Kirkwood, MO Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)

Section 25-48(b) of the Kirkwood Code of Ordinances sets minimum front, side and rear yard setbacks for every residential district through Table 48-2. R-1 lots carry the deepest setbacks in the city: 60 feet front, 25 feet on each side, and 50 feet rear. R-2 drops to 50 feet front, 20 feet side and 45 feet rear, while R-3 requires 40 feet front, 12 feet side and 35 feet rear. R-4, R-5 (single-family) and R-MM share a 35-foot front setback, with side yards of 8 feet (12 feet or 50% of building height, whichever is greater, for R-5 multifamily, two-family and row dwellings) and a 30-foot rear yard.

R-6 Planned Multifamily requires 40 feet front, 25 feet side and 30 feet rear, while R-7 defers entirely to the standards in § 25-34(h)(3). A footnote to the table lets the City modify front setbacks for infill lots under § 25-48(b)(2): where more than 40% of a block face is already developed, the required front setback is instead calculated by averaging the setbacks of neighboring improved lots, using distances set in Table 48-3 (500 feet in R-1 down to 200 feet in R-4). Corner lots must be 10% wider on both street frontages than the district minimum specifically to accommodate these setbacks.

Encroachments into required setbacks, such as porches, chimneys and roof overhangs, are separately limited under §§ 25-46/25-47 and are not counted against the minimums above.