Charles County, MD Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)

Section 297-26 of the Zoning Ordinance governs how the minimum yard depths assigned to each zone are measured and applied on the ground. Front yard depth is measured from the proposed or established public or private road right-of-way line or common access easement; where a non-government-maintained roadway serves two or more lots without an established right-of-way, the line is drawn five feet from and parallel to the edge of the traveled roadway. Side and rear yards are measured perpendicularly from the lot line at the closest point to the structure, and when a yard abuts an alley, half the alley width may count toward the required depth.

The section then sets specific numeric reductions: where dwelling units front on open space or a courtyard rather than a parking area, the front setback may drop to 10 feet; where off-street group parking serves three or more units without individual garages, the front setback may be reduced to 15 feet for single-family detached homes and 10 feet for other units; an attached garage with access to a local road can be set at 20 feet for the garage only; a recessed garage or parking pad set back at least 10 feet from the dwelling front can bring the setback to 15 feet; and side yards may be reduced up to 30% where offset walls of attached or semidetached dwellings are staggered 50% or more.

Structures may also project into required yards by fixed amounts, such as three feet for awnings, cornices and eaves, and five feet for open patios.