New Rochelle, NY Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Corner yard, R1-20/R1-15/R1-10/R1-WF-10
- 25 feet minimum
- Corner yard, R1-10A/R1-7.5/RMF-0.5/0.7/1.3
- 20 feet minimum
- Corner yard, R2-7.0/RMF-0.4
- 15 feet minimum
- Deck exception
- Under 18 in, 6 ft side/10 ft rear
- Intersection sight triangle
- No obstruction over 2.5 feet
- Governing section
- City Code § 331-14
Summary
New Rochelle's Zoning Code sets the required side street yard on corner lots at 25, 20 or 15 feet depending on the residential district, and bars almost every structure from sitting inside a required yard at all. Section 331-14 lists narrow exceptions for decks, pools, fences and small accessory items.
B. Front and side yards on corner lots. The owner of a corner lot in a residence or nonresidence district may elect either yard fronting on a street as the required front yard, with any other yard fronting a street being equal to at least the following: (1) R1-20, R1-15, R1-10, R1-WF-10: 25 feet. ... (2) R1-10A, R1-7.5, RMF-0.5, RMF-0.7, RMF-1.3: 20 feet. ... (3) R2-7.0, RMF-0.4: 15 feet.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4601407; v60 updated 2025-12-02; through 12-02-2025).
Full Breakdown
Section 331-14 governs the use of every required yard in New Rochelle. Subsection A bars any building or structure from a required yard except a short list: decks or terraces under 18 inches high that stay at least six feet from a side lot line and 10 feet from a rear lot line, swimming pools regulated under § 331-17, fences regulated under § 331-16, sports courts kept at least 10 feet from any property line, other minor accessory structures at least three feet from a property line, and ground-mounted solar collectors at least six feet from a side lot line and 10 feet from a rear lot line.
Corner lots get a separate rule in Subsection B: the owner picks either street-facing yard as the required front yard, and the other street-facing yard must still meet a minimum depth set by district. 4 it is 15 feet. Subsection C adds visibility rules at intersections: obstructions over two and a half feet are barred in the sight triangles formed at driveway and street intersections, and fences, signs, hedges or trees over three feet are barred at the corner of any street right-of-way. These yard rules were last amended in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2010 and 2016 as the city added exceptions for sports courts and solar collectors.
Violations & Fines
A structure built inside a required yard without qualifying for one of the listed exceptions is a Zoning Code violation under § 331-140. Fines run up to $2,500 for a first offense and up to $5,000 for a repeat offense within three years, with up to 15 days in jail possible on either. The Building Official can also issue a stop-work order under § 111-41, and each day the encroachment stands counts as a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum side street yard on a corner lot in New Rochelle?
Can I build a deck in my required side yard?
What counts as an obstruction at a New Rochelle street intersection?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New Rochelle
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