Phoenix, AZ Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Standard option cap
- 50%, plus 10% for ADU/shade structure
- Standard option total max
- 60%
- PRD option cap
- 60% total for development
- Applies to
- R1-6 single-family lots
- Overhang exemption
- First 3 ft of roof overhang excluded
Summary
Phoenix's R1-6 district, the city's standard single-family zoning, caps building coverage at 50% of the lot, rising to a 60% total when the extra 10% goes to an accessory dwelling unit or attached shade structure.
(11) Lot coverage (maximum) | 50%, plus an additional 10% for an ADU and/or attached shade structures Total: 60% | 60% total for development. Lot Coverage: The total structural coverage provided on a lot or site inclusive of all roofed areas or structures capable of supporting a roof divided by the net area of the lot or size. The first three feet of roof overhang or projection shall not be included in the lot coverage.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance G-7524, passed June 17, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Under the R1-6 Single-Family Residence District table in the Zoning Ordinance, the Standard development option allows lot coverage of 50%, plus an additional 10% for an ADU and/or attached shade structures, for a 60% total. Projects built under the Planned Residential Development option are capped at 60% total coverage outright. "Lot Coverage" is defined citywide as total structural coverage divided by net lot area, with the first three feet of roof overhang or projection excluded from the calculation. Every zoning district sets its own lot-coverage cap in its own dimensional table. R1-6 is Phoenix's most common single-family district, covering the bulk of the city's 6,000-square-foot-lot subdivisions.
Violations & Fines
Lot coverage is checked at building-permit plan review and again before a certificate of occupancy issues; exceeding the cap without an approved variance or use permit can mean a stop-work order and permit denial from Planning and Development.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a patio roof overhang count against the 50% lot coverage limit?
Can a Phoenix homeowner build past 50% lot coverage?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Phoenix
Compare Phoenix to another location·View the Arizona building setbacks & zoning overview
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Lot Coverage Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Maricopa County handle lot coverage limits.