Fort Myers, FL Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Front yard setback
- 20 feet, all seven districts
- Front-facing garage setback
- 25 feet
- Rear yard setback
- 10 feet, all seven districts
- Side interior setback
- 10 ft (RS-E–RS-6); 7/10 ft elsewhere
- Waterfront setback
- 25 feet
Summary
Fort Myers sets minimum front, side, rear, and waterfront yard setbacks by zoning district in its Land Development Code dimensional tables, from 20-foot fronts in RS-E through RM-16 to 10-foot side and rear yards for single-family detached homes.
SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED RS-E RS-5 RS-6 RS-7 RS-D RM-12 RM-16 Yard Setbacks (min ft.) Front 2 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 Front-Facing Garage Door 1 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 Side (interior) 10 1 10 1 10 1 7/10 1 7/10 1 7/10 1 7/10 1 Side (street) see subsection 118.1.6.F.4. Rear 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 60).
Full Breakdown
Table 118.2.1.A of the Land Development Code sets single-family-detached yard setbacks for Fort Myers's seven single-family and multifamily residential base districts (RS-E, RS-5, RS-6, RS-7, RS-D, RM-12, RM-16): a 20-foot front setback, 25 feet to a front-facing garage door, a 10-foot rear yard, and a 25-foot waterfront setback apply uniformly across all seven. Side interior setbacks are 10 feet in RS-E, RS-5 and RS-6, but drop to a 7/10-foot standard in RS-7, RS-D, RM-12 and RM-16; side-street setbacks are set separately under LDC § 118.1.6.F.4. rather than a flat number. These figures apply citywide in Lee County's Fort Myers and don't cover the Downtown/Midtown Smart Code overlay, which uses its own form-based standards.
Violations & Fines
Fort Myers code enforcement requires setbacks match Table 118.2.1.A before permitting; building over the line risks a stop-work order, and Code of Ordinances § 1-14's general penalty allows a $135–$500 fine or up to 60 days for uncorrected violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the front yard setback for a single-family home in Fort Myers?
How wide is the side setback for a house in Fort Myers, Lee County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Myers
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Setback Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Lee County handle setback rules.