Stamford, CT Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Single-family cap
- 55% lot coverage
- Two-family cap
- 65% lot coverage
- Non-residential cap
- 75% lot coverage
- Counted surfaces
- driveways, hardscape, artificial turf all count
- Enforced by
- Zoning Enforcement Officer, § 1.C.1
- Relief path
- Variance, Zoning Board of Appeals, § 2.B
- Current through
- May 31, 2026 amendments
Summary
In Stamford's R-6 Single- and Two-Family District, total lot coverage, including every building, driveway, walkway and hardscaped surface, cannot exceed 55% of the lot for a Single-Family Dwelling, 65% for a Two-Family Dwelling, or 75% for a permitted non-residential use. The cap sits in Zoning Regulations § 5.Z.4(f), current through the May 31, 2026 amendments, and is enforced by the Zoning Enforcement Officer.
f. Maximum Lot 55% 65% 75%
Coverage
(including
Building
Coverage)
g. Yards (Fig. F5Z1)
(1) Front Yard 15 ft Street Line 15 ft Street Line 15 ft Street Line
40 ft Street Center Line 40 ft Street Center Line 40 ft Street Center Line
(2) Side Yards 6 feet minimum on one 8 feet minimum each one 12 feet each side
side, 10 feet minimum on side, 10 feet minimum on
the other side, both sides the other side, both sides
16 feet3) 18 feet4)
(3) Rear Yard 35 feet 35 feet 35 feet
1) On Lots of at least 5,000 sq. ft. but less than 6,000 sq. ft., there may be located by conversion a second
D w e l l i n g U n i t in a S i n g l e - F a m i l y D w e l l i n g , if such S i n g l e - F a m i l y D w e l l i n g was in existence as of June 24, 1986. Such second D w e l l i n g U n i t shall be limited to one (1) Bedroom and no more than three (3) additional rooms. All other zoning requirements for an R-6 Single-Family Building, as stated in this Section, shall apply.
2) FAR shall include all mechanical space, and all Accessory Buildings, including garages; excluded shall be Floor Area 50% or more below the average finished grade.
Full Breakdown
4(f), caps coverage "including Building Coverage" at 55% for Single-Family Dwellings, 65% for Two-Family Dwellings, and 75% for Non-Residential Uses, reading the table's three columns in that order. Lot Coverage itself is defined in § 3 Definitions (citation 219-26): "Except as otherwise provided herein, Lot Coverage includes all Buildings, Structures, infrastructure and other man-made materials located on the Lot, whether such materials are impervious or not," and the definition specifically lists roofs, roads, driveways, sidewalks, permeable pavers, hardscaped areas, and artificial soil coverings such as Astroturf as counted surfaces, so a homeowner cannot skirt the cap by choosing a "permeable" driveway.
1, for areas developed predominantly with Single- or Two-Family detached Dwellings within Master Plan Category 3. B, heard by the Zoning Board of Appeals after public notice and a hearing, and the Board must state specific written findings on the record, including that the hardship is peculiar to the lot and was not created by the applicant's own act, before granting relief. 1, with authority to inspect property and order in writing the remedying of any condition found in violation of the Regulations.
Violations & Fines
Under § 1.C.2, the Zoning Enforcement Officer may institute action to restrain, correct or abate a lot-coverage violation, prevent occupancy of the building or land, and prevent any illegal construction or use connected with it. Penalties for exceeding the coverage limit or violating a related permit condition are set "as provided by General Statutes and City Charter section 248," so the Regulations route enforcement to those two sources rather than fixing a Regulations-set fine themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts toward the 55% lot coverage cap on an R-6 single-family lot?
Is the lot coverage limit the same for a two-family house in R-6?
Can I get a variance from the R-6 lot coverage limit?
Who enforces Stamford's lot coverage limit and what happens if I exceed it?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Stamford
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