Montclair · Zoning · R-3
Montclair R-3 zoning: height, setbacks and lot size
In Montclair's R-3 zone, generally buildings can be up to 50 ft (4 stories) tall, the front setback is 25 ft and the minimum lot size is 43,560 sq ft, with the conditions listed below (Montclair code, read October 2026).
Key points
- Maximum building height: 50 ft (within 200 ft of an R-1 Zone: 38 ft and 3 floors; within 75 ft of an R-1 Zone: 28 ft and 2 floors)
- Maximum number of stories: 4 stories (within 200 ft of an R-1 Zone: 3 floors; within 75 ft of an R-1 Zone: 2 floors)
- Minimum front setback: 25 ft (Buildings with three stories or less)
- Minimum side setback: 10 ft (Buildings with three stories or less)
- Minimum rear setback: 10 ft (Buildings with three stories or less)
- Minimum lot size: 43,560 sq ft
- Maximum density: 20 units per acre (Courtyard, garden, rowhouse or stacked dwelling multifamily developments on parcels with a net area of less than five acres)
R-3 (Residential Medium-High Density) is a zoning district in Montclair. Every value below was read from the Montclair 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-3
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 | 50 ft Applies: within 200 ft of an R-1 Zone: 38 ft and 3 floors; within 75 ft of an R-1 Zone: 28 ft and 2 floors § 11.22.040 · code textThe maximum building height shall be 50 feet with a maximum of four floors, except that any portion of a building within 200 feet of the boundary of any R-1 Zone shall be limited to 38 feet and a maximum of three floors, and any portion of a building within 75 feet of the boundary of any R-1 Zone shall be limited to 28 feet and a maximum of two floors. |
|---|---|
| Maximum number of stories | 4 stories Applies: within 200 ft of an R-1 Zone: 3 floors; within 75 ft of an R-1 Zone: 2 floors § 11.22.040 · code textThe maximum building height shall be 50 feet with a maximum of four floors, except that any portion of a building within 200 feet of the boundary of any R-1 Zone shall be limited to 38 feet and a maximum of three floors, and any portion of a building within 75 feet of the boundary of any R-1 Zone shall be limited to 28 feet and a maximum of two floors. |
| Minimum front setback | 25 ft Applies: Buildings with three stories or less § 11.22.040 · code textFor buildings with three stories or less, a 25-foot minimum front-yard setback shall be required. |
| Minimum side setback | 10 ft Applies: Buildings with three stories or less § 11.22.040 · code textFor buildings with three stories or less, a 10-foot minimum interior side-yard setback shall be required. |
| Minimum rear setback | 10 ft Applies: Buildings with three stories or less § 11.22.040 · code textFor buildings with three stories or less, a 10-foot minimum rear-yard setback shall be required. |
| Minimum lot size | 43,560 sq ft § 11.22.040 · code textThe net lot area shall be a minimum of one acre (43,560 square feet). |
| Maximum density | 20 units per acre Applies: Courtyard, garden, rowhouse or stacked dwelling multifamily developments on parcels with a net area of less than five acres § 11.22.040 · code textThe maximum dwelling unit density for courtyard, garden, rowhouse or stacked dwelling multifamily developments on parcels with a net area of less than five acres shall be 20 units per acre. |
When a different number applies
The code sets other values for particular lots, buildings or locations in R-3:
- Maximum building height: 38 ft — Any portion of a building within 200 feet of the boundary of any R-1 Zone § 11.22.040
- Maximum building height: 28 ft — Any portion of a building within 75 feet of the boundary of any R-1 Zone § 11.22.040
- Maximum number of stories: 3 stories — Any portion of a building within 200 feet of the boundary of any R-1 Zone § 11.22.040
- Maximum number of stories: 2 stories — Any portion of a building within 75 feet of the boundary of any R-1 Zone § 11.22.040
- Minimum front setback: 35 ft — Buildings with four stories § 11.22.040
- Minimum side setback: 15 ft — Buildings with four stories § 11.22.040
- Minimum rear setback: 15 ft — Buildings with four stories § 11.22.040
- Maximum density: 25 units per acre — Courtyard, garden, rowhouse, or stacked dwelling multifamily developments on parcels with a net area between 5.00 and 9.99 acres § 11.22.040
Not on this page
We did not find a general lot coverage, FAR limit for R-3 in the zoning tables we read. The code may still set one elsewhere — check the Montclair Municipal Code.
Other Montclair zoning districts
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum building height in Montclair's R-3 zone?
50 ft (within 200 ft of an R-1 Zone: 38 ft and 3 floors; within 75 ft of an R-1 Zone: 28 ft and 2 floors) — Montclair Municipal Code § 11.22.040.
What is the maximum number of stories in Montclair's R-3 zone?
4 stories (within 200 ft of an R-1 Zone: 3 floors; within 75 ft of an R-1 Zone: 2 floors) — Montclair Municipal Code § 11.22.040.
What is the minimum front setback in Montclair's R-3 zone?
25 ft (buildings with three stories or less) — Montclair Municipal Code § 11.22.040.
What is the minimum side setback in Montclair's R-3 zone?
10 ft (buildings with three stories or less) — Montclair Municipal Code § 11.22.040.
What is the minimum rear setback in Montclair's R-3 zone?
10 ft (buildings with three stories or less) — Montclair Municipal Code § 11.22.040.
General information, not legal advice.
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