Building Setbacks & Zoning in Tonawanda, NY (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Tonawanda, New York, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
Table 20-b of the Town of Tonawanda's Zoning Law, under Section 215-20.5, sets minimum yard setbacks for the town's residential districts. Primary structures need a 25-foot front setback in R-1 and R-2, and 20 feet in MR; side setbacks run 2 feet on one side and 6 feet on the other; and the rear setback is 25 feet in all three districts.
Yard Setback Minimums in Tonawanda, NY
Some RestrictionsTown of Tonawanda Code § 215-20.5, Table 20-b
Table 20-b R-1 R-2 MR ... Min Front Setback2 (feet) Primary use 25 25 20 Min Side Setback3 (feet) Primary use 2/6 2/6 2/6 Nonresidential use, adjacent to residential 8 8 8 Accessory use 2 2 2 Min Rear Setback (feet) Primary use 25 25 25 Accessory use 2 2 2 ... (2) Where 20% of the lots in a single block are improved with buildings on a uniform line or on various building lines, the average setb...
Structure Height Limits
Table 20-b of the Town of Tonawanda's Zoning Law, under Section 215-20.5, caps the height of a primary residential structure at 35 feet in R-1 and R-2, and 45 feet in MR. Accessory structures are capped at 12 feet, and a private garage at 16 feet, the same in every residential district.
Residential Building Height Limits in Tonawanda
Some RestrictionsTown of Tonawanda Code § 215-20.5, Table 20-b
Table 20-b R-1 R-2 MR ... Max Building Height (feet) Primary structure 35 35 45 Accessory structure 12 12 12 Private garage 16 16 16
Lot Coverage Limits
Table 20-b of the Town of Tonawanda's Zoning Law, under Section 215-20.5, caps how much of a residential lot can be covered by structures and impervious surfaces. R-1 (single-family) and R-2 (two-family) lots may cover up to 60 percent; MR (mixed residential) lots are capped at 50 percent, with the balance reserved as grass, landscaped or natural open space.
Max Lot Coverage Limits in Tonawanda, NY
Some RestrictionsTown of Tonawanda Code § 215-20.5, Table 20-b
Table 20-b R-1 R-2 MR ... Max Lot Coverage Structures and impervious surfaces 60% 60% 50% Min Open Space Grass, landscaped, or natural areas 40% 40% 50%
Looking for Erie County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Tonawanda city rules.
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