Building Setbacks & Zoning in Beaverton, OR: What Residents Actually Need to Know
If you live in Beaverton or are thinking about moving there, building setbacks & zoning are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Beaverton has 2 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of building setbacks & zoning, and some of them might surprise you.
Setback Rules
In Beaverton's Downtown Central (RC-BC) zoning district, buildings need no side or interior setback but must sit back at least 6 feet from the front property line when ground-floor units are residential, and 10 feet from an adjoining residential zone.
Key details: Zone: RC-BC Beaverton Central (Downtown). Front setback, residential ground floor: 6 ft minimum. Front setback, non-residential ground floor: 0 ft minimum. Interior side/rear setback: 0 ft (build to line). Governing table: Development Code § 70.15.10.1.C.
Development that doesn't meet the RC-BC setback table can't get a building permit unless it obtains a Zero Yard Setback, Adjustment, or Variance approval through Beaverton's Development Code review process.
Structure Height Limits
In Beaverton's RMB and RMC residential zones, buildings top out at 35 feet, but drop to 25 feet near the front or rear setback line under a 2022 rule.
Key details: Base max height: 35 feet. RMB rear-setback max: 25 feet. RMC front/rear-setback max: 25 feet. Rise rate to full height: 45-degree angle (1:1). Exempt: Townhouses, cottage clusters.
Design Review under Development Code Chapter 40 checks compliance before permits issue; building over the stepped limit is a code violation subject to city enforcement and permit denial or revision.
The Bottom Line
Beaverton's building setbacks & zoning rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Beaverton is broadly strict or permissive.
These rules come from Beaverton's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.