Erie, PA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- R-1 front yard
- Flat 30 feet minimum
- R-1A/R-2/R-3/RLB front yard
- Must match block average, Sec. 205.2
- R-1 rear yard
- 30 feet minimum
- R-1 side yards
- 15 feet combined, 5 feet each
- Corner lots
- Two front yards under Section 205.7
- Penalty
- Up to $500 per day, Section 403
Summary
Erie's Section 205 table fixes the minimum front, side, and rear yard depths for every zoning district. An R-1 house needs a flat 30-foot front yard, while R-1A, R-2, R-3, and RLB lots instead have to match the average front setback of the existing buildings on the same block face.
§ 205. Lot, yard and height requirements. The minimum lot area per family, maximum lot coverage by buildings and structures, minimum depth of front yard, minimum depth of rear yard, total combined width and minimum width of side yards, maximum height of structures and number of stories... shall be specified in the following tables: Use Districts R-1 R-1A R-2 R-3 RLB ... Minimum depth of front yard (feet) 30 (B,G) (B,G) (B,G) (B,G) (B,G,M) Minimum depth of rear yard (feet) 30 (D,J) 20 (D,J) 20 (D,J) 15 (D,J) 30 (D,J,M) Minimum total width of side yards (feet) 15 (J) 6 (J) 6 (J) 6 (H,J) 15 (J,M) Minimum width of least side yards (feet) 5 (J) 3 (J) 3 (J) 3 (H) 5 (J,M) ... 205.2. In any appropriate district where a structure exists on the applicant's lot or any adjacent lot, the required depth of front yard for the proposed structure shall be the average depth of the existing structures located between two intersecting streets within a tolerance of plus or minus five feet.
Full Breakdown
Section 205 of the Zoning Ordinance sets Erie's yard requirements district by district. In the R-1 Low Density Residential District, the minimum front yard is a flat 30 feet, the minimum rear yard is 30 feet, the combined width of both side yards must total at least 15 feet, and neither side yard alone can be narrower than five feet. 2 requires the front yard to match 'the average depth of the existing structures located between two intersecting streets within a tolerance of plus or minus five feet,' so a new house has to line up with its block, not a citywide minimum.
Rear yards step down as density rises: 20 feet in R-1A and R-2, 15 feet in R-3, and 30 feet in RLB. Side yard totals follow the same pattern, dropping from 15 feet in R-1 and RLB to six feet in R-1A, R-2, and R-3. 7, which treats them as having two front yards and two side yards and lets a narrow corner lot reduce its front setback enough to allow a dwelling up to 22 feet wide. 8, while unroofed handicap ramps are exempt. 9: at least three feet from any side or rear line and six feet from any dwelling or alley.
Violations & Fines
Building into a required setback without approval is a zoning violation under Section 403. The Zoning Officer sends a written enforcement notice citing the specific setback section violated and a compliance deadline; ignoring it exposes the property owner to a civil judgment of up to $500 per day plus the City's court costs and legal fees, and the Zoning Officer can also deny future permits on a noncompliant lot.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the front yard setback in an Erie R-1 zone?
How wide do side yards have to be on an Erie house?
Do porches and balconies have to meet the same setback?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Erie
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