Tustin, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Front yard minimum
- 20 feet (§9220 Table 1)
- Interior side yard minimum
- 5 feet (§9220 Table 1)
- Corner side yard minimum
- 10 feet (§9220 Table 1)
- Rear yard minimum
- 5 feet, 1,000 sq. ft. open space (§9220 Table 1)
- Highway-fronting lots
- follow §9271(u) instead
Summary
Tustin's R1 Single-Family Residential District requires a 20-foot front yard, 5-foot interior side yard, 10-foot corner side yard, and a 5-foot rear yard leaving at least 1,000 square feet of clear open space, under Table 1 of Tustin City Code Section 9220. Lots fronting a primary or secondary highway follow different standards in Section 9271(u).
Front Yard (1) Interior Side Yard (1) Corner Side Yard (1) Rear Yard (1) ... R1 Single-Family Residential District (2) (Sec. 9223) ... 20 feet 5 feet 10 feet 5 feet, but no less than 1,000 sq. ft. clear and unobstructed usable open space on rear ⅓ of lot ... (1)If front on to secondary or primary highway refer to section 9271u.
Full Breakdown
Table 1 of Tustin City Code Section 9220 sets the required yards for primary residential structures by zoning district. In the R1 Single-Family Residential District, the minimum front yard is 20 feet, the minimum interior side yard is 5 feet, the minimum corner side yard is 10 feet, and the minimum rear yard is 5 feet, but no less than 1,000 square feet of clear and unobstructed usable open space must remain on the rear third of the lot. A footnote to the table specifies that if the property fronts on a secondary or primary highway, the setback instead follows Section 9271(u).
Setbacks differ elsewhere in the same chapter: Section 9223(a) requires a detached accessory building, one not built simultaneously with the main house, to sit back 50 feet from the front property line and only 5 feet from the rear, while an accessory use normally incidental to the residence needs just 1 foot from an interior side line and 1 foot from the rear line, except 5 feet where the lot abuts an alley. The E4 Estate District uses percentage-based side and rear setbacks (10 percent of lot width for side yards) rather than R1's flat footages, and the R2, R3, and R4 districts each carry their own yard figures in the same table.
Violations & Fines
Building within the required front, side, or rear yard on an R1 lot without an approved setback exception or variance is a zoning violation subject to the City's administrative citation program: a written notice followed by civil fines up to $100 for a first violation, $200 for a second within a year, and $500 for a third, with the right to appeal to a hearing officer within ten days of the citation under Section 1166. Unpermitted encroachments discovered during plan check can also delay or void a building permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far back from the street must my Tustin R1 house sit?
What's the minimum side yard setback in R1?
How much rear yard do I need to leave open?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tustin
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