New York, NY Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- R1 front yard
- 20 feet minimum
- R4/R5 front yard
- 5 feet minimum
- R6-R12 front yard
- None required
- Rear yard, interior lot
- 20 ft up to 75 ft height
- R1 side yard, detached
- 8 feet each side minimum
Summary
New York City's Zoning Resolution sets minimum front, side and rear yard depths by residence district, from 20-foot front yards in R1 to none in R6-R12, plus a citywide 20-to-30-foot rear yard rule.
In all districts, rear yards shall be provided on interior lots in accordance with this Section... a rear yard shall be provided as follows: For detached and zero lot line buildings, for buildings or portions thereof at or below a height of 75 feet, as measured from base plane, a rear yard with a depth of not less than 20 feet shall be provided at every rear lot line on any zoning lot, and for portions above 75 feet, where permitted, a rear yard with a depth of 30 feet shall be provided
Full Breakdown
Article II of the Zoning Resolution fixes yard depths by district. Front yards run from 20 feet in R1 down to 5 feet in R4/R5 districts, with none required in R6 through R12. Side yards for detached one- and two-family homes must be at least 8 feet wide in R1 and 5 feet elsewhere; many multi-family buildings need none. Rear yards apply citywide: a minimum 20-foot depth up to 75 feet in building height, widening to 30 feet above that height, on every zoning lot's rear lot line, subject to shallow-lot reductions down to 10 feet.
Violations & Fines
Building without required yards risks a DOB stop-work order, denial of a certificate of occupancy, and mandatory alteration or removal of the non-compliant portion at the owner's expense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all NYC residence districts require a front yard?
How deep must a rear yard be in NYC?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New York
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