Tempe, AZ Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Front setback range
- 40 ft (AG) to 15 ft (R1-PAD)
- Side setback range
- 20 ft (AG) to 5 ft (R1-PAD)
- Rear setback range
- 35 ft (AG) to 15 ft (R1-PAD)
- Alley-adjacent lots
- Measured from alley midpoint
- Use permit reduction
- Up to 20% less
Summary
Tempe's Table 4-202A sets minimum front, side and rear yard setbacks for every agricultural and single-family district. Front building setbacks run from 40 feet in the AG district down to 15 feet in R1-PAD, side setbacks shrink from 20 feet to as little as 5 feet, and rear setbacks range from 35 feet to 15 feet, with a use permit able to reduce any of them by 20%.
Setback (feet) (c): [Exceptions, see Section 4-205(B)]. Front - Building: 40 ft, 35 ft, 30 ft, 20 ft, 20 ft, 20 ft, 20 ft, 15 ft except 20 ft for garage, NS, 20%. Side (f): 20 ft, 15 ft, 10 ft, 7 ft, 7 ft, 5 ft (d), 5 ft (d), 5 ft (a)(d), NS, 20%. Rear (f): 35 ft, 30 ft, 25 ft, 20 ft, 15 ft, 15 ft, 15 ft, 15 ft, NS, 20%. (b) Street side yard setback for corner lots adjacent to keylots shall be increased by ten (10) additional feet. (f) If adjacent to a dedicated public alley, setback shall be measured from the midpoint of the alley.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: City Code: Supplement 33 Update 4 | Zoning and Development Code: Supplement 11 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Section 4-202's Table 4-202A lists a separate setback for each Tempe single-family and agricultural district. Front building setbacks step down from 40 feet in AG and 35 feet in R1-15 to 30 feet in R1-10, 20 feet in R1-8 through R1-6 and R1-5, and 15 feet in R1-PAD, though R1-PAD requires 20 feet if the front elevation is a garage. A separate, shallower front setback applies to open structures such as balconies and porches, generally five feet less than the building setback in each district.
Side yard setbacks range from 20 feet in AG down to 7 feet in R1-8 and R1-7, and 5 feet in R1-6, R1-5 and R1-PAD, with the table's footnote (a) reducing the R1-PAD side setback to zero feet for a common wall. Rear yard setbacks start at 35 feet in AG, step down through 30, 25 and 20 feet, and settle at 15 feet in R1-6, R1-5 and R1-PAD. Every side and rear setback measured against a dedicated public alley is instead taken from the midpoint of the alley, per footnote (f).
A corner lot adjacent to a keylot must add ten additional feet to its street side setback under footnote (b). The table's own Use Permit Standard column lets an applicant seek a 20% reduction in any front, side, rear or street side setback figure through the use permit process described in Section 6-308, while Section 4-205(B) lists further exceptions that do not count against these minimums.
Violations & Fines
Constructing a building, addition, wall, fence, or open structure that encroaches into a required front, side or rear setback without an approved use permit or listed exception violates Section 1-201 of the Zoning and Development Code. Tempe can issue a civil citation carrying a $100 to $1,000 sanction per day the encroachment remains, or prosecute the violation as a class 1 misdemeanor punishable by up to a $2,500 fine and six months in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum front setback in Tempe's R1-8 district?
How close to the side property line can I build in Tempe?
Does an alley change my rear setback in Tempe?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tempe
Compare Tempe to another location·View the Arizona building setbacks & zoning overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Setback Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Maricopa County handle setback rules.