Alameda, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)

The City of Alameda regulates building setbacks (required yards) district-by-district in AMC Section 30-4. For the common single-family R-1 district (30-4.1) the minimum required yards are: front yard 20 feet, interior side yard 5 feet, street side yard on a corner lot at least 10 feet, and rear yard 20 feet. The R-2, R-3, R-4, and R-5 residential districts carry the same 20-ft front, 5-ft side, and 20-ft rear minimums in their bulk standards (30-4.2 through 30-4.5). On a corner lot adjacent to a key lot, the street-side setback within 20 feet of the key lot's side line must equal the key lot's front yard, and no structure (excluding barriers) is allowed within 5 feet of the corner lot's rear line. Required front yards and corner street-side yards in residential zones must be landscaped, not paved (AMC 30-5.7.a). AMC 30-5.7 also allows architectural features such as eaves, cornices, sills, beltcourses, fireplaces, galleries, and sunshades to project up to 2 feet into a required yard, but never closer than 3 feet to a property line (with a special eave exemption available from the Planning & Building Director). State ADU and SB 9 lot-split provisions can reduce required setbacks (e.g., a 4-ft interior side/rear setback). Setbacks vary by zone and lot configuration, so confirm the specific district and any combining district (such as the Y Special Yard district) with the Permit Center.