Los Angeles, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Front yard (R1)
- 20% of lot depth, max 20 ft
- Side yard (R1, ≤2 stories)
- Minimum 5 ft (or 10% of lot width if lot < 50 ft wide, min 3 ft)
- Side yard (each story above 2nd)
- +1 ft per additional story
- Rear yard (R1)
- Minimum 15 ft
- Rooftop deck set-back
- Additional 3 ft beyond required side yard
- Minimum lot
- 50 ft wide, 5,000 sq ft area
Summary
In LA's R1 One-Family Zone, buildings must maintain a front yard of at least 20% of lot depth (not exceeding 20 feet), side yards of at least 5 feet on each side, and a rear yard of at least 15 feet.
C. Area (Development Standards). No building or structure nor the enlargement of any building or structure shall be erected or maintained unless the following yards, lot areas, and floor area limitations are provided and maintained...
1. Front Yard. There shall be a front yard of not less than 20% of the depth of the lot, but such front yard need not exceed 20 feet...
2. Side Yards.
(a) For a main building not more than two stories in height, there shall be a side yard on each side of the building of not less than 5 feet, except that where the lot is less than 50 feet in width, the side yard may be reduced to 10 percent of the width of the lot, but in no event to less than 3 feet in width. For a building more than two stories in height, 1 foot shall be added to the width of each yard for each additional story above the second story.
(d) Any occupied rooftop deck shall be set back at least three feet from the minimum required side yard.
3. Rear Yard. There shall be a rear yard of not less than 15 feet in depth.
4. Lot Area. Every lot shall have a minimum width of 50 feet and a minimum area of 5,000 square feet.
Full Breakdown
The R1 Zone front yard rule requires 20% of lot depth, but never more than 20 feet; where 40%+ of neighboring lots have front yards within a 10-foot range, the average of those yards sets the minimum. Side yards must be at least 5 feet for buildings up to two stories (reducible to 10% of lot width if the lot is under 50 feet wide, but never below 3 feet); one additional foot per story is added above the second floor. Rear yards must be at least 15 feet. Occupied rooftop decks must be set back an additional 3 feet from the required side yard. These requirements apply to new construction and enlargements; specific plans, historic overlay zones, or subdivision approvals can override them.
Violations & Fines
Building permits will not be issued for non-compliant construction; the Department of Building and Safety can issue stop-work orders and require corrections to bring structures into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close can I build to my property line in the R1 zone?
Does my front setback change if my neighbors' houses are set back less?
Do setbacks apply to accessory structures and sheds?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Los Angeles
California rules heatmap·Compare Los Angeles to another location·View the California building setbacks & zoning overview
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Setback Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle setback rules.