Buncombe County, NC Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- R-1 front yard
- 20 feet (no sewer)
- R-1 side yard
- 10 ft; 7 ft w/ sewer
- R-1 rear yard
- 20 feet
- Accessory side/rear
- 7 feet (≤320 sq ft)
- Code section
- Buncombe 78-642, 78-663
Summary
In the unincorporated county's R-1 Residential district, Buncombe County requires a 20-foot front yard, 10-foot side yard, and 20-foot rear yard where there is no public sewer. Accessory structures use reduced seven-to-ten-foot side and rear setbacks under Section 78-663.
R-1 Residential — Minimum Yard Setback Requirements in Feet (no public sewer): Front Yard 20; Side Yard 10; Rear Yard 20. (public sewer): Side Yard 7. Maximum Height 35 feet.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 37).
Full Breakdown
The Buncombe County Zoning Ordinance sets minimum yard setbacks by district in Table 2 of Section 78-642. In R-1 Residential without public sewer the front yard is 20 feet, side yard 10 feet, and rear yard 20 feet; with public sewer the side yard reduces to 7 feet. R-2 and R-3 Residential districts share those figures. R-LD Residential requires a 10-foot front and side and 20-foot rear. Section 78-663 gives accessory structures 320 square feet or less a seven-foot side and rear setback; larger accessory structures use ten-foot side (no sewer) and rear setbacks. These setbacks apply to unincorporated county land; each municipality sets its own.
Violations & Fines
Building within a required setback without approval is a zoning violation; the county may deny zoning compliance, order relocation, and assess a $100.00 per day civil penalty under Section 78-583.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the setbacks for a house in Buncombe County's R-1 district?
Do sheds and accessory buildings have smaller setbacks?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Buncombe County
Compare Buncombe County to another location·View the North Carolina building setbacks & zoning overview
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