Coral Gables, FL Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- SFR front setback
- 25 feet
- SFR side setback
- 20% of lot width, min 5 ft
- SFR rear setback
- 10 feet (5 ft one-story)
- Waterway setback
- 35 feet
- MF-1/MF-2 front setback
- 10 feet
Summary
Coral Gables sets a 25-foot front yard setback for single-family homes, a percentage-based side setback, and a 10-foot rear setback under the Zoning Code's Residential Districts Table.
Front setback. Twenty-five (25) feet, except when otherwise permitted by the Board of Architects pursuant to the Best Practices Manual. ... Side setbacks. Interior side: Twenty (20%) percent of the total lot width, with a combined maximum of twenty (20) feet shall be equal on both sides ... but in no case shall a side setback be less than five (5) feet. Side street: Fifteen (15) feet. Rear setback. Ten (10) feet.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Fee Schedule: Supplement 2 | Zoning Code: Supplement 1 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 25 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
The Zoning Code's Section 2-100 Residential Districts Table fixes setback minimums by district. In the Single-Family Residential (SFR) District, Section 2-101 requires a 25-foot front setback, interior side setbacks equal to 20 percent of lot width (combined 20-foot max, never under 5 feet per side), a 15-foot side-street setback, and a 10-foot rear setback (5 feet for one-story rear additions if the Board of Adjustment or Historic Preservation Board approves). Waterfront lots carry a separate 35-foot setback from any canal, waterway, lake, or bay. Multifamily districts (MF-1 through MF-4) use smaller front and side minimums, generally 10 feet, per the same table. The Board of Architects administers compliance and reviews requested adjustments.
Violations & Fines
Encroaching on a required setback is a Zoning Code violation subject to code enforcement action, including a stop-work order, denial of certificate of occupancy, and civil penalties until the structure is brought into compliance or removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far must a Coral Gables house sit from the front property line?
Do setbacks differ for waterfront lots?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Coral Gables
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Coral Gables to another location·View the Florida building setbacks & zoning overview
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