San Diego County · Zoning setbacks
Escondido setback requirements
Lekua resolves a parcel’s jurisdiction and zone, then draws this envelope on the base plan, offset from the county’s parcel line, with its citation. Yards are measured from the surveyed line, so confirm against a survey before siting anything near them.
The envelope
What the numbers below make on the ground. Shown for the first district in the table; the rest follow the same geometry at their own dimensions.
Zone R-A — the envelope Lekua draws on the plan.
- Front
- 25′
- Side
- 10′
- Rear
- 20′
The hatched band is the yard — ground the code gives up. Drawn not to scale: the yards are proportional to each other, so the deepest one fills the band and the rest follow. The dimensions carry the real numbers, and the export draws them on the actual parcel outline.
Escondido setbacks by district
Every row is produced by the same function the exporter calls, so this page cannot drift from what the drawing gets. The citation under each row is what prints on the sheet.
Corner lots: 10′ on the secondary street frontage.
Escondido Zoning Code Art. 6, R-A (and its sub-zones, §§33-91/33-92): front 25 ft (Table 33-99), interior side 10 ft (Table 33-100), rear 20 ft (Table 33-101), corner street side 10 ft (Table 33-100). Lot-line measured. On a corner lot, a garage with access perpendicular to the street must be set back at least 20 ft from the street property line, and the street side may not be used for parking (Table 33-100 street side notes 1–2). Height 35 ft, lot coverage 20% (Table 33-107). Eaves, bays, stairs and similar features may project 4 ft into the front or rear and 2 ft into a side setback, no closer than 3 ft to a lot line (§33-104(c)). Two-family dwellings and urban lot splits (§§33-115, 33-116) take their own setbacks. Verify with Escondido Planning.
Corner lots: 10′ on the secondary street frontage.
Escondido Zoning Code Art. 6, R-E (and its sub-zones, §§33-91/33-92): front 25 ft (Table 33-99), interior side 10 ft (Table 33-100), rear 20 ft (Table 33-101), corner street side 10 ft (Table 33-100). Lot-line measured. On a corner lot, a garage with access perpendicular to the street must be set back at least 20 ft from the street property line, and the street side may not be used for parking (Table 33-100 street side notes 1–2). Height 35 ft, lot coverage 30% (Table 33-107). Eaves, bays, stairs and similar features may project 4 ft into the front or rear and 2 ft into a side setback, no closer than 3 ft to a lot line (§33-104(c)). Two-family dwellings and urban lot splits (§§33-115, 33-116) take their own setbacks. Verify with Escondido Planning.
Corner lots: 10′ on the secondary street frontage.
Escondido Zoning Code Art. 6, R-1 (and its sub-zones, §§33-91/33-92): front 15 ft (Table 33-99), interior side 5 ft (Table 33-100), rear 20 ft (Table 33-101), corner street side 10 ft (Table 33-100). Lot-line measured. If the lot does not abut an alley, one of the two side setbacks must be at least 10 ft — drawn at 5 ft on both sides, since the owner chooses which (Table 33-100 note 2). A garage with its entrance fronting the street must be set back at least 20 ft from the street property line (Table 33-99 note 2). On a corner lot, a garage with access perpendicular to the street must be set back at least 20 ft from the street property line, and the street side may not be used for parking (Table 33-100 street side notes 1–2). A one-story addition attached to the house may come within 10 ft of the rear line with the director's approval, covering at most 40% of the rear setback (§33-104(b)). Height 35 ft, lot coverage 40% (Table 33-107). Eaves, bays, stairs and similar features may project 4 ft into the front or rear and 2 ft into a side setback, no closer than 3 ft to a lot line (§33-104(c)). Two-family dwellings and urban lot splits (§§33-115, 33-116) take their own setbacks. Verify with Escondido Planning.
Corner lots: 10′ on the secondary street frontage.
Escondido Zoning Code Art. 6, R-2 (and its sub-zones, §§33-91/33-92): front 15 ft (Table 33-99), interior side 5 ft (Table 33-100), rear 15 ft (Table 33-101), corner street side 10 ft (Table 33-100). Lot-line measured. A garage with its entrance fronting the street must be set back at least 20 ft from the street property line (Table 33-99 note 2). On a corner lot, a garage with access perpendicular to the street must be set back at least 20 ft from the street property line, and the street side may not be used for parking (Table 33-100 street side notes 1–2). A building over one story next to single-family-zoned land must keep that zone's setback on the abutting line, plus 5 ft for each story over two (Table 33-107 note 1). Small lot development (§33-114) may vary setbacks, with a 10 ft minimum front. Height 35 ft, 2 stories, lot coverage 50% (Table 33-107). Eaves, bays, stairs and similar features may project 4 ft into the front or rear and 2 ft into a side setback, no closer than 3 ft to a lot line (§33-104(c)). Two-family dwellings and urban lot splits (§§33-115, 33-116) take their own setbacks. Verify with Escondido Planning.
Corner lots: 10′ on the secondary street frontage.
Escondido Zoning Code Art. 6, R-3 (and its sub-zones, §§33-91/33-92): front 15 ft (Table 33-99), interior side 5 ft (Table 33-100), rear 10 ft (Table 33-101), corner street side 10 ft (Table 33-100). Lot-line measured. Each side setback grows 5 ft for each story of the principal building over two, to at most 15 ft (Table 33-100 note 3; in R-4/R-5 not for a third story directly over an enclosed parking space on a lot 50 ft wide or less). The rear setback grows 5 ft for each story over two; on a public alley it may be measured from the alley centerline, but never less than 5 ft from the alley edge (Table 33-101 note 1). A garage with its entrance fronting the street must be set back at least 20 ft from the street property line (Table 33-99 note 2). On a corner lot, a garage with access perpendicular to the street must be set back at least 20 ft from the street property line, and the street side may not be used for parking (Table 33-100 street side notes 1–2). A building over one story next to single-family-zoned land must keep that zone's setback on the abutting line, plus 5 ft for each story over two (Table 33-107 note 1). Small lot development (§33-114) may vary setbacks, with a 10 ft minimum front. Height 35 ft, 3 stories (Table 33-107). Eaves, bays, stairs and similar features may project 4 ft into the front or rear and 2 ft into a side setback, no closer than 3 ft to a lot line (§33-104(c)). Two-family dwellings and urban lot splits (§§33-115, 33-116) take their own setbacks. Verify with Escondido Planning.
Corner lots: 10′ on the secondary street frontage.
Escondido Zoning Code Art. 6, R-4 (and its sub-zones, §§33-91/33-92): front 15 ft (Table 33-99), interior side 5 ft (Table 33-100), rear 10 ft (Table 33-101), corner street side 10 ft (Table 33-100). Lot-line measured. Each side setback grows 5 ft for each story of the principal building over two, to at most 15 ft (Table 33-100 note 3; in R-4/R-5 not for a third story directly over an enclosed parking space on a lot 50 ft wide or less). The rear setback grows 5 ft for each story over two; on a public alley it may be measured from the alley centerline, but never less than 5 ft from the alley edge (Table 33-101 note 1). A garage with its entrance fronting the street must be set back at least 20 ft from the street property line (Table 33-99 note 2). On a corner lot, a garage with access perpendicular to the street must be set back at least 20 ft from the street property line, and the street side may not be used for parking (Table 33-100 street side notes 1–2). Small lot development (§33-114) may vary setbacks, with a 10 ft minimum front. Height 75 ft, 4 stories (Table 33-107). Eaves, bays, stairs and similar features may project 4 ft into the front or rear and 2 ft into a side setback, no closer than 3 ft to a lot line (§33-104(c)). Two-family dwellings and urban lot splits (§§33-115, 33-116) take their own setbacks. Verify with Escondido Planning.
Corner lots: 10′ on the secondary street frontage.
Escondido Zoning Code Art. 6, R-5 (and its sub-zones, §§33-91/33-92): front 15 ft (Table 33-99), interior side 5 ft (Table 33-100), rear 10 ft (Table 33-101), corner street side 10 ft (Table 33-100). Lot-line measured. Each side setback grows 5 ft for each story of the principal building over two, to at most 15 ft (Table 33-100 note 3; in R-4/R-5 not for a third story directly over an enclosed parking space on a lot 50 ft wide or less). The rear setback grows 5 ft for each story over two; on a public alley it may be measured from the alley centerline, but never less than 5 ft from the alley edge (Table 33-101 note 1). A garage with its entrance fronting the street must be set back at least 20 ft from the street property line (Table 33-99 note 2). On a corner lot, a garage with access perpendicular to the street must be set back at least 20 ft from the street property line, and the street side may not be used for parking (Table 33-100 street side notes 1–2). Small lot development (§33-114) may vary setbacks, with a 10 ft minimum front. Height 75 ft, 4 stories (Table 33-107). Eaves, bays, stairs and similar features may project 4 ft into the front or rear and 2 ft into a side setback, no closer than 3 ft to a lot line (§33-104(c)). Two-family dwellings and urban lot splits (§§33-115, 33-116) take their own setbacks. Verify with Escondido Planning.
Corner lots: 10′ on the secondary street frontage.
Escondido Zoning Code Art. 6, R-T (and its sub-zones, §§33-91/33-92): front 15 ft (Table 33-99), interior side 5 ft (Table 33-100), rear 5 ft (Table 33-101), corner street side 10 ft (Table 33-100). Lot-line measured. Not for mobilehome parks approved under Article 45, which set their own lot standards; Title 25 applies where appropriate (Tables 33-99 to 33-101). Height 35 ft, lot coverage 60% (Table 33-107). Eaves, bays, stairs and similar features may project 4 ft into the front or rear and 2 ft into a side setback, no closer than 3 ft to a lot line (§33-104(c)). Two-family dwellings and urban lot splits (§§33-115, 33-116) take their own setbacks. Verify with Escondido Planning.
What the export says about this table
Escondido reviewed 2026-10-15 against Zoning Code Article 6 (Tables 33-99 to 33-101), checked on R-1 lots (interior, corner and irregular), an R-2 lot, an R-3 lot and an R-4 lot. In R-1, a lot without an alley must keep one side setback at 10 ft; both sides are drawn at 5 ft because the owner chooses which side. In R-3, R-4 and R-5 the side and rear setbacks grow 5 ft for each story over two, and R-2 and R-3 buildings over one story next to single-family-zoned land keep that zone's setback plus 5 ft per story over two on the shared line; neither is drawn. Garages facing the street sit at least 20 ft from the street property line. R-A, R-E, R-5 and R-T standards come from the same tables but were not checked on a sample lot. Mobilehome parks, planned development and specific plan areas, two-family and urban lot split projects, narrow lots, creek-adjacent lots and fire-hazard areas are not yet reviewed.
Printed verbatim on every Escondido export — the same words the reviewer signed off, not a summary of them.
Setbacks are one layer of a Escondido base plan
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Escondido setback FAQ
What are the residential setbacks in Escondido?
In R-A the code sets a 25 ft front yard, 10 ft sides, and a 20 ft rear yard. The full table is below, transcribed from Escondido Zoning Code Art. 6, R-A with the citation attached to every row. This table has passed independent review, so Lekua draws the setback envelope on the base plan for a Escondido parcel.
Does Lekua draw the setback envelope for Escondido?
Yes. Escondido is one of the jurisdictions whose table has passed review, most recently on 2026-10-15, so the envelope is drawn on the DXF and PDF base plan, with its citation.
Where do these Escondido setback numbers come from?
They are transcribed from the adopted code — Escondido Zoning Code Art. 6, R-A — and this page renders them by calling the same function the exporter calls, so what you see here is what the drawing gets. Zoning changes; verify against the current code and with the planning department before submittal.
Can I get a CAD base map for a Escondido parcel?
Yes. Enter any Escondido address and Lekua returns a layered DXF base plan and a PDF site report — county parcel lines, fine contours (1–2 ft on demand, or the county’s own where it publishes them), building footprints, CAL FIRE defensible-space zones, soil, seasonal sun, and a native plant palette matched to the parcel, alongside zoning. See what else resolves in San Diego County.
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