What are the setback requirements in Los Angeles?

The short answer

• §12.08 C

  20 front, 5 sides, 15 rear

  On a City of Los Angeles R1 lot, the front yard is 20 percent of lot depth, capped at 20 feet. Side yards are 5 feet up to two stories. The rear yard is 15 feet. LAMC §12.08 C.1 to C.3. Across LA County, new ADUs and SB 9 units can be held to 4 feet at side and rear.

  Have a lot in LA County? Send us the address and we'll tell you what it holds.

What the code requires

1. 01

   The front yard can follow the block

   Where lots with front yards within 10 feet of each other cover 40 percent of the frontage, use their average, up to 40 feet. LAMC §12.08 C.1.

2. 02

   Side yards grow with height

   On lots under 50 feet wide, sides can drop to 10 percent of width, at least 3 feet. Each story above the second adds a foot. LAMC §12.08 C.2(a).

3. 03

   R3 apartment lots

   Front yard 15 feet, 10 on key lots. Side yards follow the R1 rule, up to 16 feet. Rear yard 15 feet. LAMC §12.10 C.1 to C.3.

4. 04

   ADUs: 4 feet, or none

   A new ADU can be held to 4 feet from side and rear lines at most. A converted garage or same-footprint rebuild needs none. Gov. Code §66314(d)(7). See garage conversion ADUs.

5. 05

   SB 9 units: the same 4 feet

   Under SB 9, a city may require up to 4 feet at side and rear, and none for an existing structure. Gov. Code §65852.21(b)(2)(B). More in SB 9 in Los Angeles.

Example, approximate: a 50 by 130 foot R1 lot leaves a box about 40 by 95 feet.