Alachua County, FL Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Districts covered
- RE, RE-1, R-1aa, R-1a, R-1b, R-1c
- Front setback, <1 acre lot
- 10 ft
- Front setback, ≥1 acre lot
- 15 ft
- Interior side, <1 acre lot
- 5 ft
- Interior side, ≥1 acre lot
- 10 ft
- Garage-front setback
- 20 ft (garage portion only)
Summary
Alachua County Code § 403.07 and Table 403.07.2 set minimum building setbacks for every single-family residential district (RE, RE-1, R-1aa, R-1a, R-1b, R-1c). Lots under one acre need 10-foot front, 10-foot rear, and 5-foot side setbacks; lots of an acre or more need 15 feet front and rear and 10 feet on the side.
Within all single-family residential zoning districts, unless otherwise provided in this ULDC, the principal building and accessory buildings shall be located and constructed in accordance with Table 403.07.1, Setback Requirements for Residential Lots, and the following standards shall apply. ... Table 403.07.2 SETBACK REQUIREMENTS FOR RESIDENTIAL LOTS Setbacks1 Front or Street Garage Front3 Rear Side Accessory Buildings Lots less than one acre in size, Minimum Principal Building (ft.) 10 20 10 5 2 Same as principal building except rear is 7.5 ft. Lots one acre or greater in size, Minimum Principal Building (ft.) 15 20 15 10 2 Same as principal building except rear is 10 ft.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 63).
Full Breakdown
07. 5 feet. For a lot of one acre or larger, the minimums rise to 15 feet front, 15 feet rear, and 10 feet interior side, with accessory buildings again matching except a 10-foot rear. Two footnoted exceptions relax the interior-side figures further: they don't apply to detached zero-lot-line units that meet the building-spacing table in the Florida Building Code, and they don't apply to single-family attached units at all. The garage-front setback of 20 feet applies only to the portion of the structure containing the garage opening, and only when that opening faces the street.
1), which sets the number of dwelling units per acre allowed in each district, from one unit per two acres in RE up to eight units per acre in R-1b.
Violations & Fines
Building without meeting the applicable setback is a Unified Land Development Code violation enforced like any other Code breach: a fine up to $500, up to 60 days in county jail, or both under Alachua County Code § 10.08, plus the option of a civil enforcement action by the Board of County Commissioners under § 10.09 to compel compliance or removal of noncompliant construction. Encroachments discovered during permitting require a variance from the Board of Adjustment, or a building modification, before a certificate of occupancy issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the minimum front setback on a small county lot?
Do these setbacks apply inside Gainesville or the other cities?
Are accessory buildings held to the same setbacks as the house?
Is there any exception to the side setback?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Alachua County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Alachua County to another location·View the Florida building setbacks & zoning overview
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