What are the setback requirements for single-family homes in Garland?

In Garland's SF-1 district, the front setback is 25 feet, side setbacks are 5 feet, and the rear setback is 20 feet. SF-2 requires 20 feet front, 5 feet side, and 15 feet rear. Always verify your specific zone with the Garland Planning Department and the zoning code on Municode.

What is the maximum building height in Garland residential zones?

Maximum building height in Garland's SF-1 and SF-2 single-family residential districts is 35 feet, measured from grade to the highest point of the roof. Multi-family and commercial districts have separate height limits set in the zoning code.

What is the minimum lot size in Garland single-family zones?

The SF-1 district requires a minimum lot size of 8,400 square feet, and SF-2 requires 6,000 square feet. Other single-family categories in Garland's zoning ordinance set different minimums — verify your district on the zoning map.

Can I build closer to the property line than the required setback?

Only if you receive a variance from Garland's Board of Adjustment, which requires showing a hardship specific to your lot. Certain features like eaves and chimneys may project into the setback under the zoning ordinance's encroachment rules.

Garland Setbacks & Height Limits — Residential Zones

Fact-checked against the current Garland Development Code on September 20, 2026.

Garland's current single-family districts are SF-E, SF-10, SF-7, and SF-5. The previous version of this page used SF-1 and SF-2, which are not the current Garland Development Code district names.

Current Single-Family Standards

Table 2-3 of the Garland Development Code provides the following standard requirements for the principal single-family districts:

Zone	Standard Min. Lot	Front	Interior Side	Rear	Max. Coverage	Max. Height
SF-E	30,000 sq ft	35 ft	10 ft each side	10 ft	45%	35 ft
SF-10	10,000 sq ft	30 ft	7.5 ft each side	10 ft	45%	35 ft
SF-7	7,000 sq ft	20 ft	6 ft each side	10 ft	45%	35 ft
SF-5	5,000 sq ft	20 ft	5 ft each side	10 ft	50%	35 ft

The code also permits limited lot-area reductions within qualifying developments while requiring the development-wide average to meet the applicable standard.

Street-Adjacent Yards Are Different

Table 2-3 separately regulates yards adjacent to streets. A side or rear lot line adjoining a street does not automatically use the interior-side or ordinary rear value shown above.

The table also allows specified reductions for curvilinear streets, staggered setbacks, and lots on the arc of a cul-de-sac or street eyebrow.

For example, the standard SF-10 front yard is 30 ft, but qualifying curvilinear, staggered, or cul-de-sac conditions can use 25 ft under the code's rules.

Infill and Garage Rules

The current code also contains an infill/redevelopment provision that can allow a front setback reflecting the average of nearby existing homes under the stated conditions.

Regardless of other setbacks, a street-facing or alley-facing garage door must have at least 20 ft to the applicable right-of-way line. Additional garage-orientation rules apply to new single-family and two-family construction.

Accessory Structures

Accessory buildings and projections are governed by separate provisions. The code expressly regulates architectural projections into required yards and directs accessory buildings to the accessory-use standards.

Do not apply the principal-house table automatically to every garage, shed, pool structure, or other accessory improvement.

How to Check a Property

Confirm whether the parcel is SF-E, SF-10, SF-7, SF-5, PD, or another district.
Read Table 2-3 and the surrounding residential-district provisions.
Determine whether a yard adjoins a street or an interior lot line.
Check curvilinear, staggered, cul-de-sac, infill, garage, and projection provisions.
Check any PD or other special district standards.
Confirm parcel-specific questions with Garland Planning before final design.

Official Sources

This guide is informational only. The current Garland Development Code, parcel-specific zoning, plat conditions, and special districts control. Verify current requirements before design, permitting, purchase, or construction decisions.