Building Setbacks & Zoning
Property setback rules, structure height limits, and lot coverage restrictions.
Setbacks answer the oldest zoning question, how close to the line you may build, and they answer it three times over: per district, per yard, per structure type. Accessory buildings usually get closer than the house. Lot coverage and height limits ride alongside as the other two dimensional controls.
Corner lots, flag lots, and projections like eaves and porches all carry exceptions, and the variance process exists because sometimes the numbers make a lot unbuildable as drawn. The table of numbers is the start of the analysis, never the end.
All 50 States: Building Setbacks & Zoning at the State Level
Each tile shows the strongest state-level rule for that state. Click a state to see its full statewide rules and how local cities are constrained.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
What's Covered
Setback Rules
How far structures must be from property lines, streets, and other buildings. Different setbacks apply to front, side, and rear yards.
Structure Height Limits
Maximum building heights allowed by zoning, including how height is measured and exceptions for chimneys, antennas, and rooftop equipment.
Lot Coverage Limits
The maximum percentage of your lot that can be covered by buildings and impervious surfaces like driveways and patios.