Building Setbacks & Zoning in San Francisco, CA (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for San Francisco, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
San Francisco Planning Code establishes setback requirements that vary by zoning district. Residential districts (RH, RM, RC) require rear yard setbacks of 25-45% of lot depth. Front setbacks are based on the prevailing pattern of the blockface. Side setbacks apply in some districts.
San Francisco Property Setback Requirements
Heavy RestrictionsStructure Height Limits
San Francisco Planning Code establishes height limits for every parcel in the city through zoning height and bulk districts. Heights range from 26 feet in RH-1(S) single-family areas to over 400 feet in parts of downtown and South of Market.
San Francisco Structure Height Limits
Heavy RestrictionsLot Coverage Limits
San Francisco Planning Code regulates lot coverage primarily through rear yard and open space requirements rather than a direct lot coverage percentage. The required open space and rear yard effectively limit the building footprint on each lot.