Augusta-Richmond County, GA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Front setback, local streets
- 30 feet minimum
- Front setback, major streets
- 40 feet minimum
- Side setback
- 5 to 10 feet by lot width
- Rear setback
- 20% of lot depth, max 50 ft
- Applies to
- R-1 One-Family Residential Zone
Summary
Augusta-Richmond County's R-1 zoning sets minimum yard setbacks: 30 feet in front on local streets (40 feet on major streets), 5 to 10 feet side yards scaled to lot width, and a rear setback equal to 20% of lot depth, capped at 50 feet.
8-8 Setbacks: (a) Front setback. There shall be a front yard setback in an R-1 Zone of not less than thirty (30) feet from any structure to the front lot line on minor or local streets and a front setback of forty (40) feet from any structure to the front lot line on all other streets and highways. ... (c) Rear setback. There shall be a rear yard setback for lots in an R-1 Zone of not less than twenty percent (20%) of the depth of the lot but such yard need not exceed fifty (50) feet.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Recodification).
Full Breakdown
Section 8-8 of the Augusta-Richmond County zoning ordinance sets setbacks for the R-1 One-Family Residential Zone, the county's base single-family district. Front yards must be at least 30 feet deep on minor or local streets and 40 feet on arterial or major streets, with an averaging rule where neighboring block-face setbacks are non-uniform. Side yards scale with lot width: 5 feet on lots 55 feet or narrower, 7 feet on lots 56 to 70 feet wide, and 10 feet on lots over 70 feet wide. Rear yards must equal 20 percent of lot depth, capped at 50 feet. Other residential zones such as R-1D, R-1E, and R-3A cross-reference Section 8-8 for their front setbacks.
Violations & Fines
Building without required setbacks is a zoning violation; the Augusta Planning and Development Department can require relocation, deny occupancy, or refer the case for code enforcement citation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the front yard setback in Augusta-Richmond County's R-1 zone?
How wide must side yards be on an R-1 lot?
Does this R-1 setback apply in Blythe or Hephzibah?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Augusta-Richmond County
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