Temple City · Zoning · R-1
Temple City R-1 zoning: height, setbacks and lot size
In Temple City's R-1 zone, generally buildings can be up to 28 ft tall, the front setback is 20 ft and the minimum lot size is 7,200 sq ft, with the conditions listed below (Temple City code, read October 2026).
Key points
- Maximum building height: 28 ft (Principal structure on lot less than 75 feet wide)
- Minimum front setback: 20 ft (Must match the average of the two adjacent houses, but never less than 20 ft or more than 30 ft)
- Minimum side setback: 5 ft or 10% of lot width, whichever is greater (Interior lot; first-story portion; each side lot line)
- Minimum rear setback: 15 ft (Ground floor of main structure)
- Minimum lot size: 7,200 sq ft (Newly created lot)
- Maximum floor area ratio (FAR): 0.35 (Two-story homes, and one-story homes over 18 ft tall; floor area also capped at 3,300 sq ft plus a garage allowance)
R-1 (R-1 Zone District) is a zoning district in Temple City. Every value below was read from the Temple City Municipal Code and links to its section (read October 2026). State laws such as the ADU and SB 9 rules can allow more on a residential lot. General information, not legal advice — read the code text and check with the city before you build.
Development standards in R-1
The general rule for a typical lot in this zone. Zoning tables often attach notes, such as rules for corner lots, lots next to a residential zone, or new subdivisions only. Open “code text” under a value to see the table cell or sentence it was read from.
| Maximum building height | 28 ft Applies: Principal structure on lot less than 75 feet wide § 9-1G-12 · code textTable row “< 75-foot lot width (principal structure)”, column “Interior Lot”: 28 |
|---|---|
| Minimum front setback | 20 ft Applies: Must match the average of the two adjacent houses, but never less than 20 ft or more than 30 ft § 9-1G-12 · code textThe front yard setback may never be less than twenty feet (20') and at no time will the required setback be more than thirty feet (30'). |
| Minimum side setback | 5 ft or 10% of lot width, whichever is greater Applies: Interior lot; first-story portion; each side lot line § 9-1G-12 · code textInterior lots must maintain a side yard adjacent to each side lot line of not less than five feet (5') for the first-story portion of a building or ten percent (10%) of the lot width, whichever is greater. |
| Minimum rear setback | 15 ft Applies: Ground floor of main structure § 9-1G-12 · code textThe ground floor of the main structure must maintain a fifteen-foot (15') rear yard setback. |
| Minimum lot size | 7,200 sq ft Applies: Newly created lot § 9-1G-12 · code textTable row “Lot”, column “Interior Lot”: 7,200 |
| Maximum floor area ratio (FAR) | 0.35 Applies: Two-story homes, and one-story homes over 18 ft tall; floor area also capped at 3,300 sq ft plus a garage allowance § 9-1G-12 · code textFor lots eighty feet (80') or less in depth, the maximum FAR in the front forty feet (40') must not exceed .4. |
Uses in R-1
Uses the code's use tables allow in R-1, or allow with a permit. Each links to its page with the code section.
- Single-family home — Allowed
- Church or place of worship — Needs a conditional use permit
When a different number applies
The code sets other values for particular lots, buildings or locations in R-1:
- Maximum building height: 32 ft — Principal structure on lot more than 75 feet wide § 9-1G-12
- Maximum building height: 18 ft — Flag lots, front lots, tiered lots, and lots with less than 35 feet of frontage on a public street; single story only § 9-1G-12
- Minimum side setback: 10 ft — Corner lot; street side § 9-1G-12
- Minimum side setback: 5 ft each side; 15 ft total — Interior lot; second-story setback § 9-1G-12
- Minimum side setback: 5 ft each side; 20 ft total — Corner lot; second-story setback § 9-1G-12
- Minimum rear setback: 20 ft — Second floor of main structure § 9-1G-12
- Maximum floor area ratio (FAR): 0.25 — Front 40 ft of lots more than 80 ft deep; 0.4 on lots 80 ft or less deep § 9-1G-12
Not on this page
We did not find a general stories, lot coverage, density limit for R-1 in the zoning tables we read. The code may still set one elsewhere — check the Temple City Municipal Code.
Other Temple City zoning districts
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum building height in Temple City's R-1 zone?
28 ft (principal structure on lot less than 75 feet wide) — Temple City Municipal Code § 9-1G-12.
What is the minimum front setback in Temple City's R-1 zone?
20 ft (must match the average of the two adjacent houses, but never less than 20 ft or more than 30 ft) — Temple City Municipal Code § 9-1G-12.
What is the minimum side setback in Temple City's R-1 zone?
5 ft or 10% of lot width, whichever is greater (interior lot; first-story portion; each side lot line) — Temple City Municipal Code § 9-1G-12.
What is the minimum rear setback in Temple City's R-1 zone?
15 ft (ground floor of main structure) — Temple City Municipal Code § 9-1G-12.
What is the minimum lot size in Temple City's R-1 zone?
7,200 sq ft (newly created lot) — Temple City Municipal Code § 9-1G-12.
General information, not legal advice.
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