KiCad "Courtyards overlap" DRC error: causes and fixes
KiCad design rule check (PCB) message: Courtyards overlap (courtyards_overlap in kicad-cli reports).
What it means
Each footprint has a courtyard on F.Courtyard or B.Courtyard that marks the space the part needs for placement and assembly. KiCad reports "Courtyards overlap" when two of those outlines intersect. Usually the parts are too close for a pick-and-place machine or a soldering iron and should be moved apart. When the overlap is deliberate, exclude that one violation instead of switching the check off.
Common causes
- Parts placed too tightly, typically decoupling capacitors pushed against an IC.
- Footprints with oversized courtyards, or a courtyard drawn around something that may legally sit under the part.
- Two footprints that are meant to stack or nest, such as a connector and its shield, or a part placed on top of a larger footprint's keep-out area.
How to fix it
- Move the parts until the courtyard outlines no longer touch.
- If the overlap is intentional, right-click the marker in the DRC dialog and choose Exclude. Exclusions are saved with the board and can be reviewed later.
- If one footprint's courtyard is wrong, fix it in the footprint editor and update the board from the library.
When it is safe to ignore
Safe to exclude when the parts genuinely nest (one under another, or a shared mechanical area) and your assembler agrees. Do not set the whole check to ignore; that hides the next real collision.
Where the setting lives
Board Setup → Violation Severity → Courtyards overlap.
Find every “Courtyards overlap” on your board
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Check my KiCad projectRelated KiCad DRC checks
- Footprint has no courtyard defined (
missing_courtyard) - Silkscreen clearance
- Clearance violation
Checked against KiCad 10's source and documentation. Last reviewed 2026-11-07.
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