Yuma, AZ Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- R-1 front setback
- 20 feet
- R-1 side setback
- 7 feet
- R-1-6 rear setback
- 10 feet (reduced)
- Suburban Ranch front/rear setback
- 25 feet
- Residential Estate RE-35 front setback
- 35 feet
- Variance route
- § 154-03.04 exceptions procedure
- Violation penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine, 10 days jail
Summary
Yuma sets minimum yard setbacks by zoning district rather than one citywide number. In the five Low Density Residential (R-1) districts, § 154-05.04(F)(4) requires a 20-foot front yard, 7-foot side yards, a 20-foot rear yard (reduced to 10 feet in R-1-6 and 15 feet in R-1-8), and a 10-foot street side yard.
(4) Yards. The following is the list of minimum yard setbacks for the five Low Density Residential (R-1) Districts: (a) Minimum front yard setback. Twenty feet; (b) Minimum side yard setback. Seven feet; (c) Minimum rear yard setback. Twenty feet (reduced to ten feet in the R-1-6 District and fifteen feet in the R-1-8 District); and (d) Minimum street side yard setback. Ten feet.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-74: Current through May 20, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Setback minimums scale with lot size across Yuma's residential zoning districts, and the Zoning Administrator measures each yard from the property line to the nearest point of a building's foundation. 04(F)(4): a 20-foot front yard, 7-foot side yards, a 20-foot rear yard that drops to 10 feet in the smallest R-1-6 district and 15 feet in R-1-8, and a 10-foot street side yard on corner lots. 05(F)(5), with garages allowed to sit as close as 3 feet from the rear line if detached. 03(F)(4). 04.
Violations & Fines
Building or maintaining a structure inside the required setback without an approved variance violates the zoning code and is a class 1 misdemeanor under § 154-999, carrying a fine of up to $1,000, up to ten days in jail, or both, with each day of the encroachment counted as a separate offense. The Building Safety Division can red-tag construction or deny a certificate of occupancy until the encroachment is removed or a variance is granted.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far back from the street must a house sit in Yuma?
Are side yard setbacks the same in every Yuma residential zone?
Can I build a detached garage closer to my rear property line?
What happens if my addition encroaches on the required setback?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yuma
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