Barrow County, GA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)

1, adopted under section 89-403 and applied to principal buildings by section 89-404(a), which requires every principal building to sit back from the street right-of-way and from the side and rear lot lines no less than the distances the table lists for that district. The table sets separate front, side and rear setback columns for each district: the AG agricultural district requires a 50-foot front setback, 40-foot side setback and 40-foot rear setback on a minimum 150-foot lot width, while tighter districts like R-3 single-family reduce the front setback to 30 feet and the side setback to 10 feet on a 60-foot lot width.

Section 89-404(b) adds a separate highway rule: on any lot that adjoins an arterial road, including designated highways, the minimum principal building setback along that road jumps to 100 feet from the right-of-way line, regardless of the district's normal front setback. Accessory structures follow a different, generally shorter setback scheme under section 89-407, and fences and freestanding walls have no minimum setback from a property line under section 89-407(b)(1) except where they would block the visibility triangle at a street intersection. 1's minimum, under section 89-403(b)(4), if septic conditions demand it. Planning and Community Development reviews setback compliance at building permit issuance.