Dayton, OH Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Front setback (SR-1/SR-2)
- 25 feet
- Side setback (SR-1/SR-2)
- 5 feet each side
- Rear setback (all 5 districts)
- 30 feet
- Side setback (ER-3/ER-4/MR-5)
- 4 ft / 3 ft / 3 ft
Summary
Dayton's zoning code sets a 25-foot front setback, 5-foot side setbacks, and a 30-foot rear setback for the SR-1 and SR-2 single-family districts, with contextual average-of-neighbors front setbacks in the ER-3, ER-4, and MR-5 districts.
(2) Minimum Setback (a) Front Setback 25 feet 25 feet See Sections 150.305.3 (C) ... (b) Side Setback (each side) 5 feet 5 feet 4 feet 3 feet 3 feet (c) Rear Setback 30 feet 30 feet 30 feet
Full Breakdown
Schedule 150.305.3 of Dayton's Zoning Code fixes minimum yard setbacks by single-family district. SR-1 and SR-2 lots need a 25-foot front setback, 5-foot side setbacks on each side, and a 30-foot rear setback. Side setbacks step down in the more compact ER-3 (4 feet), ER-4 (3 feet), and MR-5 (3 feet) districts, though the 30-foot rear setback holds across all five districts. In ER-3, ER-4, and MR-5, front setbacks aren't fixed numbers at all. Section 150.305.3(C) instead requires averaging the front setbacks of the four nearest homes, so new construction lines up with the existing streetscape.
Violations & Fines
Building outside the required setback without approval can trigger denial of the zoning certificate and a minor-misdemeanor citation, plus an enforcement fee up to $2,000 under Schedule 150.130.10.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the front setback in Dayton's SR-1 district?
Is the rear setback the same in every single-family district?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dayton
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