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Hemet, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

R-1-40/20/10 front setback
20 feet minimum
R-1-7.2/6/5 front setback
18 feet minimum
R-1-6/R-1-5 rear setback
10 feet minimum
R-1-7.2/6/5 interior side yard
5 feet minimum

Summary

Hemet sets minimum yard setbacks by single-family zone: 20-foot fronts in larger-lot zones down to 18 feet, rear yards from 20 feet to 10 feet, and side yards from 15 feet to 5 feet in the smallest lot zones.

ZONE R-R R-1-40 R-1-20 R-1-10 R-1-7.2 R-1-6 R-1-5

4. Minimum front yard setback (linear ft.) a. Minimum except as provided in b and c 20 20 20 20 18 18 18

5. Minimum rear yard setback (linear ft.) including detached garages 20 20 20 20 15 10 10

6. Minimum side yard setback (linear ft.) a. Interior side yard 15 15 15 15 5 5 5 b. Street side 15 15 15 15 10 10 10

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 69 Update 2).

Full Breakdown

Hemet's single-family development standards (Section 90-314, General requirements) set minimum yard setbacks by zone, from R-R and the large-lot R-1-40/R-1-20/R-1-10 zones down to the small-lot R-1-6 and R-1-5 zones. Front yard setbacks step down from 20 feet in the larger zones to 18 feet in R-1-7.2/R-1-6/R-1-5; rear yard setbacks drop from 20 feet to as little as 10 feet in R-1-6 and R-1-5; interior side yards shrink from 15 feet to 5 feet in the three smallest zones, while street-side setbacks stay at 10 feet in those zones. The same table also fixes minimum lot area, width, depth, lot coverage, and building height for each zone.

Violations & Fines

Building within the required setback without an approved variance or exception is a zoning code violation subject to code enforcement action and can block permit sign-off or certificate of occupancy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the front yard setback for a standard Hemet lot?
It depends on the zone: 20 feet in R-R, R-1-40, R-1-20 and R-1-10; 18 feet in the smaller-lot R-1-7.2, R-1-6, and R-1-5 zones, per Hemet City Code Section 90-314(e).
How small can a side yard be in Hemet?
As little as 5 feet on the interior side yard in the R-1-7.2, R-1-6, and R-1-5 zones; larger zones (R-R through R-1-10) require 15 feet.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Hemet

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