Little Rock, AR Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- R-2 Front Yard
- 25 feet minimum
- R-2 Side Yard
- 10% of lot width, max 8 ft
- R-2 Rear Yard
- 25 ft (8 ft on corner lots)
- R-1 Front Yard
- 35 feet (large-lot district)
Summary
Little Rock's R-2 single-family district requires a 25-foot front yard, 25-foot rear yard, and side yards of 10% of lot width capped at 8 feet.
(d)Area regulations:(1)Front yard. There shall be a front yard setback having a depth of not less than twenty-five (25) feet.(2)Side yard. There shall be a side yard set-back on each side of the building having a width of not less than ten (10) percent of the average width of the lot, not to exceed eight (8) feet.(3)Rear yard. There shall be a rear yard setback having a depth of not less than twenty-five (25) feet. In the case of a corner lot, however, when providing a twenty-five foot exterior side yard, the rear yard may be reduced to not less than eight (8) feet.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 83).
Full Breakdown
Little Rock's zoning code sets minimum yard setbacks by residential district under Chapter 36. In the R-2 single-family district, which covers most of the city's established neighborhoods, Sec. 36-254 requires a 25-foot front yard, a 25-foot rear yard, and side yards equal to 10 percent of the lot's average width but never more than 8 feet per side. Corner lots providing a 25-foot exterior side yard may reduce the rear yard to 8 feet. The larger-lot R-1 district requires a deeper 35-foot front yard and 10-foot side yards. The planning and development department enforces these standards, and the board of adjustment hears variance requests.
Violations & Fines
Building without the required setback triggers a stop-work order and can force relocation or removal of the structure; unpermitted encroachments are cited as zoning code violations enforced by the planning and development department.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the front yard setback in Little Rock's R-2 district?
Can a corner lot have a smaller rear yard setback?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Little Rock
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