Palm Beach County, FL Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Standard RS front setback
- 25 feet
- Standard RS side setback
- 7.5 feet (10 near ZLL homes)
- RS side street / rear
- 15 feet each
- Governing table
- ULDC Table 3.D.1.A
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county only
Summary
Unincorporated Palm Beach County sets minimum yard setbacks by zoning district under the ULDC's Table 3.D.1.A: a standard single-family (RS) lot needs a 25-foot front setback, 7.5-foot side, 15-foot side street, and 15-foot rear yard, with much larger setbacks in rural AR and AGR districts.
Front, side, side street, and rear setbacks shall be applied in accordance with the lot orientation as defined by lot frontage. Table 3.D.1.A, Property Development Regulations: RS - 6,000 sq. ft. min. lot size, 65' width, 75' depth, 40% max. building coverage; Min. Setbacks (7): Front 25', Side 7.5' (10), Side Street 15', Rear 15'.
Full Breakdown
Table 3.D.1.A, Property Development Regulations, in Article 3 of the county's Unified Land Development Code sets minimum yard setbacks by zoning district for unincorporated Palm Beach County only. A standard 6,000-square-foot RS (Single Family Residential) lot needs a 25-foot front setback, 7.5-foot side, 15-foot side street, and 15-foot rear yard; RT lots need 25/15/25/25 feet. Rural AR and AGR districts require 40 to 100 feet. Setbacks follow lot orientation as defined by lot frontage, and buildings over 35 feet add a foot of setback per extra foot of height. None of this reaches Boca Raton, Delray Beach, West Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, Jupiter, or the county's other municipalities, which set their own setbacks.
Violations & Fines
Building without meeting the table's setbacks risks a stop-work order and code enforcement case; the fix is removing the encroachment or applying for a Type 2 Waiver through Zoning before construction begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the front setback for a house in unincorporated Palm Beach County?
Do these setbacks apply inside West Palm Beach or Boca Raton?
Can I build closer than the required setback?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Palm Beach County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Palm Beach County to another location·View the Florida building setbacks & zoning overview
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