Caldwell, ID Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Caldwell City Code § 10-05-04
- RS-1 front (living area)
- 40 ft minimum
- R-1/R-2/R-3 interior side yard
- 5 ft (0 ft for townhouses)
- R-3 rear yard
- 10 ft minimum
- Alley garage/parking setback
- 5 ft, all residential districts
- Encroaching structure removal window
- 5 days after City/utility request
Summary
Caldwell's residential dimensional table sets separate front, side, street-side and rear setback minimums for each zoning district, from 40 feet in front of an RS-1 garage down to 10 feet at the rear in R-3. Setbacks measure from the property line, and porches, eaves and stairs get limited projection allowances.
10-05-04: BULK AND DIMENSIONAL STANDARDS: This section contains the requirements for lot size and coverage, scale and massing, and setbacks for all types of development. ... Table 10-05-04: Bulk and Dimensional Standards - Residential Districts ... Setbacks RS-1 RS-2 R-1 R-2 R-3 Front Yard Setback, Garage; Minimum (ft.) 40 35 22 22 22 Front Setback, Living Area; Minimum (ft.) 40 30 15 15 10 Interior Side Yard Setback; Minimum (ft.) 20 15 5/05 5/05 5/05 Street Side Yard Setback; Minimum (ft.)6 30 20 15 15 15 Rear Yard Setback; Minimum (ft.) 30 30 20 15 10 Alley (Garage/Parking) Setbacks: Minimum (ft.) 5 5 5 5 5
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 Code: Local legislation current through Ordinance 3747, passed 3-16-2026).
Full Breakdown
Caldwell City Code Section 10-05-04 governs bulk and dimensional standards, including setbacks, for all development, and its Table 10-05-04 sets residential minimums by district. In RS-1, the garage setback is 40 feet, the living-area front setback is 40 feet, the interior side yard is 20 feet, the street side yard is 30 feet and the rear yard is 30 feet. RS-2 runs 35/30/15/20/30 feet for the same categories. R-1 requires a 22-foot garage setback, 15-foot living-area front setback, 5-foot interior side yard (0 feet for attached townhouses), 15-foot street side yard and 20-foot rear yard.
R-2 matches R-1 except for a 15-foot rear yard, and R-3 tightens further to a 22-foot garage setback, 10-foot living-area front setback, 5-foot interior side yard, 15-foot street side yard and 10-foot rear yard. Alley garage and parking setbacks are a flat 5 feet in every residential district. Under subsection (3), all setbacks are measured from the property line for new construction, though a constrained lot may get a Director-approved measurement change via a Minor Administrative Determination application, and additions to existing single-family homes may measure the front and street-side setback from the back of the sidewalk.
Subsection (4) allows cornices, eaves, porches and covered patios to project up to 2 feet into a side yard (no closer than 3 feet to the property line) and up to 5 feet into a rear setback, while unenclosed porches may extend into the front setback if a 15-foot minimum from the sidewalk is kept. Subsection (1) allows the Director, a variance, or a planned unit development approval to reduce the minimum setback.
Violations & Fines
Structures found encroaching a right-of-way or easement in violation of the setback rules must be removed by the property owner at the owner's expense within five days of a City or utility request; after that deadline the City or utility may remove the structure itself without the owner's permission or compensation, and without liability for damage caused during removal, per Section 10-05-04(4)E.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far must a house sit from the front property line in Caldwell?
Can a porch project into Caldwell's required setback?
Can Caldwell reduce a required setback?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Caldwell
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