Building Setbacks & Zoning in Erie, PA (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Erie, Pennsylvania, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
Erie's Section 205 table fixes the minimum front, side, and rear yard depths for every zoning district. An R-1 house needs a flat 30-foot front yard, while R-1A, R-2, R-3, and RLB lots instead have to match the average front setback of the existing buildings on the same block face.
Erie Yard Setback Minimums by Zoning District
Some RestrictionsCity of Erie Zoning Ordinance § 205 (Lot, Yard and Height Requirements table); § 205.2 (Front Yard Averaging)
§ 205. Lot, yard and height requirements. The minimum lot area per family, maximum lot coverage by buildings and structures, minimum depth of front yard, minimum depth of rear yard, total combined width and minimum width of side yards, maximum height of structures and number of stories... shall be specified in the following tables: Use Districts R-1 R-1A R-2 R-3 RLB ... Minimum depth of front y...
Structure Height Limits
Erie's Section 205 table caps building height at 35 feet in the R-1 and R-1A Districts, 45 feet in R-2, 100 feet in R-3, and 60 feet in RLB. Chimneys, spires, and similar rooftop appurtenances can rise higher if the structure steps back from the building line as it climbs.
Erie Building Height Limits by Zoning District
Some RestrictionsCity of Erie Zoning Ordinance § 205 (Maximum Height of Structure table); §§ 205.6, 205.22
§ 205. Lot, yard and height requirements. ... Use Districts R-1 R-1A R-2 R-3 RLB ... Maximum height of structure (feet) 35 35 45 100 (F) 60 (K) ... 205.22. Hospitals located in RLB Districts shall meet height requirements set forth in R-3 Zoning Districts. 205.6. Appurtenances to buildings, chimneys, stacks, elevator bulkheads, penthouses, gas or water towers, cooling towers, stage towers or sc...
Lot Coverage Limits
Erie caps how much of a lot a building can occupy: 35 percent in the R-1 District and 50 percent in R-1A, R-2, R-3, and RLB, rising to as much as 100 percent in the busiest commercial and manufacturing zones. Roofless decks, pools, and walkways do not count against the cap.
Erie Maximum Lot Coverage by Zoning District
Some RestrictionsCity of Erie Zoning Ordinance § 205 (Maximum Lot Coverage table); § 205.16 (Exclusions)
§ 205. Lot, yard and height requirements. ... Use Districts R-1 R-1A R-2 R-3 RLB ... Maximum lot coverage by buildings 35% (I) 50% (I) 50% (I) 50% (I) 50% (I) ... Use Districts C-1 C-2 C-3 C-4 M-1 M-2 ... Maximum lot coverage by buildings 50% (I) 50% (I) 100% 100% 75% (I) 100% ... 205.16. Maximum lot coverage by buildings as indicated in Section 205 shall not include ground floor roofless decks...