Building Setbacks & Zoning in Jersey City, NJ (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Jersey City, New Jersey, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
Jersey City sets yard setbacks district by district under its 2022 zoning ordinance. In the RH-1 Residential Housing District, front yards must match the predominant setback on the block, side yards need a minimum of five feet on each side, and the rear yard runs 30% of lot depth on lots under 120 feet, rising to 40% on deeper lots.
Jersey City Yard Setback Minimums by Zone
Some RestrictionsJersey City Code § 345-40.E.5, .6, .7, .12 (RH-1 Residential Housing District)
5.Front Yard Setback: Predominant setback shall apply.6.Side Yards: Minimum of five feet on both sides.7.Minimum Rear Yard:a.For lots with a lot depth less than 120 feet, 30% of lot depth.b.For lots with a lot depth of 120 feet or more, 40% of the lot depth. ... 12.Minimum Accessory Building Setbacks:a.Rear Yard: Zero feet.b.Side Yard: Two feet.
Structure Height Limits
Jersey City caps principal residential buildings in the RH-2 Residential Housing District, the city's standard 25-by-100 lot zone, at three stories and 35 feet, with the ground-floor entry height keyed to the neighboring house. Accessory structures are shorter still: 18 feet for a two-story accessory dwelling unit, 12 feet for a garage or shed.
Jersey City Residential Height Limit: 3 Stories
Some RestrictionsJersey City Code § 345-40.1.E.6, .13.a (RH-2 Residential Housing District)
6.Maximum Building Height: three stories and 35 feet. The required finished floor height of the building entry on the Primary Front Façade shall match the finished floor height of the building entry for either lot adjacent to the subject parcel. ... 13.Standards for accessory buildings or structures:a.Maximum accessory building height:i.For Accessory Dwelling Units: 18 feet and two stories.ii.F...
Lot Coverage Limits
Jersey City caps how much of a lot can be built or paved over on a district-by-district basis. In the RH-1 Residential Housing District, building coverage tops out at 55% of the lot and total lot coverage, including impervious decks, patios, and enclosed additions, at 75%. Open porches count toward that 75% cap only if their construction renders them impervious.
Jersey City Lot Coverage Cap: 75% (RH-1)
Some RestrictionsJersey City Code § 345-40.E.9-10 (RH-1); § 345-60.D.4.b-c (Supplementary Zoning)
9.Maximum Building Coverage: 55%.10.Maximum Lot Coverage: 75%. ... b.Enclosed encroachments are calculated toward building coverage and lot coverage.c.Grounded or open encroachments are calculated toward lot coverage if the method of construction renders the encroachment impervious.