Scranton, PA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Suburban SFR front yard
- 20 feet, local/collector or arterial street
- Suburban SFR side yard
- 4 feet
- Suburban SFR rear yard
- 25 feet
- Conservation District setbacks
- 30 ft front, 30 ft side, 10 ft rear
- Governing section
- Scranton City Code § 445-12
- Maximum civil penalty
- $500 plus court costs per violation
- Appeal body
- City of Scranton Zoning Hearing Board
Summary
Scranton's zoning code sets minimum front, side and rear yard setbacks separately for each zoning district under § 445-12. In the Suburban Single Family Residential District, principal structures need 20 feet front, 4 feet side and 25 feet rear; the Conservation District requires 30 feet front, 30 feet side and only 10 feet rear. The Zoning Officer enforces the standards citywide.
Yard Setback Principal Structure A Front yard, on local/collector street 20 feet A Front yard, on arterial street 20 feet B Side yard 4 feet C Rear yard 25 feet Accessory Structure D Front yard N/A E Side yard 5 feet F Rear yard 5 feet
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4719898; v25 updated 2025-12-16; through 12-16-2025).
Full Breakdown
), divides the city into fourteen zoning districts and fixes a separate dimensional table for each one in § 445-12, District Quick Views. Every district's table lists lot size, lot width, height, coverage and yard setback minimums for the principal structure. In the Suburban Single Family Residential District (District 6), § 445-12E(2) sets a 20-foot front yard on both local/collector and arterial streets, a 4-foot side yard, and a 25-foot rear yard for the principal structure, with accessory structures allowed no front yard, a 5-foot side yard and a 5-foot rear yard.
The Conservation District (District 2), § 445-12C(2), requires much deeper yards: 30 feet on the front, 30 feet on the side, and 10 feet on the rear, reflecting its larger 87,120-square-foot minimum lot size. Other residential and commercial districts, including Town Single Family Residential, Town Mixed Residential, City Neighborhood Mixed Residential and the commercial and industrial tiers, each carry their own table further down § 445-12. Section 445-17 lists specific items a property owner may place inside a required yard without a variance: sidewalks, access drives, roof overhangs and HVAC equipment projecting up to two feet, flagpoles, bird feeders and decorative walls up to 32 inches, among others.
Anything larger, or any structure that does not fit the applicable district's table, needs a variance or special exception from the City of Scranton Zoning Hearing Board before the Zoning Officer will issue a permit.
Violations & Fines
Building without meeting a district's setback triggers a written enforcement notice under § 445-77 naming the violation and a compliance deadline, with a right to appeal to the Zoning Hearing Board before penalties attach. If a District Justice finds a violation, the judgment is capped at $500 plus court costs and the City's attorney fees, and each day the violation continues after that ruling counts as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum front yard setback in Scranton's Suburban Single Family Residential District?
Do setback minimums differ between Scranton's zoning districts?
Can anything be built inside a required yard setback in Scranton?
What happens if a Scranton property violates a yard setback?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Scranton
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