Building Setbacks & Zoning in Allentown, PA (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Allentown, Pennsylvania, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
Allentown's standard detached house type, House A, must sit back 30 feet from the front lot line in the GX-C zone and 15 feet in the GX-N, NX, N2, N3 and N4 zones, with four to six feet on each side and a uniform 35 feet at the rear, under Zoning Ordinance § 660-29.D. Front-yard averaging can adjust the front figure.
House A Yard Setbacks: 15-30 ft Front in Allentown
Some RestrictionsAllentown, PA Zoning Ordinance § 660-29.D (House A, Building Siting), Ord. No. 16166, eff. Jan. 1, 2026
Building Siting. [See Figure 660-29(2).] Zones GX-C GX-N, NX, N2 N3, N4 ... 3 Front Setback or Build-to Zone 30 ft. min. — 15 ft. min. 25 ft. max. 15 ft. min. — Front-yard averaging applies. See § 660-131G for measuring. ... 6 Side Setback 4 ft. min. 4 ft. min. 6 ft. min. 7 Rear Setback 35 ft. min. 35 ft. min. 35 ft. min. 8 Rear Landscape Yard — 15 ft. min. depth; 150 s.f. min. area 15 ft. min....
Structure Height Limits
Allentown limits the City's standard detached house type, House A, to 2.5 stories (three with a visible basement and a half-story roof) in the GX-C, GX-N, NX and N2 zones, and two to 2.5 stories in N3 and N4, under Zoning Ordinance § 660-29.G. Story height is capped at 11-12 feet floor-to-floor, and height to the roof eaves may not exceed 20 feet.
House A Height Capped at 2.5 Stories in Allentown
Some RestrictionsAllentown, PA Zoning Ordinance § 660-29.G (House A, Height), Ord. No. 16166, eff. Jan. 1, 2026
Height. [See Figure 660-29(5).] Zones GX-C GX-N, NX, N2 N3, N4 Additional/References 13 Height 2 stories min. 2.5 stories max.; 3 stories max with both visible basement and half story in roof 1.5 stories min. 2.5 stories max.; 3 stories max with both visible basement and half story in roof 2 stories min. 2.5 stories max. See § 660-29J for half story regulations. See § 660-131M for measuring hei...
Lot Coverage Limits
Allentown's zoning code caps building coverage for the City's standard detached house type at 50% in the N3 and N4 residential zones and 60% in the GX-N, NX, N2 and GX-C zones. Coverage is measured as the ground-floor footprint of all buildings on the lot divided by total lot area under Zoning Ordinance § 660-131I, enforced through the zoning permit process.
Allentown Caps House Lot Coverage at 50-60%
Some RestrictionsAllentown, PA Zoning Ordinance § 660-29.D (House A, Building Siting), Ord. No. 16166, eff. Jan. 1, 2026
Building Siting. [See Figure 660-29(2).] Zones GX-C GX-N, NX, N2 N3, N4 Additional/References ... 9 Building Coverage 60% max. 60% max. 50% max. See § 660-131I for measuring building coverage.
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Allentown city rules.
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