Littleton, CO Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- ACR front setback
- 25 feet
- ACR corner side setback
- 50 feet
- ACR interior side setback
- 20 feet
- ACR rear setback
- 50 feet
- Districts covered
- ACR, LLR, MLR, SLR, MFR
- Detached garage setback
- 5 feet minimum (Note 4)
Summary
Littleton's Neighborhood Building districts, Acreage Residential (ACR), Large Lot Residential (LLR), Medium Lot Residential (MLR), Small Lot Residential (SLR) and Multi-Family Residential (MFR), each carry their own minimum yard setbacks in Table 10-4-2.2. On a single-family ACR lot the code requires a 25-foot front setback, 50-foot corner side setback, 20-foot interior side setback and 50-foot rear setback.
District Residential Housing Type(s)1 Minimum Maximum Minimum Setbacks ... Area Width Feet Stories Front Corner Side3 Rear4 ... ACR Single-Family 2.75 ac. 175' 30' 3.0 25' 50' 20' 50' 0.17 0.35
Full Breakdown
2, NB Lot and Building Standards, sets the dimensional envelope for new housing development in the ACR, LLR, MLR, SLR and MFR districts, the group of residential zones the code calls Neighborhood Building (NB) districts. 2 breaks the standards out by district and housing type, listing minimum lot area and width, maximum height in feet and stories, and minimum front, corner side, interior side and rear setbacks. 35 units per acre. LLR, MLR, SLR and MFR carry their own rows in the same table, moving from ACR's large-lot standards toward denser, smaller-lot figures as the district gets more compact.
Table Note 4 sets a flat five-foot minimum setback for a detached garage regardless of the district's standard figures, and Table Note 3 splits the interior side setback into separate north/west and south/east exposure distances where two numbers are shown. C, Contextual Development, lets a builder use the block's average existing front setback instead of the table minimum in the ACR, LLR, MLR and SLR districts.
Violations & Fines
Building within the required setback distance is a code violation enforced under Littleton City Code § 1-4-1, the citywide general penalty. A violator faces a fine of up to $2,650, imprisonment of up to 364 days, or probation of up to one year, and every day the encroachment continues counts as a separate offense. Setback compliance is checked by the Community Development Department before a building permit is issued.
Frequently Asked Questions
What zoning districts does Littleton's setback table cover?
What are the setbacks for a single-family home in Littleton's ACR district?
Can a detached garage sit closer to the property line than the main house?
What happens if I build within the required setback?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Littleton
Compare Littleton to another location·View the Colorado building setbacks & zoning overview
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Setback Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Arapahoe County handle setback rules.