Little Rock, AR Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Max coverage
- 30% of lot area
- Applies to
- R-1 single-family district
- Counts toward cap
- House plus accessory buildings
- Enforced by
- Dept. of Planning and Development
- Relief option
- Board of Adjustment variance
Summary
In Little Rock's R-1 single-family zoning district, the house plus every accessory building on a lot can together cover no more than 30 percent of the total lot area.
The main building and all accessory buildings on a lot shall not occupy more than thirty (30) percent of the total area of the lot. (Code 1961, Ch. 43, § 7-101.1; Ord. No. 15,703, § 1k, p, 7-5-89; Ord. No. 15,988, § 4, 12-18-90; Ord. No. 16,116, § 1(t), (qq), 11-19-91; Ord. No. 16,341, § 1(m), (ff), 1-19-93; Ord. No. 16,861, § 1(x), (aa), 3-21-95); Ord. No. 18,324, § 1(jj), (oo), 8-1-00; Ord. No. 18,682, § 1(e), 5-21-02; Ord. No. 19.395, § 1(g), 9-6-05; Ord. No. 21,168, § 1(x), 2-2-16; Ord. No. 21,867, § 1, 5-19-20; Ord. No. 22,274, § 4, 6-20-23)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 83).
Full Breakdown
Little Rock caps building footprint in its R-1 single-family district under City Code Sec. 36-253(e): the principal house plus every accessory structure, garages, sheds, pool houses, may cover no more than 30 percent of total lot area. R-1 lots run large (minimum 15,000 square feet), so 30 percent still allows substantial building area, but exceeding that share of the parcel requires either a redesign or a variance from the Board of Adjustment. The Department of Planning and Development checks lot coverage during building-permit review before construction can begin.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the 30 percent cap without a variance can get a building permit denied by Planning and Development, or halt construction until the owner obtains Board of Adjustment relief.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 30% cap include garages and sheds?
Is the coverage limit the same in every Little Rock district?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Little Rock
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