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

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Side yard setback
5 feet from property line
Rear yard setback
10 feet from property line
Front yard setback
50 feet from street centerline
Zone
Residential Single (RS)

Summary

In Bellingham's Residential Single (RS) zone, main buildings need a 5-foot side yard, a 10-foot rear yard, and a front yard set 50 feet from the street centerline.

Table 20.30.040 – Residential Single Minimum Yards. Front Yard Setback: 50 feet CL, setback measured from the centerline (CL) of the street right-of-way. ... Side Yard Setback: 5 feet PL, setback measured from each side property line (PL). Rear Yard Setback: 10 feet PL, setback measured from the rear property line (PL).

View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-06-015, passed June 1, 2026).

Full Breakdown

Table 20.30.040 in Bellingham Municipal Code § 20.30.040(F) sets minimum yards for main buildings in the Residential Single (RS) zone. The side yard setback is five feet from each side property line, and the rear yard setback is 10 feet from the rear property line. The front yard setback is 50 feet measured from the street right-of-way centerline (60 feet on a designed arterial), or alternatively 20 feet from the front property line on a cul-de-sac lot. Garages and carports must meet the standard front yard setback and cannot use the front-yard averaging option available to other structures in the City of Bellingham, Whatcom County.

Violations & Fines

Building within these minimum yards without an approved variance or recorded plat exception is a zoning violation; the city can deny occupancy or require the structure be removed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How close to the street can a Bellingham RS-zone house sit?
The front yard setback is 50 feet from the street right-of-way centerline (60 feet on a designed arterial), or 20 feet from the property line on a cul-de-sac lot.
What's the minimum side yard in Bellingham's Residential Single zone?
Five feet from each side property line under Table 20.30.040 in BMC 20.30.040(F).

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Bellingham

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All Bellingham rules

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