R-3 Zoning in Oklahoma City — Setbacks, Height, and Use Rules
R-3 is Oklahoma City's low-density multifamily residential district. It permits townhomes, small apartment buildings, and all the uses allowed in R-1 and R-2. R-3 is common in midtown, near the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, near downtown, and along certain commercial corridors where gentle density is a policy goal.
R-3 allows up to approximately 17 dwelling units per acre in a typical configuration, making it the first real multifamily district in the OKC hierarchy. Buildings may contain 4 or more units under R-3, subject to site plan and parking standards.
Developers in R-3 face a different review environment than R-1 and R-2. Site plan review, landscape buffers, parking ratios, and building massing are all on the table — and projects above a certain scale may require conditional use approval or a rezoning to R-4 or higher.
What R-3 allows
Permitted uses in R-3
Single-family, two-family, townhomes, and multifamily buildings. Home occupations allowed with standards. Commercial uses not permitted by right.
Setback rules
R-3 setback requirements
Front setback
25 feet from front property line
Side setback
10 feet from interior side lot lines (increases with building height)
Rear setback
25 feet from rear property line
Height limit
Maximum structure height
35 feet for principal structures; additional height may be allowed with increased setbacks
Max density
Allowed density
Up to 17 dwelling units per acre in typical R-3 configurations
Common uses in R-3 in Oklahoma City
- Townhomes
- Small apartment buildings (4–12 units typical)
- Two-family dwellings
- Single-family detached
- Supporting accessory structures
Parking standards are typically 1.5–2 spaces per unit depending on bedroom count. Landscape buffers of 10–20 feet are required when R-3 abuts R-1 or R-2. Projects near major corridors often combine R-3 with a Planned Unit Development (PUD) to refine standards.
Verify zoning before you design
Permitly's zoning lookup tool cross-references OKC UDC standards against your project so you know what you can build before spending on design.
Related OKC zoning districts
R-2 · Two-Family Residential
Setbacks, height & allowed uses
R-4 · Multifamily Residential (High Density)
Setbacks, height & allowed uses
PUD · Planned Unit Development
Setbacks, height & allowed uses