Springfield, IL Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- R-1 front yard
- 30 feet minimum
- R-1 side yards
- 5 ft each, 15 ft combined
- R-1 rear yard
- 20 feet minimum
- S/B commercial front yard
- 15 feet
- I-1/I-2 front and rear yard
- 20 feet each
Summary
City Code Sec. 155.061(d) sets minimum front, side and rear yards by district: 30 feet front, 5 feet each side and 20 feet rear in R-1, dropping to 15 feet front with no side or rear minimum in the S and B commercial districts, and 20 feet front and rear in I-1 and I-2.
Subject to any applicable exceptions, modifications, or additional requirements provided in sections 155.062 through 155.071, front, side, and rear yards are required as set forth in the following provisions and table: (a)The minimum yard space required for one building or other structures shall not again be considered as yard space for an adjoining structure on the same or an adjoining zoning lot.(b)No zoning lot, unless otherwise specified, shall be reduced in area so that the yards become less than those required by this subchapter.(c)On corner lots, where side yards are required, any side yard abutting a street shall be at least one-half the depth of the required front yard.(d)Front, side, and rear yard dimensions: District R-1: 30 feet front, 5 feet either side yard, 15 feet total of both side yards, 20 feet rear. District R-2: 25 feet front, 3 feet either side yard, 10 feet total of both side yards, 20 feet rear, 0 for adjoining townhouses. District S-1: 15 feet front, None side yard, None total, 10 feet rear. District S-2: 15 feet front, None side yard, None total, 10 feet rear. District S-3: None front, None side yard, None total, None rear. District B-1: 15 feet front, None side yard, None total, 10 feet rear. District B-2: 15 feet front, None side yard, None total, 10 feet rear. District I-1: 20 feet front, None side yard, None total, 20 feet rear. District I-2: 20 feet front, None side yard, None total, 20 feet rear.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 82).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 061 sets the basic front, side, and rear yard requirements that apply to every zoning lot unless a specific exception in Sec. 062 through Sec. 071 applies. Subsection (a) bars counting the same yard space twice for two adjoining structures, and subsection (b) bars reducing a lot's area below what keeps its yards at the required minimums. Subsection (c) sets corner-lot side yards abutting a street at half the depth of the required front yard. The table in subsection (d) sets the R-1 single-family district at a 30-foot front yard, a 5-foot minimum for either side yard, a 15-foot combined minimum for both side yards, and a 20-foot rear yard.
R-2 reduces those to a 25-foot front yard, 3-foot side yards, a 10-foot combined side yard minimum, and a 20-foot rear yard, with no side yard required between adjoining townhouses. The S-1 and S-2 commercial districts require only a 15-foot front yard and a 10-foot rear yard, with no minimum side yard. S-3, the central shopping district, requires no yards at all. B-1 and B-2 match S-1 and S-2 at 15 feet front and 10 feet rear with no side yard minimum, while I-1 and I-2 both require 20 feet on the front and rear yards with no side yard minimum.
Sec. 062 separately lists what can sit inside a required yard without counting as an obstruction, including fences that comply with Sec. 069, open porches and decks, and accessory sheds in a rear yard, while Sec. 063 and Sec. 064 add extra requirements where a commercial or industrial lot adjoins a residential district.
Violations & Fines
Building or placing a structure closer to a lot line than Sec. 155.061's minimum front, side, or rear yard allows, without qualifying for one of the listed obstructions in Sec. 155.062 or an exception in Sec. 155.063 through Sec. 155.071, is a zoning violation. Chapter 155 sets no specific fine for a yard violation, so the general Code penalty in Sec. 10.99 applies: $25 to $500 per day of continued violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far must a house sit from the front property line in Springfield?
What is the side yard setback for a Springfield home?
Do commercial buildings in Springfield need a side yard setback?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Springfield
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