Davenport, IA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Front (R-1/R-2)
- 30 ft or block average
- Front (R-3)
- 25 feet
- Interior Side
- 7 ft (R-1, R-2, R-3)
- Rear
- 30 ft or 20% lot depth
- Relief
- Board of Adjustment variance
Summary
Davenport's zoning code (Table 17.04-1) sets residential setbacks: 30-foot front yards in R-1 and R-2, 25 feet in R-3, a 7-foot minimum interior side yard, and a 30-foot or 20%-of-lot-depth rear yard.
Minimum Front Setback: 30 feet or average of front setbacks, whichever is less. Minimum Interior Side Setback: 7 feet. Minimum Rear Setback: 30 feet or 20% of lot depth, whichever is less.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4820400; v43 updated 2026-03-11; through 03-11-2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 17.04.030 and Table 17.04-1 of the Davenport Zoning Ordinance set minimum setbacks by district. In the R-1 and R-2 single-family districts, the front setback is 30 feet or the average of adjacent front setbacks, whichever is less; the R-3 district requires 25 feet. The minimum interior side setback is 7 feet in R-1, R-2, and R-3, dropping to 5 feet in the central R-3C and R-4 districts. Corner side setbacks run 25 feet in R-1, 20 feet in R-2, and 15 feet in R-3. The rear setback is 30 feet or 20% of lot depth, whichever is less. Variances go to the Board of Adjustment.
Violations & Fines
Building within a required setback triggers a stop-work order and correction; no setback may be reduced below code without an approved variance. Encroaching structures may have to be moved or removed at the owner's expense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the front yard setback in Davenport?
How close to the side property line can I build?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Davenport
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