Whittier, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)

Setbacks in Whittier are established by the City's Zoning Code (Title 18), with specific minimums in each residential zone. In the R-1 Single-Family Residential Zone, Section 18.16.030(B) requires a front yard of at least 20 feet in depth (15 feet for a key lot), interior side yards of not less than 5 feet each, a street-side yard of at least 10 feet on corner lots, and a rear yard of at least 5 feet. The larger R-E Single-Family Residential Estate Zone (Section 18.12.030(B)) requires a 25-foot front yard, 10-foot interior side yards, a 25-foot street-side yard on corner lots, and a 10-foot rear yard. The R-3 Medium Multiple Residential Zone (Section 18.20.030(B)) ties the front setback to the block average but at least 15 feet, sets side yards by a 30-percent-of-width formula with a 5-foot interior minimum, and a 5-foot rear yard. Whittier's hillside H-R zone (Chapter 18.14) adds grading and slope rules that affect where structures can sit. Because setbacks differ sharply by zone and lot type, and corner, reverse-corner, and key lots have special rules, confirm the exact figures for your property and zone with Whittier Community Development before designing an addition or new structure.