Auburn, WA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)

030(E), the minimum setbacks table in the residential development standards chapter, sets different front, side, rear and garage setbacks for each of Auburn's residential zones: RC, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-NM and R-F. The residence front setback runs 35 feet in RC and R-1, drops to 10 feet in R-2, and is listed as 10 feet in R-3 and R-F (with a footnote allowing nonresidential, mixed-use or apartment buildings a reduced or no front setback if citywide storefront design standards are met), while R-4 and R-NM carry no minimum front setback at all.

Every zone requires a 20-foot garage setback from street access, though alley-loaded garages in R-F can drop to 15 feet provided 20 feet of clearance exists from any garage. Interior side setbacks range from 20 feet in RC down to 5 feet in R-2 through R-F, and street side setbacks run from 35 feet in RC down to 10 feet in the denser zones, with a citywide floor of 20 feet minimum street-side setback measured from street access regardless of zone. Rear setbacks range from 35 feet in RC to 10 feet in R-4 and R-NM, and a separate, shallower rear setback applies to detached accessory structures, from 15 feet in RC down to 5 feet in R-3, R-4 and R-NM.

All minimum lot widths, setbacks and landscaping strips remain subject to the city engineer confirming that utility infrastructure, access and street elements can still be accommodated, and every structure must independently satisfy sight-distance requirements under the engineering design standards. 070 layers specific exceptions onto this table, letting features like bay windows, eaves, uncovered porches and awnings project modest distances into an otherwise required setback.