KiCad "Hole clearance violation": copper too close to a drill hole
KiCad design rule check (PCB) message: Hole clearance violation (hole_clearance in kicad-cli reports).
What it means
Copper of another net is too close to a drilled hole. Drills wander slightly and plating extends past the hole wall, so fabs need extra room around holes. Move the copper away from the hole or move the hole.
Common causes
- Tracks squeezed between vias or through-hole pins.
- Mounting holes placed close to traces.
- Vias of different nets placed tightly together.
How to fix it
- Reroute the track away from the hole, or nudge the via.
- Use smaller vias only if your fab supports them.
Where the setting lives
Board Setup → Design Rules → Constraints → Copper to hole clearance.
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Checked against KiCad 10's source and documentation. Last reviewed 2026-11-07.
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