Baltimore, MD · zoning record
The dimensional standards that govern what you can build in the R-8 district, straight from Baltimore's ordinance, with every figure quoting its source. Check a specific address to see how these rules apply to a real lot.
Free · Every figure cited · Read from the current code (2026-10-02)
These are the letter-of-the-law limits for the base R-8 district. Overlays (historic, neighborhood plan, and similar) can tighten them; a specific address check resolves the overlays that actually apply.
How tall the building may be.
“Dwelling: Detached or Semi-Detached | 35 feet | 35 feet | 35 feet | 35 feet | 35 feet | 35 feet”Table 9-401 Rowhouse and Multi-Family Residential Districts – Bulk and Yard Regulations › Maximum Bldg Height › Dwelling: Detached or Semi-Detached › R-8 column · Baltimore code · read 2026-10-02
Smallest conforming lot. This is the rule for a detached house; the code sets other values below.
“Dwelling: Detached | 3,000 sq.ft. | 3,000 sq.ft. | 3,000 sq.ft. | 3,000 sq.ft. | 3,000 sq.ft. | 3,000 sq.ft.”Table 9-401 Rowhouse and Multi-Family Residential Districts – Bulk and Yard Regulations › Minimum Lot Area › Dwelling: Detached › R-8 column · Baltimore code · read 2026-10-02
“Dwelling: Semi-Detached | 2,500 sq.ft. | 2,000 sq.ft. | 2,000 sq.ft. | 2,000 sq.ft. | 2,500 sq.ft. | 2,000 sq.ft.”Table 9-401 Rowhouse and Multi-Family Residential Districts – Bulk and Yard Regulations › Minimum Lot Area › Dwelling: Semi-Detached › R-8 column · Baltimore code
“Dwelling: Rowhouse | 2,500 sq.ft. | 1,500 sq.ft. | 1,100 sq.ft. | 750 sq.ft. | 750 sq.ft. | 500 sq.ft.”Table 9-401 Rowhouse and Multi-Family Residential Districts – Bulk and Yard Regulations › Minimum Lot Area › Dwelling: Rowhouse › R-8 column · Baltimore code
“All Other Uses | 3,000 sq. ft. | 3,000 sq. ft. | 3,000 sq. ft. | 3,000 sq. ft. | 3,000 sq. ft. | 3,000 sq. ft.”Table 9-401 Rowhouse and Multi-Family Residential Districts – Bulk and Yard Regulations › Minimum Lot Area › All Other Uses › R-8 column · Baltimore code
Required space from a side line. This is the rule for a detached house; the code sets other values below.
“Dwelling: Detached | 5 feet | 5 feet | 5 feet | 5 feet | 5 feet | 5 feet”Table 9-401 Rowhouse and Multi-Family Residential Districts – Bulk and Yard Regulations › Minimum Interior-Side Yard › Dwelling: Detached › R-8 column · Baltimore code · read 2026-10-02
“Dwelling: Semi-Detached 7 | 10 feet | 10 feet | 5 feet | 5 feet | 5 feet | 5 feet”Table 9-401 Rowhouse and Multi-Family Residential Districts – Bulk and Yard Regulations › Minimum Interior-Side Yard › Dwelling: Semi-Detached 7 › R-8 column · Baltimore code
“All Other Uses | 10 feet | 10 feet | 10 feet | 5 feet | 5 feet | 5 feet”Table 9-401 Rowhouse and Multi-Family Residential Districts – Bulk and Yard Regulations › Minimum Interior-Side Yard › All Other Uses › R-8 column · Baltimore code
Required space from a side street on a corner lot.
“Dwelling: Detached or Semi-Detached | 10 feet | 10 feet | 5 feet | 5 feet | 5 feet | 5 feet”Table 9-401 Rowhouse and Multi-Family Residential Districts – Bulk and Yard Regulations › Minimum Corner-Side Yard › Dwelling: Detached or Semi-Detached › R-8 column · Baltimore code · read 2026-10-02
Required space from the rear line. This is the rule for a detached house; the code sets other values below.
“Dwelling: Detached or Semi-Detached | 25 feet | 25 feet | 25 feet | 25 feet | 10 feet | 10 feet”Table 9-401 Rowhouse and Multi-Family Residential Districts – Bulk and Yard Regulations › Minimum Rear Yard › Dwelling: Detached or Semi-Detached › R-8 column · Baltimore code · read 2026-10-02
“All Other Uses | 25 feet | 25 feet | 25 feet | 25 feet | 10 feet | 10 feet”Table 9-401 Rowhouse and Multi-Family Residential Districts – Bulk and Yard Regulations › Minimum Rear Yard › All Other Uses › R-8 column · Baltimore code
Share of the lot the building footprint may cover. This is the rule for a detached house; the code sets other values below.
“Dwelling: Detached or Semi-Detached | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35%”Table 9-401 Rowhouse and Multi-Family Residential Districts – Bulk and Yard Regulations › Maximum Lot Coverage › Dwelling: Detached or Semi-Detached › R-8 column · Baltimore code · read 2026-10-02
“All Other Uses | 40% | 40% | 70% | 70% | 40% | 70%”Table 9-401 Rowhouse and Multi-Family Residential Districts – Bulk and Yard Regulations › Maximum Lot Coverage › All Other Uses › R-8 column · Baltimore code
Share of the lot that may be hard surface. This is the rule for a detached house; the code sets other values below.
“Dwelling: Detached or Semi-Detached | 60% | 60% | 60% | 60% | 60% | 60%”Table 9-401 Rowhouse and Multi-Family Residential Districts – Bulk and Yard Regulations › Maximum Impervious Surface › Dwelling: Detached or Semi-Detached › R-8 column · Baltimore code · read 2026-10-02
“Dwelling: Rowhouse (Rear Yard) | 65% | 65% | 65% | 65% | 65% | 65%”Table 9-401 Rowhouse and Multi-Family Residential Districts – Bulk and Yard Regulations › Maximum Impervious Surface › Dwelling: Rowhouse (Rear Yard) › R-8 column · Baltimore code
Every figure above is quoted verbatim from the current ordinance. We never substitute a typical-for-zone default: a field absent from the record shows nothing, not a guess.
See how these standards resolve on a specific parcel, with the overlays that actually apply, in about 20 seconds.
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