Building Setbacks & Zoning in Hayward, CA (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Hayward, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
Hayward's residential zoning table sets minimum front, side, side-street, and rear yard setbacks separately for the city's four residential districts, RNP, RL, RM, and RH. Front yards run 10 to 20 feet, side yards 5 to 10 feet, and rear yards start at 10 feet, with a 30-foot rear setback from the tree line in the lowest-density RNP district.
Hayward Residential Yard Setback Minimums
Some RestrictionsHayward Municipal Code § 10-1.203, Table 10-1.203 (Yard Requirements)
Yard Requirements. Minimum Yards (ft). See also Section 10-1.2725 for Special Yard Requirements and Exceptions. Additional setbacks may apply from flood plains, faults and other similar environmental constraints. Front Yard 20 15 / 20 (attached garage) 10 10. Side Yard 10 5 5 5. Side Street Yard 10 10 10 10. Rear Yard 30 from the tree line / 20. Reduction to 10 feet is permitted for one-story p...
Structure Height Limits
Hayward caps detached single-family homes at 30 feet and two stories in all four residential districts. Multifamily buildings can rise higher depending on the zone, up to 50 feet and four stories in RM and 60 feet and five stories in RH, while detached accessory buildings are held to 14 feet and one story citywide.
Hayward Residential Building Height Limits
Some RestrictionsHayward Municipal Code § 10-1.203, Table 10-1.203 (Height Requirements)
Height Requirements. Maximum Height (ft). Building Height: Detached Residential Unit(s) 30 (2-stories) 30 (2-stories) 30 (2-stories) 30 (2-stories) Only applicable to units existing before the effective date of this Ordinance. Duplex/Triplex - 30 (2-stories) 40 (3-stories) 40 (3-stories). Multifamily Residential (4+ Units) - * 50 (4-stories) 60 (5-stories). Non-Residential Buildings 30 (2-stori...
Lot Coverage Limits
Hayward's commercial zoning districts cap how much of a lot a building can cover, ranging from 50 percent in the RO and CO office districts to 90 percent in the CN-R, CN, CG, and CB districts. Table 10-1.803 of the Municipal Code sets these limits alongside minimum lot size, frontage, and yard standards for each commercial district.
Hayward Commercial Zoning Lot Coverage Caps
Some RestrictionsHayward Municipal Code § 10-1.803, Table 10-1.803
TABLE 10-1.803: DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS - COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS. Standard RO CO CN-R CN CG CB. Minimum Lot Size (sf) 5,000 5,000 10,000 6,000 6,000 6,000. Minimum Lot Frontage (ft) 35 35 100 60 35 35. Minimum Average Lot Width (ft) 50 50 100 60 60 60. Maximum Lot Coverage (%) 50 50 90 90 90 90. Minimum Average Lot Depth (ft) 100 80 80 100 100 100.
Looking for Alameda County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Hayward city rules.
Building Setbacks & Zoning in Alameda County →