Setback Requirements for R-1-T Single-Family Residential (Townhomes) in Long Beach

In the City of Long Beach, the R-1-T: Single-family Residential, townhomes district requires a minimum front setback of 10 feet, an interior side setback of 5 feet, and a rear setback of 8 feet. While these are the standard requirements, the Long Beach Municipal Code allows for specialized configurations such as zero side yards and double zero side yards to accommodate the unique layout of townhouse developments [Table 31-2A, Section 21.31.215.E].

Standard Setback Requirements for the R-1-T District

The R-1-T District is established to provide for single-family townhouses, typically implementing Land Use District No. 3A of the Long Beach General Plan [Section 21.31.020]. The following table outlines the required yard areas between buildings and property lines for the R-1-T District:

Setback Type	Minimum Requirement
Front Yard	10 feet
Side Yard (Interior)	5 feet
Rear Yard	8 feet

Note: For new subdivisions in the R-1-T District, including corner lots, the lots must be oriented to the side street [Table 31-2A, Note (g)].

Special Side Yard Provisions for R-1-T Townhomes

The City of Long Beach provides flexibility for side yard setbacks in the R-1-T District to encourage specific architectural styles or more efficient land use.

Zero Side Yard Configuration

A single zero side yard is permitted on one side of a property in the R-1-T District, provided the following criteria are met:

The side yard on the opposite side of the same lot must be equal to or greater than twice the required standard side yard (effectively 10 feet or more).
Any structure on the property adjoining the zero side yard must be located at least eight feet from the proposed zero lot line structure [Section 21.31.215.E.1].

Double Zero Side Yard Configuration

A double zero side yard (where structures are built to both side property lines) is permitted in the R-1-T District if:

No principal use structure on an adjoining lot is within six feet of any lot line proposed as a zero lot line (unless the adjoining structure is also a zero lot line building).
A street, alley, or private access driveway exists at the rear of the lot.
The continuous building created parallel to the front lot line does not exceed one hundred fifty feet in length [Section 21.31.215.E.2].

Front and Rear Yard Setback Exceptions

Certain lot types within the City of Long Beach have modified setback requirements:

Key Lots: If an R-1-T lot is a "key lot" (an interior lot where the rear property line abuts the side property line of a corner lot), and the abutting corner lot is built to the side yard line, the front yard of the key lot is reduced to one-half of the standard requirement for that block [Section 21.31.215.C.1].
Shallow Lots: If an R-1-T lot is less than one hundred feet in depth, the rear setback may be reduced to ten percent of the lot depth, though it cannot be less than five feet [Section 21.31.215.D.2].

Permitted Projections into Required Yards

The Long Beach Zoning Regulations allow certain architectural and functional structures to project into the required setbacks of the R-1-T District, provided they maintain minimum distances from the property lines [Table 31-3]:

Structure	Front Projection	Side Projection	Rear Projection
Awnings	2 ft. 6 in.	2 ft. 6 in.	3 ft.
Balconies	5 ft. (or ½ setback)	2 ft. 6 in.	3 ft.
Chimneys	2 ft. 6 in.	2 ft. 6 in.	3 ft.
Cornices/Eaves	2 ft. 6 in.	2 ft. 6 in.	3 ft.
Bay Windows	2 ft. 6 in.	3 ft.	3 ft.

Sections Cited

Section 21.31.020 - Districts established
Section 21.31.215 - Yard requirements
Table 31-2A - Residential Development Standards
Table 31-3 - Permitted Projections and Structures in Required Yards