Boca Raton, FL Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code Sec. 28-336(1)-(2)
- R-1-A setbacks
- 30 ft front, 25 ft side, 25 ft rear
- R-1-G setbacks (smallest lot)
- 25 ft front, 5 ft side, 15 ft rear
- R-E-2 setbacks (largest lot)
- 65 ft front, 75 ft side, 75 ft rear
- Pre-1973 lots
- Follow yard rules in effect July 27, 1973
- Enforcing agency
- Development Services Department
Summary
Boca Raton fixes front, side and rear yard setbacks by single-family zoning district in a table at City Code Sec. 28-336, ranging from 75-foot rear yards in the largest-lot R-E-2 district down to 15-foot rear yards in the compact R-1-G district. The dimensions apply to lots platted after August 15, 1973; older platted lots follow the setbacks in place as of July 27, 1973.
(1)The following single-family residential zoning districts are hereby created according to the nomenclature, designations and specifications pertaining thereto, as contained in the following table... District / Minimum Plot Area / Width / Minimum Living Area / Minimum Front Yard / Minimum Side Yard / Minimum Rear Yard / Max Dwelling Units per Gross Acre: R-E-2 72,400 300 2,700 65 75 75 0.50; R-1-A 16,800 140 2,200 30 25 25 1.53; R-1-C 10,450 95 1,500 25 15 20 2.46; R-1-G 5,000 50 600 25 5 25 6.6. (2)The minimum dimensions stated in the above table establish the criteria for determining plot area, plot width, living area and front, side and rear yard setbacks for each of the individual single-family zoning districts.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 28-336(1) creates nine single-family districts, R-E-2, R-E-1, R-1-A through R-1-G, and sets, for each, minimum plot area and width, minimum living area, and minimum front, side and rear yard setbacks alongside a maximum dwelling-unit density. The table shows R-E-2 at 65 feet front, 75 feet side and 75 feet rear on a 72,400-square-foot minimum plot; R-1-A at 30 feet front, 25 feet side and 25 feet rear on a 16,800-square-foot plot; R-1-C at 25 feet front, 15 feet side and 20 feet rear on a 10,450-square-foot plot; and the smallest-lot R-1-G district at 25 feet front, 5 feet side and just 15 feet rear on a 5,000-square-foot plot.
6 in R-1-G. Sec. 28-337 protects lots platted before August 15, 1973, letting them build under the yard regulations that applied as of July 27, 1973, rather than the current table, provided the lot was a conforming building site at that time. The development services department administers these setback minimums as part of building permit and site plan review for single-family construction and additions.
Violations & Fines
Building beyond the minimum building line or otherwise encroaching on a required yard is a zoning violation subject to the citywide penalty in Sec. 1-16, a fine of up to $500.00 or 60 days imprisonment, with each day of an unlawful encroachment a separate offense. The city may also require removal or alteration of a structure that violates the applicable district's yard minimums before issuing a certificate of occupancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know my required setback in Boca Raton?
Do older Boca Raton homes follow the current setback table?
What is the smallest rear yard setback allowed for single-family homes?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Boca Raton
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Boca Raton to another location·View the Florida building setbacks & zoning overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Setback Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Palm Beach County handle setback rules.