Long Beach, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- R-1-S front yard
- 8 ft minimum (Table 31-2A)
- R-1-N front yard
- 20 ft minimum
- R-1-L front yard
- 25 ft minimum
- R-2-N/R-2-A side yard
- 4 ft minimum
- Rear yards
- 8-30 ft depending on district
- Key lots
- Front yard halved, § 21.31.215.C.1
Summary
Table 31-2A sets a front, side and rear yard setback for every residential zoning district in Long Beach, from an 8-foot front yard in the compact R-1-S zone up to a 25-foot front yard in the R-1-L single-family zone, with side and rear minimums scaled to lot depth and story count.
District Units Per Lot Lot Area Per Unit (Sq. Ft.) Minimum Lot Area (Sq. Ft.)(a, c) Minimum Lot Width (Ft.)(a, c) Minimum Yard Setbacks (Ft.)(j, l) Front / Side / Rear(k) Maximum Height(d, h) R-1-S 1 2,400 2,400 30 8(i) / 3 / 8 24 ft./28 ft. R-1-N 1 6,000 6,000 50 20 / 4(b) / 1st St. 10, 2nd St. 30 25 ft. 2 St. R-1-L 1 12,000 12,000(s) 60 25 / 6 / 30 25 ft. 2 St.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 52 Update 1 | City Charter: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
201 makes Table 31-2A's development standards apply to 'all structures in residential zones,' and the table sets a separate minimum front, side and rear yard for every district. In the R-1-S single-family zone the front yard minimum is 8 feet with a 3-foot side yard and 8-foot rear yard, reflecting the district's small 2,400-square-foot minimum lot size. The R-1-N district requires a 20-foot front yard, a 4-foot side yard, and a rear yard of 10 feet on the first story stepping up to 30 feet on the second story.
The R-1-L district, the largest-lot single-family zone, requires the deepest yards: a 25-foot front yard, 6-foot side yard and 30-foot rear yard. Multifamily R-2 districts scale down: R-2-N and R-2-A both require a 15-foot front yard, a 4-foot side yard and a 20-foot rear yard. 215 layers exceptions onto these baseline figures: a 'key lot' behind a corner lot built to the side yard line gets its front yard cut in half; through lots facing two streets get two front yards unless the whole block faces one direction; and on lots less than 100 feet deep, the rear yard can be reduced (to as little as 5 feet in the R-1-S, R-1-M, R-2-S and R-2-I zones).
R-4 and commercial multifamily projects next to R-1, R-2 or R-3 land must add a buffer setback that grows with building height, 20 feet for a two-story building, up to 40 feet for a fourth story or taller, plus a 5-foot planted screening strip along the shared property line. A.
Violations & Fines
Building or maintaining a structure inside a required yard setback violates LBMC § 21.31.215 and Table 31-2A, punishable under the Chapter 1.32 general penalty: a misdemeanor carrying up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail, or a lesser infraction, with each day of the encroachment a separate offense. The City may also issue an administrative citation under Section 9.65.060 and declare the encroaching structure a public nuisance subject to abatement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much front yard setback does my Long Beach lot need?
Can my rear yard setback be reduced on a shallow lot?
Does a corner lot get a smaller front yard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Long Beach
California rules heatmap·Compare Long Beach to another location·View the California building setbacks & zoning overview
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