Building Setbacks & Zoning in San Antonio, TX (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for San Antonio, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
San Antonio sets minimum front, side and rear yard setbacks per zoning district in the Unified Development Code's dimensional matrix, Table 310-1. A single-family lot zoned R-20 needs a 10-foot front setback, 5-foot side setback and 30-foot rear setback; R-6 drops the rear setback to 20 feet, and R-1 to just 5 feet.
San Antonio Yard Setback Minimums by Zone
Some RestrictionsSan Antonio Unified Development Code § 35-310, Table 310-1
(a)No building permit shall be issued unless the proposed development conforms to the design regulations prescribed within the applicable zoning district. Table 310-1, Lot and Building Dimensions Table: Front Setback (min) / Side Setback (min) / Rear Setback (min) 16 columns read: R-20 20,000 16 2 65 90 16 — 10 — 5 30 16 35/2-½ 16 — — R-6 1 6,000 16 7 30 50 16 150 10 — 5 20 16 35/2-½ 16 —...
Structure Height Limits
San Antonio sets building height through section 35-310, the Dimensional Matrix, and Table 310-1, with height measured under the International Building Code. Section 35-517 adds exemptions for spires, chimneys, and rooftop equipment, a one-foot-for-every-two-feet setback rule for height above the limit, and a fifty-foot buffer that caps commercial, office, and multi-family buildings at single-family height.
San Antonio Building Height Limits and Exceptions
Some RestrictionsSan Antonio Unified Development Code § 35-517
(a) Generally. Building height shall conform to the requirements of section 35-310 , Dimensional Matrix. ... (c) Height Exceptions. The height limits for the various districts do not apply to church spires, belfries, cupolas, or domes not used for human habitation, nor to chimneys, ventilators, skylights, parapet walls, cornices, solar energy systems, or necessary mechanical appurtenances usual...
Lot Coverage Limits
San Antonio caps accessory structures, garages, sheds, workshops, at 50 percent of the combined side and rear yard area on any lot. Sec. 35-370(b) adds a hard floor-area ceiling of 2,500 square feet in residential districts and keeps every accessory structure taller than 30 inches at least five feet off the side or rear property line, three feet if it has no eaves.
San Antonio Accessory Structure Lot Coverage Limit
Some RestrictionsSan Antonio Unified Development Code § 35-370(b)
(b)Accessory Structures.(1)Accessory structures exceeding thirty (30) inches in height shall be located a minimum distance of five (5) feet from any side or rear property line. In residential districts, however, if an accessory structure has no sills, belt courses, cornices, buttresses, eaves, or similar projecting architectural features, then the minimum distance from any side or rear property...
Looking for Bexar County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement San Antonio city rules.
Building Setbacks & Zoning in Bexar County →