St. Louis, MO Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Front yard ("A" District)
- 25 ft minimum
- Side yard
- 4 ft each, 10 ft total
- Rear yard
- 25 ft minimum
- Narrow lots (<40 ft wide)
- side yard may shrink
- Height bonus
- 45 ft with two 10-ft side yards
Summary
In the "A" Single-Family Dwelling District, front yards must be at least 25 feet deep, side yards at least 4 feet each (10 feet total), and rear yards at least 25 feet deep, under the City's lettered zoning code.
When 25 percent of any frontage within the district is improved with dwellings and a majority of such improved frontage has observed a front yard line with a variation in depth of not more than 6 feet, no building hereafter constructed shall project beyond the average front yard line so established except that in no event shall the front yard line be greater than 50 feet. In all other cases, there shall be a front yard line of not less than 25 feet.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 11).
Full Breakdown
St. Louis sets yard (setback) minimums by zoning district in Title 26 of the Revised Code. In the "A" Single-Family Dwelling District, § 26.20.060 requires a front yard of at least 25 feet (or the block's established average front line, capped at 50 feet); § 26.20.070 requires side yards of at least 4 feet each, totaling at least 10 feet, though lots under 40 feet wide may shrink that total proportionally, never below 3 feet per side; and § 26.20.080 requires a rear yard of at least 25 feet. A building providing two 10-foot side yards may rise from the standard 35-foot cap to 45 feet. The "B" Two-Family and "C" Multiple-Family Districts largely adopt the same yard rules by cross-reference, with modest variations.
Violations & Fines
Violating any yard requirement is a zoning infraction punished under Chapter 1.12's general penalty provisions (§ 26.100.010); the City Counselor may also sue in court to restrain the violation (§ 26.100.020).
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the minimum front yard setback in St. Louis's "A" Single-Family District?
Can I build closer than 4 feet to my side property line?
What happens if I build without meeting the yard setbacks?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Louis
Compare St. Louis to another location·View the Missouri building setbacks & zoning overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.