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Temple, TX Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Front yard (by zone): 15–50 ft, varies by district
Rear yard: 10 ft, all residential zones
Side yard (by zone): 5 ft min, or % of lot width
Governing table: UDC Table 4.5.1
Max fine: $500 per day (Code Sec. 1-9)

Summary

Temple's Unified Development Code sets minimum front, side, and rear yard setbacks that vary by zoning district, with a uniform 10-foot rear yard across residential zones.

Required yard types are as follows 1. Front; 2. Side; 3. Side (corner); and 4. Rear. ... All required yards are measured from the front, side or rear property line to the nearest face of the building, covered porch, covered terrace or attached accessory building.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Reformat).

Full Breakdown

Under UDC Table 4.5.1, minimum front yard setbacks for single-family and attached-dwelling districts range from 15 feet (SFA-2, SFA-3, TH, MF-2, O-2) up to 50 feet in the Agricultural (AG) district, with most single-family zones (SF-1 through SF-3) falling between 15 and 20 feet. Side yard setbacks range from a flat 5 feet up to a percentage of lot width depending on district, while the rear yard setback is a uniform 10 feet across every listed residential and multi-family district. Required yards are measured from the property line to the nearest face of the building, covered porch, covered terrace, or attached accessory structure (UDC Sec. 4.4.4.C), and a block-face "setback averaging" rule can adjust the required front yard up or down to match neighboring lots (UDC Sec. 4.4.4.E).

Violations & Fines

Building without meeting the applicable yard setback is a UDC violation enforceable by the City Attorney, punishable under the city's general penalty (Code Sec. 1-9) by a fine up to $500, with each day a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum front yard setback in Temple, TX?

It depends on the zoning district: from 15 feet in districts like SFA-2, SFA-3, and TH up to 50 feet in the Agricultural (AG) district, per UDC Table 4.5.1.

Is Temple's rear yard setback the same in every zone?

Yes. UDC Table 4.5.1 sets a uniform 10-foot minimum rear yard setback across all listed residential and multi-family districts.

Can a Temple lot get a smaller front setback than the zoning minimum?

Yes, through setback averaging: if a block face's average front setback differs from the district minimum, that average becomes the required front yard (UDC Sec. 4.4.4.E).

Sources & Official References

[1]Temple, TX Unified Development Code — Municode Library

Other rules in Temple

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All Temple rules

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