Saint Petersburg City Zoning Code
SECTION 16
60.050.- SETBACKS, ALLOWABLE ENCROACHMENTS
Sections:
16.60.050.1.- Setbacks, allowable encroachments.
When a variance to a setback has been granted, no additional encroachment which is set forth in this section is allowed.
16.60.050.2. - Allowable encroachments and setbacks.
Required building setbacks that are less than what is required by this section shall supersede setbacks established by this section. No structure shall encroach in or over any easement where the structure would interfere with the use of the easement for its intended purpose. The encroachment for eaves shall be permitted in addition to the encroachment for a structure/improvement, unless the term "leading edge" is used. In which case, leading edge shall be interpreted to include the eave. Encroachments are not allowed in connection with zero lot line structures. Encroachments for a structure or other improvement taller than 12 inches above grade is prohibited within the view triangles of waterfront yards (see technical standards section), except that fences within the view triangle are subject to height limits established elsewhere in these regulations.
| Ancillary Equipment, refer to Section 16.50.020.4.2. (C) for development standards for zoning districts not listed in this chart | F=Front S=Side SS=Street side R=Rear W=Waterfront | NT, NTM, CRT, CCT, IT zoning districts | NS, NSM, NMH, NPUD, CRS, CCS, IS, P zoning districts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ancillary equipment, commercial, (see accessory structures section for additional requirements). | S, R | No closer to property line than 5 ft. | No closer to property line than 5 ft. |
| SS | No closer to property line than 10 ft. | No closer to property line than 10 ft. | |
| Ancillary equipment, residential, (see accessory structures section for additional requirements). | S, R | No closer to property line than 3 ft. | No closer to property line than 3 ft. |
| SS | No more than 4 ft. from setback line | No more than 4 ft. from setback line | |
| Arbor or pergola (with a minimum of 50% open roof structure, up to 80 SF in area and no more than 12 ft. in height) | F, S, SS, R | To property line | To property line |
| Awnings | All | No more than 3 ft. from setback line, but no closer to property line or seawall than 2 ft. | No more than 3 ft. from setback line, but no closer to property line or seawall than 2 ft. |
| Balcony (open on three sides) | All | Leading edge no more than 3 ft. from setback line | Leading edge no more than 3 ft. from setback line |
| Barbeque, grill or kitchen, outdoor (up to 10 ft. in height), This applies only to permanently installed equipment, fixtures, sinks, cabinets, and counters. | S, R | No closer to property line than 5 ft. | No closer to property line than 5 ft. |
| SS, W | No more than 5 ft. from setback line | No more than 5 ft. from setback line | |
| Bay window (without a footer), elevated a minimum of 12-inches above the finished floor of the main floor. | All | No more than 3 ft. from setback line | No more than 3 ft. from setback line |
| Canopy, commercial vehicular use (drive-through, freestanding, or attached) | F, SS | No encroachment permitted | Leading edge no closer to property line than 10 ft. |
| Carports, commercial use (open all sides) | F | Leading edge no closer to property line than 10 ft. | Leading edge no closer to property line than 10 ft. |
| S, SS, R | Leading edge no closer to property line than 5 ft. | Leading edge no closer to property line than 5 ft. | |
| Carports, residential use (open on a minimum of two sides) | F, SS | No encroachment permitted | Leading edge no more than 5 ft. from setback line |
| S, R | Leading edge no closer to property line than 3 ft. | Leading edge no closer to property line than 3 ft. | |
| Chimney | All | No more than 2 ft. from setback line, no closer to property line or seawall than 4 ft. | No more than 2 ft. from setback line, no closer to property line or seawall than 4 ft. |
| Decks, patios, porches and screen enclosures: | |||
| Decks and patios, uncovered (up to 12 inches above existing grade or the top of an existing seawall) (open on all sides, excluding support columns) | S, R | To property line | To property line |
| SS | No closer to property line than 5 ft. | No closer to property line than 5 ft. | |
| W | No closer to property line or seawall than 5 ft. (Note: Federal and state regulations may be more restrictive.) | No closer to property line or seawall than 5 ft. (Note: Federal and state regulations may be more restrictive.) | |
| Decks and patios, uncovered (more than 12 inches and less than 30 inches above existing grade or the top of an existing seawall) (open on all sides, excluding support columns) | S, R | No closer to property line than 5 ft. | No closer to property line than 5 ft. |
| SS | No closer to property line than 8 ft. | No closer to property line than 8 ft. | |
| W | No closer to property line or seawall than eight ft. (Note: Federal and state regulations may be more restrictive.) | No closer to property line or seawall than eight ft. (Note: Federal and state regulations may be more restrictive.) | |
| Patios, covered, and pergolas (or shade sails in lieu of solid roof) (no more than 12 inches above existing grade or the top of an existing seawall) (open on all sides, excluding support columns) | S, SS, R | No closer to property line than 5 ft. | No closer to property line than 7.5 ft. |
| W | No closer to property line or seawall than 10 ft. | No closer to property line or seawall than 10 ft. | |
| Porch, open (less than 30 inches above existing grade or the top of an existing seawall) (open on all sides, excluding support columns) | F, SS | Leading edge no more than 5 ft. from setback line | Leading edge no more than 5 ft. from setback line |
| R | No encroachment permitted | Leading edge no more than 10 ft. from setback line | |
| W | Leading edge no more than 5 ft. from setback line | No encroachment permitted | |
|
Screen enclosure, patio (solid roof)
(no more than 12 inches above existing grade or the top of an existing seawall) (screened on all sides, excluding support columns) | S, SS, R | No closer to property line than 5 ft. | No closer to property line than 7.5 ft. |
| W | No closer to the property line or seawall than 10 ft. | No closer to the property line or seawall than 10 ft. | |
|
Screen enclosure (screen roof)
(no more than 12 inches above existing grade or the top of an existing seawall) (screened on all sides, excluding support structure) | S, SS, R | No closer to property line or seawall than 5 ft. | No closer to property line or seawall than 5 ft. |
| W | No closer to the property line or seawall than 10 ft. | No closer to the property line or seawall than 10 ft. | |
| Dumpster enclosure | S, SS, R | No closer to property line than 5 ft. | No closer to property line than 5 ft. |
| Eaves | All | No more than 3 ft. from setback line, but no closer to property line or seawall than 2 ft. | No more than 3 ft. from setback line, but no closer to property line or seawall than 2 ft. |
| Fences | All | To property line or seawall as prescribed by fence and wall regulations | To property line or seawall as prescribed by fence and wall regulations |
| Flag poles (up to 35 ft. in height) | All | To property line or seawall | To property line or seawall |
| Flags, wall-mounted | All | No more than 4 ft. from setback line, but no closer to property line or seawall than 2 ft. | No more than 4 ft. from setback line, but no closer to property line or seawall than 2 ft. |
| Garages, residential front-loading | F | No encroachment permitted | No more than 5 ft. from setback line |
| S | No encroachment permitted | No more than 2 ft. from setback line | |
| SS | No encroachment permitted | No more than 3 ft. from setback line | |
| Garages, residential side-loading or facing an alley | F | No encroachment permitted | No more than eight ft. from setback line |
| S | No more than 2 ft. from setback line | No more than 2 ft. from setback line | |
| SS | No more than 5 ft. from setback line | No more than 5 ft. from setback line | |
| R | No encroachment permitted | 10 ft., or 22 ft. including the width of the alley, whichever is less. | |
| Gardening Hoop House, Cold Frame, Greenhouse, Vertical vegetable structure, raised garden bed (only one may encroach into the setback. The maximum size is limited to 100 s.f. in area and 10 ft. in height) | S, SS, R | No closer to property line than 5 ft. | No closer to property line than 5 ft. |
| Lawn ornaments (including fountains and other yard ornaments) | F, S, SS, R, W | No closer to property line or seawall than 3 ft. | No closer to property line or seawall than 3 ft. |
| Lighting, landscape (up to 3 ft. in height) | All | To property line or seawall | To property line or seawall |
| Lighting, site | All | To property line or seawall | To property line or seawall |
| Mailboxes (if permitted by the Code) | F, SS | To property line | To property line |
| Play equipment, residential (up to eight ft. in height) | S, SS, R, W | To property line or seawall | To property line or seawall |
| Play equipment, residential (more than eight ft. in height) | S, SS, R, W | No closer to property line or seawall than 5 ft. | No closer to property line or seawall than 5 ft. |
| Pool, above ground (greater than 12 inches above existing grade) | S, SS, R | No closer to property line than 5 ft. | No closer to property line than 5 ft. |
| W | No closer to property line or seawall than 8 ft. | No closer to property line or seawall than 8 ft. | |
| Pool, in-ground (up to 12 inches above existing grade) pools adjacent to seawalls shall require additional engineering to avoid conflict with existing, underground tie-backs.) | S, SS, R, W | No closer to property line or seawall than 5 ft. | No closer to property line or seawall than 5 ft. |
| Ramp for citizens with impairments | All | To property line or seawall | To property line or seawall |
| Retaining (return) wall | F, S, SS, R | To the property line: The overall height shall be no greater than 18 inches from the existing grade abutting both sides of the wall | To the property line: The overall height shall be no greater than 18 inches from the existing grade abutting both sides of the wall |
| W | To the property line or seawall: The overall height shall be no greater than the top of the existing seawall. (Note: Federal and state regulations may be more restrictive.) | To the property line or seawall: The overall height shall be no greater than the top of the existing seawall. (Note: Federal and state regulations may be more restrictive.) | |
| Shed (only one shed may encroach into the setback. The maximum size is limited to 100 sq. ft. in area and 10 ft. in height) | |||
| F | No encroachment allowed, except as noted in the use-specific development standards for accessory structures and no part of the shed shall be located in front of the front façade line of the principal structure | No encroachment allowed, except as noted in the use-specific development standards for accessory structures | |
| R | To property line | To property line | |
| SS | No more than 5 ft. from setback line, within the rear 20 ft. of lot | No more than 5 ft. from setback line, within the rear 20 ft. of lot | |
| S | No closer to property line than 3 ft., within the rear 20 ft. of lot to property line | No closer to property line than 3 ft., within the rear 20 ft. of lot to property line | |
| W | No encroachment allowed | No encroachment allowed | |
| Sidewalks (up to 6 ft. in width) | All | To property line or seawall | To property line or seawall |
| Spa | S, SS, R, W | No closer to property line or seawall than 5 ft. | No closer to property line or seawall than 5 ft. |
| Steps, stairs (steps, stairs shall not exceed 3 ft. in height above grade.) | F, R, W | No more than 6 ft. from setback line but no closer to property line or seawall than 4 ft. | No more than 6 ft. from setback line but no closer to property line or seawall than 4 ft. |
| S, SS | No more than 4 ft. from setback line but no closer to property line than 4 ft. | No more than 4 ft. from setback line but no closer to property line than 4 ft. | |
| Stoop (up to 3 ft. by 6 ft. in area) | All | No more than 3 ft. from setback line but no closer to property line or seawall than 4 ft. | No more than 3 ft. from setback line but no closer to property line or seawall than 4 ft. |
| Walls | F, S, SS, R, W | To property line or seawall as prescribed by fence and wall regulations | To property line or seawall as prescribed by fence and wall regulations |
| Wooden platform for energy meter in a flood zone | S, R | No closer to property line than 2 ft. for platforms up to 3 ft. above grade, or no closer to property line than 2.5 ft. for platforms up to 4 ft. above grade, or no closer to property line than 3 ft. for platforms up to 5 ft. above grade | No closer to property line than 2 ft. for platforms up to 3 ft. above grade, or no closer to property line than 2.5 ft. for platforms up to 4 ft. above grade, or no closer to property line than 3 ft. for platforms up to 5 ft. above grade |
(Code 1992, § 16.60.050; Ord. No. 876-G, § 29, 2-21-2008; Ord. No. 893-G, § 14, 9-4-2008; Ord. No. 985-G, § 95, 7-15-2010; Ord. No. 1029-G, § 52, 9-8-2011; Ord. No. 123-H, § 9, 8-28-2014; Ord. No. 166-H, § 19, 5-21-2015; Ord. No. 287-H, § 29, 7-20-2017; Ord. No. 448-H, § 9, 2-11-2021; Ord. No. 611-H, § 32, 7-10-2025)