Anaheim, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- RS-1 front setback
- 30 feet or 25% of lot depth
- RS-4 front setback
- 10 feet, averaging to 10 feet minimum
- Garage door setback
- 20-25 feet from street regardless of zone
- Trail easement setback
- 10 feet minimum for habitable structures
- Governing section
- AMC Sec. 18.04.100 and Table 4-I
Summary
Anaheim sets minimum yard setbacks by single-family zone under Section 18.04.100 and Table 4-I, ranging from a 10-foot front yard in RS-4 to a 30-foot front yard in RS-1. Side and rear setbacks also vary by zone, and garage doors face their own 20 to 25-foot setback from the street regardless of the underlying zone.
RS-1 Front 30 feet or 25% of the depth of the lot, whichever is less. Side 10% of the width of the lot, except that the side setback shall not be less than 5 feet and need not exceed 10 feet. Rear 25 feet or 25% of the depth of the lot, whichever is less. ... .0103 In addition to the provisions of Table 4-I, a tilt-up garage door shall be set back a minimum of twenty-five (25) feet from the ultimate right-of-way line of the street used for access, and a roll-up garage door shall be set back a minimum of twenty (20) feet from the ultimate right-of-way line of the street used for access. .0104 Notwithstanding any other provision, any structure used for human habitation shall maintain a setback of not less than ten (10) feet from any riding and hiking trail easement of record.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-28: Code: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 6627, passed 8-11-2026 | Zoning: Local legislation current through Ord. 6627, passed 8-11-2026).
Full Breakdown
100 sets minimum front, side and rear setbacks for each single-family zone. In RS-1, the front setback is 30 feet or 25 percent of lot depth, whichever is less, the side setback is 10 percent of lot width (never less than 5 feet or more than 10 feet), and the rear setback is 25 feet or 25 percent of lot depth, whichever is less. RS-4, the city's smallest-lot zone, allows a 10-foot front setback (averaging to 10 feet with a 5-foot minimum), a 5-foot side setback (or zero-lot-line development with 10 feet maintained between structures), and a rear setback of 10 feet for one story, 15 feet for two or three stories, or 55 feet for a three-story structure within 150 feet of a single-family zone. 0105). 050, and any encroachments into a setback are governed separately by Table 4-J.
Violations & Fines
Building within a required setback without an approved exception or encroachment permit is a zoning violation under the Code's general penalty, Section 1.01.370: a misdemeanor with fines up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both. Anaheim's Planning Department can also require the offending portion of a structure be relocated or removed to bring the property into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the front yard setback in Anaheim's RS-1 zone?
Does a garage door need extra setback from the street in Anaheim?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anaheim
California rules heatmap·Compare Anaheim to another location·View the California building setbacks & zoning overview
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Setback Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Orange County handle setback rules.