLEY CL 21' m in
5' m in Rear y ard
Garage
ALLEY C L 21' m in 5' m in Rear y ard
Park ing s pac e
(3) Rear Setback in the RS-1-8, RS-1-9, RS-1-10, RS-1-11, RS-1-12, RS-1-13, and RS-1-14 Zones
For lots that are served by alley access, the rear setback may be reduced to 4 feet.
(4) Side and Street Side Setbacks in RS Zones
(A) For lots where the lot width is less than the minimum required lot width of the applicable zone as shown in Table 131-04D, each side setback shall be 8 percent of the lot width.
(B) Side setback relocation for lots greater than 50 feet in width.
(i) The required side setbacks may be reallocated where the combined dimensions of each side setback would meet or exceed the combined total indicated in Table 131-04D. Once a side setback is reallocated and established at a dimension less than the total indicated in Table 131-04D, all additions to the primary structure shall maintain the established side setback.
(ii) A reallocated side setback shall not be reduced to less than 4 feet.
(iii) A reallocated street side setback shall not be reduced to less than 10 feet.
(b) Setbacks in RX Zones
(1) Front Setback in RX Zones
RX zone developments exceeding a total of four dwelling units are required to provide variable from setbacks as follows:
(A) Front setbacks of 15 feet are required for at least 25 percent of the total dwelling units, 10-foot front setbacks are required for at least 25 percent of the total dwelling units, and 20-foot front setbacks are required for at least 25 percent of the total dwelling units;
(B) No more than 40 percent of the total number of dwelling units are permitted to have front setbacks in any one category (i.e., 10 feet, 15 feet, or 20 feet) described in 131.0443(b)(1)(A); and
(C) Variable front setbacks described in this section shall be established by easement at the time of tentative map approval. The easements shall be established at the time of zone application if lots are existing and no map is proposed. If a Planned Development Permit is processed, the variable setbacks may be established with the permit in lieu of creating easements.
(2) Side and Street Side Setbacks in RX Zones
(A) For detached dwellings, the following shall apply:
(i) Minimum side and street side setbacks are at least 3 feet or 10 percent of the lot width, whichever is greater, but is not required to be more than 5 feet;
(ii) No side setback is required for one side only provided the side with no setback is adjacent to other property within an RX zone; and
(iii) A separation of at least 10 feet between buildings must be observed on at least one side of each building.
(B) For attached dwellings, the following shall apply:
(i) No side setback shall be observed on one side, excluding street side yard;
(ii) The opposite side setback is 6 feet or 20 percent of the lot width, whichever is greater, but is not required to be more than 10 feet. This side setback may be 4 feet if a vertical offset in the structure’s side wall is provided so that a yard area within the building envelope is provided that is equal to or exceeds the area projecting into the required yard. See Diagram 131-04D.
Diagram 131-04D Side Yard Offset in the RX Zones
Limits of building envelope
Rear yards 8' Standard side setback 4' Side setback 8' side setback Building Building Projection into standard yard
Yard area provided within building envelope Zero side setback
Front yards
40' 40'
CL STREET
(iii) Each separate dwelling unit shall have its own side yard wall construction that may abut another dwelling unit at the common property line. Common wall construction between two dwelling units is not permitted.
(3) Rear Setback in RX Zones
Rear setbacks shall be at least 10 feet or, if alley access exists, at least 4 feet.
(c) Setbacks in RT Zones
(1) Front Setback in RT Zones
(A) The minimum front setback is 10 percent of the depth of the lot, and in no case shall be less than 5 feet or more than 15 feet. At least some portion of the building facade shall be located within 1 foot of the setback line.
(B) 50 percent of the front building facade may encroach into the required front yard in accordance with Section 131.0461(b) provided that all supplemental requirements are met as set forth in Section 131.0464(c).
(2) Side Setbacks in RT Zones
(A) Side yards are not permitted except for lightwells and court yards, as shown in Diagram 131-04E, which shall be a minimum of 6 feet by 10 feet.
Diagram 131-04E Lightwells and Courtyards in the RT Zones
Zero s ide s etbac k Building
6' min
10' min Lightw ell /C ourty ard Zero s ide s etbac k
CL STR EET
(B) Each separate dwelling unit shall have its own side yard wall construction that may abut another dwelling unit at the common property line. Common wall construction between two dwelling units is not permitted.
(C) A minimum side setback of 3 feet is required adjacent to any lot that is not within an RT zone.
(D) Windows or doors adjacent to side setbacks are only permitted when the distance between the window or door and the property line is a minimum of 5 feet or when the side setback is a street side yard.
(d) Setbacks in RM-1-1, RM-1-2, RM-1-3 Zones
(1) Front Setback in RM-1-1, RM-1-2, RM-1-3 Zones
(A) Up to 50 percent of the width of the building envelope may observe the minimum 15-foot front setback, provided the remaining percentage of the building envelope width observes the standard 20-foot setback. This may occur on a floor-by-floor basis. See Diagram 131-04F.
Diagram 131-04F
Standard/Minimum Front Setback
C L 20' Standard front setback
STREET Front yard Width of Building envelope building On a floor by floor basis, a max of envelope 50% of the width of the building envelope may observe the min front setback
15" Min front setback
Building
Max 50% of building envelope width Building envelope width min setback standard setback STREET
CL
(B) For any portion of a lot that fronts on a curving street with a centerline radius of less than 100 feet, the standard setback is 10 feet, and the minimum setback is 5 feet.
(2) Side Setbacks in RM-1-1, RM-1-2, RM-1-3 Zones
(A) Up to 50 percent of the length of the building envelope on one side of the premises may observe the minimum 5-foot side setback, provided the remaining percentage of the building envelope length observes at least the standard side setback of 8 feet or 10 percent of the lot width, whichever is greater.
One hundred percent of the length of the building envelope on the opposite side may observe the minimum side setback of 5 feet. See Diagram 131-04G.
Diagram 131-04G Standard/Minimum Side Setback
Rear setback
8' or 10% of lot width 5' min side (standard side setback) setback
5' Min side setback
Length of building envelope Building
Min side setback for no more than 50% of length of building envelope
Standard front setback Front yard
CL STREET
(B) Exception: The minimum and standard side setbacks are at least 4 feet for a premises that is less than 50 feet but more than 25 feet wide. The minimum and standard side setbacks are at least 3 feet for a premises that is 25 feet wide or less.
(C) Where there is an existing development on the premises with the side setback less than the current requirement and the building is to be maintained, new development may observe the existing side setback for 50 percent of the length of the building envelope on a floor-by-floor basis.
(3) Street Side Setback in RM-1-1, RM-1-2, RM-1-3 Zones
The minimum street side setback is at least 10 feet or 10 percent of the premises width, whichever is greater.
(4) Rear Setback in RM-1-1, RM-1-2, RM-1-3 Zones
Where a rear yard abuts an alley, one-half of the alley width, but not more than 10 feet, may be counted toward the required rear yard. In no case shall a rear setback using this provision be less than 5 feet.
(e) Setbacks in RM-2-4, RM-2-5, RM-2-6 Zones
(1) Front Setback in RM-2-4, RM-2-5, RM-2-6 Zones
(A) Up to 50 percent of the width of the building envelope may observe the minimum 15-foot front setback, provided the remaining percentage of the building envelope width observes the standard 20-foot setback. This may occur on a floor-by-floor basis.
(B) For any portion of a lot that fronts on a curving street with a centerline radius of less than 100 feet, the standard front setback is 10 feet and the minimum setback is 5 feet.
(2) Side Setbacks in RM-2-4, RM-2-5, RM-2-6 Zones
(A) The minimum side setback is 5 feet or 10 percent of the premises width, whichever is greater.
(B) Exception: The minimum side setback is 4 feet for a premises that is 40 to 50 feet in width.
(C) For lots with less than 40 feet in width, each side setback may be reduced to 10 percent of the lot width but shall not be reduced to less than 3 feet.
(3) Street Side Setback in RM-2-4, RM-2-5, RM-2-6 Zones
(A) The minimum street side setback is 10 feet or 10 percent of the premises width, whichever is greater.
(B) Street Side Yard Encroachment Option. Up to 50 percent of the building facade may encroach up to 5 feet into the required street side yard. The encroachment may occur on a floor-by-floor basis. See Diagram 131-04H.
Diagram 131-04H Street Side Yard Encroachment Option
CL
Setback lines
Front Building yard STREET
5' Maximum Street side setback: encrochment Street side yard 10' or 10% of lot width
Max 50% of length of building facade
Length of building facade
CL STREET
(4) Rear Setback in RM-2-4, RM-2-5, RM-2-6 Zones
Where a rear yard abuts an alley, one-half of the alley width, but not more than 10 feet, may be counted toward the required rear yard. In no case shall a rear setback using this provision be less than 5 feet.
(f) Setbacks in RM-3-7, RM-3-8, RM-3-9 Zones
(1) Front Setback in RM-3-7, RM-3-8, RM-3-9 Zones
(A) Up to 50 percent of the width of the building envelope may observe the minimum 10-foot front setback, provided the remaining percentage of the building envelope width observes the standard 20-foot setback. This may occur on a floor-by-floor basis.
(B) For any portion of a lot that fronts on a curving street with a centerline radius of less than 100 feet, the standard front setback is 10 feet and the minimum setback is 5 feet.
(2) Side Setbacks in RM-3-7, RM-3-8, RM-3-9 Zones
(A) The minimum side setback is 5 feet or 10 percent of the premises width, whichever is greater.
(B) Up to 50 percent of the length of the building adjacent to the side yard may be placed anywhere between the side setback and the property line, provided that no encroaching element shall exceed 30 feet in length, that encroaching elements are separated by at least 6 feet, and that each dwelling unit has access to either the front or rear of the lot. See Diagram 131-04I.
Diagram 131-04I Zero Side Setback Option
CL
Rear Front Building yard yard STREET Side yard 5' Side setback
'A' 6' 'B' 30' max min 30' max
Length of building at side yard
NOTE: The total length of 'A' plus 'B' shall not exceed 50% of the length of the building at side yard.
(3) Street Side Setback in RM-3-7, RM-3-8, RM-3-9 Zones
(A) The minimum street side setback is 10 feet or 10 percent of the premises width, whichever is greater.
(B) Up to 50 percent of the building facade may encroach up to 5 feet into the required street side yard.
(g) Setbacks in RM-4-10, RM-4-11 Zones
(1) Two contiguous yards must observe setbacks of at least 15 feet on the northerly and easterly elevations, as shown in Diagram 131-04J.
Diagram 131-04J Contiguous Yard Requirement
N Northerly property line
15' setback
15' setback
Easterly property line
No setbacks required along remaining two property lines
(2) The side yard and rear yard shall equal the requirements of the adjacent residential zone if that zone is more restrictive.
(h) Setback Requirements in the RM-5-12 Zone
(1) Front Setback in the RM-5-12 Zone
The minimum front setback is 10 feet for any portion of a lot that fronts on a turnaround or on a curving street with a centerline radius of less than 100 feet.
(2) Side Setback in the RM-5-12 Zone
The minimum side setback specified in Table 131-04G shall be increased 3 feet for each 12 feet of structure height over 24 feet.
(3) Street Side Setback in the RM-5-12 Zone
The minimum street side setback is as indicated in Table 131-04G, except as follows:
(A) 9 feet for any lot that is at least 45 but less than 50 feet wide;
(B) 8 feet for any lot that is at least 40 but less than 45 feet wide;
(C) 7 feet for any lot that is at least 35 but less than 40 feet wide;
(D) 6 feet for any lot that is at least 30 but less than 35 feet wide; and
(E) 5 feet for any lot that is less than 30 feet wide.
(4) Rear Setback in the RM-5-12 Zone
The rear setback specified in Table 131-04G shall be increased 3 feet for each 12 feet of structure height over 24 feet.
(i) For all structures, the Fire Code Official may require a defensible space buffer that is greater than the setback required by the base zone to ensure compliance with safety regulations including the California Building Standards Code, Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations.
(Amended 6-12-2001 by O-18948 N.S.; effective 12-12-2001.) (Amended 11-28-2005 by O-19444 N.S.; effective 2-9-2006.) (Amended 3-1-2006 by O-19468 N.S.; effective 4-1-2006.) (Amended 11-13-2008 by O-19801 N.S.; effective 12-13-2008.) (Amended 8-4-2011 by O-20081 N.S.; effective 10-6-2011.) (Amended 6-18-2013 by O-20261 N.S.; effective 7-19-2013.) (Amended 7-2-2013 by O-20268 N.S.; effective 8-2-2013.) (Amended 7-10-2015 by O-20512 N.S.; effective 8-9-2015.) (Amended 3-7-2023 by O-21618 N.S.; effective 5-6-2023.) (Amended 7-22-2024 by O-21836 N.S.; effective 10-5-2024.) (Amended 6-15-2026 by O-22109 N.S.; effective 7-15-2026.)
[Editors Note: Amendments as adopted by O-22109 N.S. will not apply within the Coastal Overlay Zone until the California Coastal Commission certifies it as a Local Coastal Program Amendment. Click the link to view the Strikeout Ordinance highlighting changes to prior language http://docs.sandiego.gov/municode_strikeout_ord/O-22109-SO.pdf ]
Source: City of San Diego Office of the City Clerk, San Diego Municipal Code and City Charter (docs.sandiego.gov PDFs)URL: https://docs.sandiego.gov/municode/MuniCodeChapter13/Ch13Art01Division04.pdf#page=47Fetched: 10/28/2026