City of Rochester, NY: zoning for new construction

Low-Density Residential - The front yard has a maximum as well as a minimum. The minimum is the average front yard depth on the two adjoining lots, or the block frontage average, or 20 ft, and the maximum is the average of the adjoining lots or the block frontage.

• A single-family attached building of two units is stated per unit: 3,000 sq ft of lot and 30 ft of frontage each, against the 5,000 sq ft a detached house needs, so a pair takes 6,000 sq ft on 60 ft.
• A nonresidential use owes 10 ft at the side with 25 ft for both, against a dwelling's 5 ft and 15 ft, and its lot area, frontage and coverage are not stated.
• A building of three or more attached units is not available here, and an attached structure owes no side yard except where it adjoins a detached structure, when 5 ft and 15 ft apply.
• Minimum lot frontage is the average frontage of the lots on the block, so no fixed width is published for a detached house.
• The rear yard is 20 ft or the average rear yard setback on the block, but never less than 10 ft.
• An attached garage or carport must meet the principal front yard plus 10 ft, and detached accessory structures are limited to 15 ft in height.

Medium-Density Residential - The front yard has a maximum as well as a minimum. The minimum is the average front yard depth on the two adjoining lots, or the block frontage average, or 20 ft, and the maximum is the average of the adjoining lots or the block frontage.

• A single-family attached building of two units is stated per unit: 3,000 sq ft of lot and 30 ft of frontage each, against the 5,000 sq ft a detached house needs, so a pair takes 6,000 sq ft on 60 ft.
• A two-family dwelling takes 6,000 sq ft rather than 5,000, so the second unit costs 1,000 sq ft; the rear yard is 20 ft or the existing setback, never less than 10 ft.
• A multifamily building is stated per dwelling unit at 3,000 sq ft each with no flat lot minimum and no frontage requirement, roughly 14 units to the acre before coverage and height are tested.
• A nonresidential use owes 10 ft at the side with 25 ft for both, and its detached accessory structures 10 ft at side and rear; an attached garage or carport meets the principal front yard plus 10 ft.
• Minimum lot frontage for a detached house or a two-family dwelling is the average frontage of the lots on the block, so no fixed width is published.
• An attached principal structure needs no side yard, except where it adjoins a detached structure, when the 5 ft side and 15 ft combined apply.

High-Density Residential - There is no fixed height limit: the maximum building height is two times the width of the lot frontage, so 80 ft on the 40 ft minimum frontage and 200 ft on a 100 ft frontage.

• A single-family attached building of two units is stated per unit: 3,000 sq ft of lot and 30 ft of frontage each, against the 5,000 sq ft a detached house needs, so a pair takes 6,000 sq ft on 60 ft.
• A two-family dwelling takes 6,000 sq ft on 30 ft of frontage, against 5,000 sq ft on 40 ft for a detached house, so more land on less frontage, which also lowers the height available.
• A multifamily building of over three units needs 9,000 sq ft of lot and then 1,000 sq ft per unit for one- and two-bedroom units, rising to 1,800 sq ft per unit for three or more bedrooms.
• The rear yard is one third of the building height or 20 ft, whichever is greater, and multifamily side yards are one third of the height or 10 ft, so the 20 ft shown is a floor.
• The front yard minimum is the average depth on the two adjoining lots, or the block average, or 20 ft, and there is a maximum set by the adjoining-lot or block average.
• An attached principal structure needs no side yard, except where it adjoins a detached structure, when the 5 ft side and 15 ft combined apply.