Bensalem, PA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- R-1 front yard
- 35 feet minimum
- R-1 side yards
- 30 feet aggregate, 12 feet each minimum
- R-1 rear yard
- 30 feet minimum
- R-2 front yard
- 25 feet minimum
- R-2 side yards
- 20 feet aggregate, 9 feet each minimum
- Corner lots
- Both street frontages count as front yards
Summary
Bensalem Township's R-1 Residential district requires a 35-foot front yard, side yards totaling at least 30 feet with neither side less than 12 feet, and a 30-foot rear yard, under section 232-153(e) of the Zoning Code. Corner lots count the frontage on both intersecting streets as front yard, doubling the setback that would otherwise apply to one side.
(e)Yards. Where a building is erected on an R-1 lot, front, side and rear yards shall be provided on each lot as follows:(1)Front yard.a.One yard, not less than 35 feet in depth.(2)Side yards.a.Two yards, not less than 30 feet in aggregate width, and neither less than 12 feet, except that in the case of a corner lot, the frontage on both streets shall be considered front yards.(3)Rear yard.a.One yard, not less than 30 feet in depth. ( ... e)Yards. ... Where a building is erected on an R-2 lot, front, side and rear yards shall be provided on each lot as follows:(1)Front yard.a.One yard, not less than 25 feet in depth.(2)Side yards.a.Two yards, not less than 20 feet in aggregate width, and neither less than nine feet, except that in the case of a corner lot, the frontage on both streets shall be considered front yards.(3)Rear yard.a.One yard, not less than 25 feet in depth.
Full Breakdown
Bensalem's Zoning Code fixes yard setbacks separately for each residential district under the area-regulations sections of article V. In the R-1 district, section 232-153(e) requires a single front yard at least 35 feet deep, two side yards totaling at least 30 feet with neither side narrower than 12 feet, and a rear yard at least 30 feet deep. The denser R-2 district, built for smaller lots at higher density, cuts those numbers under section 232-167(e) to a 25-foot front yard, side yards totaling 20 feet with neither side under nine feet, and a 25-foot rear yard.
Both sections treat corner lots the same way: since the lot fronts two streets, both street-facing sides count as front yards rather than one front and one side, which pushes the deeper front-yard setback onto both street frontages. The rural R-A district at the other end of the spectrum, under section 232-111(e), requires much larger yards to match its one-acre minimum lot size. A property owner who cannot meet a district's yard minimum, for an addition too close to a side line or a new detached garage, must seek a dimensional variance from the Zoning Hearing Board under section 232-781, showing the hardship comes from the lot's own physical conditions rather than the ordinance's general effect on the neighborhood. The Zoning Officer reviews every building and use permit application against these yard tables before construction begins, under sections 232-762 through 232-764.
Violations & Fines
Building or expanding a structure inside the required yard setback without a variance violates the chapter. The Zoning Officer can issue a stop-work or cease-and-desist order under section 232-762(b)(6), revoke a permit issued in error, and refer noncompliant construction for a citation before the district magistrate under section 232-762(b)(7). Any relief requires a dimensional variance from the Zoning Hearing Board before construction proceeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far must my house sit from the front property line in Bensalem's R-1 district?
Are setbacks smaller in the R-2 district?
What counts as the front yard on a corner lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bensalem
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