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Berwyn, IL Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

R-1 and R-2 front / rear
15 ft front, 25 ft rear
R-3 front / rear
10 ft front, 25 ft rear
R-4 front / rear
10 ft front, 20 ft rear
Corner side, all R districts
5 ft minimum
Interior side, all R districts
3 ft minimum
Accessory structures
3 ft from rear and interior side lot lines

Summary

In the City of Berwyn, Illinois, R-1 and R-2 lots need a 15 ft front setback and 25 ft rear setback, R-3 needs 10 ft front and 25 ft rear, and R-4 needs 10 ft front and 20 ft rear. Every residential district requires 5 ft on the corner side and 3 ft on the interior side.

Table 1246.10-A. R-1 District Requirements ... Setback Requirements E Minimum Front Setback 15 ft F Minimum Corner Side Setback 5 ft G Minimum Interior Side Setback 3 ft H Minimum Rear Setback 25 ft ... Table 1246.11-A. R-2 District Requirements ... Setback Requirements E Minimum Front Setback 15 ft F Minimum Corner Side Setback 5 ft G Minimum Interior Side Setback 3 ft H Minimum Rear Setback 25 ft ... Table 1246.12-A. R-3 District Requirements ... Setback Requirements C Minimum Front Setback 10 ft D Minimum Corner Side Setback 5 ft E Minimum Interior Side Setback 3 ft F Minimum Rear Setback 25 ft ... Table 1246.13-A. R-4 District Requirements ... Setback Requirements C Minimum Front Setback 10 ft D Minimum Corner Side Setback 5 ft E Minimum Interior Side Setback 3 ft F Minimum Rear Setback 20 ft

Full Breakdown

Berwyn Code of Ordinances §§ 1246.10 through 1246.13 print a Setback Requirements block in each residential district table.

R-1 Single-Family and R-2 Bungalow: Minimum Front Setback 15 ft, Minimum Corner Side Setback 5 ft, Minimum Interior Side Setback 3 ft, Minimum Rear Setback 25 ft.

R-3 Two-Family: Minimum Front Setback 10 ft, Corner Side 5 ft, Interior Side 3 ft, Rear 25 ft.

R-4 Multi-Family: Minimum Front Setback 10 ft, Corner Side 5 ft, Interior Side 3 ft, Rear 20 ft.

On a 30 ft wide lot, a 3 ft interior setback on both sides leaves a 24 ft wide building envelope.

Accessory structures follow § 1244.04(A)(4): a minimum of three feet from any rear lot line and three feet from any interior side lot line. Section 1246.14 lets certain principal structure components project into required yards: eaves, gutters, and chimneys up to two feet, bay windows up to three feet, balconies up to five feet into the front, corner side, or rear yard, and porches, stairs, and stoops into any required yard but no closer than five feet from any lot line. Accessibility ramps can extend into any required yard. Swimming pools must sit at least three feet from the rear lot line and cannot extend into the corner side or interior side yards.

Commercial districts differ: the P Public Areas table sets a 0 ft front setback and 5 ft rear, and the I Industrial table sets a 15 ft maximum front setback.

Violations & Fines

Building inside a required yard is a Zoning Code violation. Section 1240.06(B) fines each offense in accordance with the Municipal Code, and each day the violation continues is a separate offense. Section 202.99 sets a fine of not more than $2,000 per violation where no other penalty is provided. The Zoning Administrator can ask the City Attorney to enjoin, abate, or stop the work and can seek Police Department assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the front setback for a Berwyn bungalow?
15 ft in the R-2 Bungalow District. The R-2 table in § 1246.11 lists Minimum Front Setback 15 ft, the same as R-1. The R-3 and R-4 districts require only 10 ft. Porches, stairs, and stoops can encroach into a required yard but no closer than five feet from any lot line.
How far must a Berwyn house sit from the side lot line?
Three feet on the interior side and five feet on the corner side, in all four residential districts. Those numbers come from the Minimum Interior Side Setback and Minimum Corner Side Setback rows in Tables 1246.10-A through 1246.13-A. A corner lot loses more width to setbacks than an interior lot.
What rear setback applies in Berwyn?
25 ft in R-1, R-2, and R-3, and 20 ft in R-4. Accessory structures such as a garage or shed have a different rule under § 1244.04(A)(4): a minimum of three feet from any rear lot line and three feet from any interior side lot line.
Can an eave or bay window extend into a required yard in Berwyn?
Yes, within limits under § 1246.14. Eaves and gutters can encroach up to two feet into any required yard, and bay windows up to three feet into the required front, corner side, or rear yard. Balconies can extend up to five feet into the front, corner side, or rear yard.

Sources & Official References

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