St. Louis setback requirements vary by zoning district. Typical single-family: front 25 ft, side 5 ft, rear 25 ft. Historic neighborhoods often have reduced setbacks reflecting pre-war urban fabric. Dense two-family and multifamily districts allow zero-lot-line on sides.
Title XXVI (Zoning Code) of the Revised Code of St. Louis sets dimensional standards by district. In A (Single-Family) and B (Two-Family) districts, typical setbacks are 25 ft front, 5 ft side, 25 ft rear. In older neighborhoods, build-to-line averaging allows new construction to match the predominant setback on the block, which in Soulard, Benton Park, and Shaw is often 0-10 ft. Multifamily C and D districts allow zero-lot-line or 3 ft side setbacks. Form-Based Code areas (parts of Downtown, Central West End) regulate by building type rather than traditional setbacks. Variances available through the Board of Adjustment for hardship. Historic districts require Cultural Resources Office review.
Construction within setback: stop-work order, $100-$500 per day, possible demolition of encroaching portion.
St. Louis, MO
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