Hemet, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Front setback, R-R to R-1-10
- 20 feet
- Front setback, R-1-7.2, R-1-6, R-1-5
- 18 feet
- Rear setback incl. detached garages
- 20 feet, 15 feet in R-1-7.2, 10 feet in R-1-6 and R-1-5
- Interior side yard
- 15 feet in four larger zones, 5 feet in three smaller
- Street side yard
- 15 feet in four larger zones, 10 feet in three smaller
- Eave and roof overhang projection
- 30 inches, with 36-inch passageway kept clear
- Administrative adjustment
- Maximum 20 percent decrease in required setbacks
Summary
Hemet sets setbacks zone by zone in a table in City Code § 90-314(e). Front yards run 20 feet in R-R through R-1-10 and 18 feet in R-1-7.2, R-1-6 and R-1-5. Rear yards run from 20 feet down to 10 feet, interior side yards are 15 or 5 feet, street sides are 15 or 10 feet, and a 36-inch passageway must stay clear beside the house.
The following are minimum requirements, unless otherwise noted, and shall apply to all land, buildings, and structures in their respective zones. All area dimensions are in square feet, unless otherwise noted. All linear dimensions are in feet, unless otherwise noted. ... Single-Family Zones General Development Standards 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 for in b and c 20 20 20 20 18 18 18 b. Single-story side-on garage 20 20 20 20 15 15 15 c. Average of homes on one side of the street in a block 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 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 ... Allowed projections into setback areas. Maximum allowed projections shall be as follows, except that in all instances a minimum 36-inch wide passageway shall be maintained adjacent to the primary structure.
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
Section 90-314(e) of the Hemet Code of Ordinances sets minimum setbacks for seven single-family zones: R-R, R-1-40, R-1-20, R-1-10, R-1-7.2, R-1-6 and R-1-5. Minimum net lot areas run 20,000, 40,000, 20,000, 10,000, 7,200, 6,000 and 5,000 square feet in that order.
Front yard. The base front setback is 20 feet in R-R, R-1-40, R-1-20 and R-1-10, and 18 feet in R-1-7.2, R-1-6 and R-1-5. A single-story house with a side-on garage drops to 15 feet in those last three zones but stays at 20 feet in the larger ones. A third line, the average of homes on one side of the street in a block, lists 20 feet in all seven zones.
Rear yard. The minimum rear setback, which includes detached garages, is 20 feet in the first four zones, 15 feet in R-1-7.2 and 10 feet in R-1-6 and R-1-5. Attached and detached non-enclosed patios need 20 feet in R-R, R-1-40 and R-1-20 and only 5 feet in the four smaller zones.
Side yards. Interior side yards are 15 feet in R-R through R-1-10 and 5 feet in R-1-7.2, R-1-6 and R-1-5, with a separate 15-foot building separation listed for R-1-7.2. Street side yards are 15 feet in the four larger zones and 10 feet in the three smaller ones.
Projections. Subsection (f) allows cornices, eaves, roof overhangs, brackets and bay windows to project 30 inches into front, side and rear setbacks, chimneys, fireplaces and attached barbeques 24 inches, and belt courses, sills and moldings 6 inches. Awnings and canopies reach 4 feet front and rear and 25% of the side setback area. Uncovered, unclosed stairways or balconies project 3 feet front and rear and are not permitted at the side. Covered, enclosed stairways, balconies, decks and porches are not permitted in a required setback. A 36-inch wide passageway beside the primary structure must stay free of fences, mechanical equipment and storage containers.
Relief. Section 90-45 lets the planning director approve an administrative adjustment with a maximum decrease of 20 percent in required setbacks. A variance under § 90-44 is the separate route for a reduction in the zone's development standards.
Violations & Fines
Under § 90-2, violating the zoning chapter is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $500.00, imprisonment for up to six months, or both, and each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense. A structure erected, moved, altered or enlarged contrary to the chapter, such as an addition inside a required setback, is declared unlawful and a public nuisance, and the city attorney can pursue abatement, removal and an injunction. A conviction does not excuse correcting or removing the structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far back must a new house sit from the front property line in R-1-6?
What rear setback applies to a detached garage in R-1-5?
How far can eaves or a bay window extend into a side setback?
Can I get a smaller setback than the table allows?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hemet
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