East Orange, NJ Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)

East Orange sets its maximum lot coverage percentages district-by-district in the bulk tables attached to each residential zoning section of Chapter 51. In the R-1 single-family district, Table 51-92.A caps lot coverage at 35% alongside a minimum lot size of 4,000 square feet for subdivided lots, a 40-foot minimum width, and a rear yard equal to 25% of lot depth (not to exceed 45 feet). The R-2 two-family and townhouse district raises the cap: Table 51-93.1 allows 50% coverage for non-attached dwellings, while Table 51-93.2 permits townhouses up to 80% coverage on their smaller, narrower lots (minimum 1,500 square feet per unit, 18 feet wide).

The R-3 multifamily district follows the same pattern, with 50% coverage for one- and two-family and townhouse development, 60% for multifamily structures up to five stories, and 50% for garden apartments. Lot coverage is calculated from a building's footprint; underground structures are expressly excluded from the calculation under § 51-89G, which also excludes them from the floor area ratio. Coverage limits apply on top of, not instead of, the separate front, side and rear yard setback rules of § 51-87 and the district tables, so a project must satisfy both the percentage cap and the individual yard dimensions before the Zoning Officer will issue a zoning permit under § 51-59.