Building Setbacks & Zoning in Tempe, AZ (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Tempe, Arizona, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
Tempe's Table 4-202A sets minimum front, side and rear yard setbacks for every agricultural and single-family district. Front building setbacks run from 40 feet in the AG district down to 15 feet in R1-PAD, side setbacks shrink from 20 feet to as little as 5 feet, and rear setbacks range from 35 feet to 15 feet, with a use permit able to reduce any of them by 20%.
Tempe Residential Yard Setback Minimums
Some RestrictionsTempe Zoning and Development Code § 4-202, Table 4-202A
Setback (feet) (c): [Exceptions, see Section 4-205 (B)] Front - Building 40 ft 35 ft 30 ft 20 ft 20 ft 20 ft 20 ft 15 ft except 20 ft for garage NS 20% [...] Side (f) 20 ft 15 ft 10 ft 7 ft 7 ft 5 ft (d) 5 ft (d) 5 ft (a)(d) NS 20% Rear (f) 35 ft 30 ft 25 ft 20 ft 15 ft 15 ft 15 ft 15 ft NS 20% [...] (b) Street side yard setback for corner lots adjacent to key lots shall be increased by ten (10...
Structure Height Limits
Tempe caps single-family and agricultural building height at 30 feet across the AG, R1-15, R1-10, R1-8, R1-7, R1-6 and R1-5 districts, rising to 35 feet in R1-4, under Table 4-202A of Section 4-202. A use permit can add another 10% on top of the table figure, and Section 4-205(A) lists specific exceptions to the flat cap.
Tempe Residential Building Height Limits
Some RestrictionsTempe Zoning and Development Code § 4-202, Table 4-202A
Table 4-202A - Development Standards in Agricultural and Single-Family Districts(1). Standard AG R1-15 R1-10 R1-8 R1-7 R1-6 R1-5 R1-4 R1-PAD Use Permit Standard. Maximum Height (feet) (E) [Exceptions, see Section 4-205(A)] 30 ft 30 ft 30 ft 30 ft 30 ft 30 ft 30 ft 35 ft NS 10%. NS = No Standard.
Lot Coverage Limits
Tempe caps lot coverage at 25% of net site area in the AG district and 45% in R1-15, R1-10, R1-8, R1-7 and R1-6, under Table 4-202A of the Zoning and Development Code. R1-5, R1-4 and R1-PAD carry no standard (NS), so lot area and setbacks do the shaping there. A 10% Use Permit Standard column offers limited relief.
Tempe Lot Coverage Limits for Residential Districts
Some RestrictionsTempe Zoning and Development Code § 4-202, Table 4-202A
Tables 4-202A, 4-202B, and 4-202C, respectively, provide the development standards for Tempe's single-family residential and agricultural districts, multi-family residential districts, and mobile home districts. Table 4-202A - Development Standards in Agricultural and Single-Family Districts(1) Standard AG R1-15 R1-10 R1-8 R1-7 R1-6 R1-5 R1-4 R1-PAD Use Permit Standard [...] Maximum Lot Coverag...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Tempe city rules.
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