Hercules, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- RS-E front setback
- 20 ft
- RS-E rear setback
- 25 ft
- RS-L side setback
- 5 ft
- RM-L/RM-M/RM-H setbacks
- 15 ft all sides
- Governing table
- Table 13-6.2
- Standards are
- minimums, not maximums
Summary
Hercules Municipal Code Table 13-6.2 sets minimum yard setbacks for every residential zoning district, from a 25-foot rear yard in the low-density RS-E district down to a 15-foot front, rear and corner-side setback in the RM-L, RM-M and RM-H multifamily districts.
Sec. 13-6.500. Property Development Regulations. The development regulations presented in Table 13-6.2 establish basic site and design requirements for residential zoning districts. All regulation standards are minimum amounts unless otherwise stated. Table 13-6.2 Property Development Regulations: Residential District ... Setbacks Front (ft) 20 20 15 15 15 Rear (ft) 25 15 15 15 15 Side (ft) 15 5 15(6) 15(6) 15(6) Corner Side (ft) 20 15 15 15 15
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 555, passed March 25, 2025).
Full Breakdown
" The table sets front, rear, side and corner-side yard minimums separately for each of the city's five residential districts: RS-E (Single-Family Estate), RS-L (Single-Family Low Density), RM-L, RM-M and RM-H (Multi-Family Low, Medium and High Density). In RS-E, the front setback is 20 feet, the rear yard is 25 feet, the side yard is 15 feet, and the corner-side yard is 20 feet. RS-L drops the rear and side yards to 15 feet and 5 feet respectively while keeping a 20-foot front yard. The three multifamily districts, RM-L, RM-M and RM-H, share identical setbacks of 15 feet on all four sides, though footnote (6) allows the 15-foot side yard to be reduced where a smaller setback is specifically approved through a planned development plan.
800 for building height and Chapter 13-32 for parking, and every residential building permit application is checked against these figures by the Community Development Department before construction can proceed. Because the standards are stated minimums, a property owner cannot build closer to a lot line than the table allows without first obtaining a variance or a planned development approval that expressly modifies the figure.
Violations & Fines
Building without the required setback is enforced through the city's building permit and inspection process; the Community Development Department will not issue a certificate of occupancy for work that encroaches into a required yard. Uncorrected encroachments become code enforcement matters that can require the structure to be relocated, modified or removed at the owner's expense, in addition to permit and re-inspection fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum front yard setback in Hercules single-family districts?
Do multifamily setbacks differ from single-family setbacks in Hercules?
Can a Hercules side-yard setback be reduced below the table minimum?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hercules
California rules heatmap·Compare Hercules to another location·View the California building setbacks & zoning overview
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Setback Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Contra Costa County handle setback rules.