Union City, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- RS district front yard
- 20 ft (25 ft in RS10000/RS8000)
- RM district front yard
- 10 feet minimum
- Rear yard, residential
- 10 to 20 feet by district
- Governing chapter
- Municipal Code Ch. 18.32
Summary
Union City sets a 20-foot minimum front yard in RS districts, 25 feet in the RS 10000 and RS 8000 districts, and 10 feet in RM districts under its residential zoning code.
A. In the RS districts the minimum front yard shall be 20 feet.
1. Except that in the RS 10000 and RS 8000 districts the minimum front yard shall be 25 feet.
B. In the RM districts, the minimum front yard shall be 10 feet. (Ord. 55-64 § 6.8, 1964; Ord. 55.210-79 § 2, 1979; Ord. 457-95 § 2, 1995; Ord. 609-03 § 2, 2003; Ord. 670-06 § 3, 2006; Ord. 900-22 § 4, 2022; Ord. 917-23, 9/26/2023)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4940544; v16 updated 2026-06-23).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 18.32 (Residential Districts) sets the front yard minimum at 20 feet in standard RS single-family districts, rising to 25 feet in the RS 10000 and RS 8000 districts, and dropping to 10 feet in RM multifamily districts. Side yards run roughly 5 to 12 feet and rear yards 10 to 20 feet depending on district under §§ 18.32.100 and 18.32.105. Reduced setbacks apply only within specific mixed-use districts, such as a flat six feet in Marketplace Mixed Use (§ 18.26.130).
Violations & Fines
Setback violations block permit issuance and are enforceable as a zoning code violation, prosecutable as an infraction or misdemeanor under Union City Municipal Code § 1.16.010.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the minimum front yard setback for a house in Union City?
Do setbacks differ in Union City's mixed-use districts?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Union City
California rules heatmap·Compare Union City to another location·View the California building setbacks & zoning overview
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Setback Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Alameda County handle setback rules.