Building setbacks in Erie are set by the City of Erie Zoning Ordinance (Article 1303 of the Codified Ordinances / Ordinance Number 80-2005) and vary by zoning district. In the R-1 Low Density Residential district, Section 205 of the Zoning Ordinance sets a minimum total side-yard width of 15 feet (with the least side at 5 feet minimum), and Section 205.11 sets the front-yard setback within five feet of the average depth of adjacent block structures.
Erie's principal zoning ordinance is the City of Erie Zoning Ordinance, adopted as Ordinance Number 80-2005 and codified in Article 1303 of the Codified Ordinances. The City's principal residential districts are R-1 Low Density Residential, R-2 Medium Density Residential (one- to four-family), and R-3 High Density Residential, with additional Mixed Use (MU), Commercial (C) and Industrial (I) districts. Setbacks are set in Article 2 (District Regulations) of the Zoning Ordinance, with Section 205 establishing the lot, yard and bulk standards for R-1: a minimum total side-yard width of 15 feet, with the least side yard at least 5 feet. Section 205.11 provides the front-yard rule - the required front yard shall be within five feet of the average depth of the adjacent structures located on the block, a contextual standard that respects Erie's established streetscapes. Accessory buildings in any R District must be located in the side or rear yard of the principal building, at least 6 feet from any dwelling or alley and at least 3 feet from any side or rear property line. Setback variances require an application to the Erie Zoning Hearing Board under the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (53 P.S. §10101 et seq.), specifically §910.2 dimensional-variance authority, which requires the applicant to prove unnecessary hardship.
Building within a required yard or otherwise violating the bulk schedule in the Zoning Ordinance is a violation enforceable by the City Zoning Office and the Bureau of Code Enforcement. The Building Code Official can issue stop-work orders and deny a Certificate of Occupancy until the structure is brought into compliance. Refer-out cases go to the District Justice for fines and the MPC enforcement framework at 53 P.S. §10617.2; each day of continuing violation may be charged separately.
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See how Erie's setback rules rules stack up against other locations.
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