Dearborn, MI Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Front yard, all one-family lots
- 25 feet
- Side yard, lot under 46'
- 3 feet minimum
- Side yard, lot over 180'
- 18 feet minimum
- Rear yard range
- 20 to 30 feet
Summary
Dearborn's one-family districts require a flat 25-foot front yard, plus side and rear setbacks that slide with lot width: a 3-foot single side yard on a lot under 46 feet, growing to 18 feet on lots over 180 feet wide.
In a one-family residential district the minimum required side and rear setbacks and maximum permitted building height shall be based upon the width of the lot per the table below... Less than 46 feet 3 12 20 20 24 2 ... 81 - 90 feet 10 20% of total width 28 22 27 2
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-07: Code: Updated through: July 22, 2026 | Zoning: Updated through: July 22, 2026).
Full Breakdown
The Zoning Ordinance's Article 29.00 Schedule of Regulations sets the front yard at 25 feet in the R-A and R-B one-family districts, adjustable only for new homes on isolated infill lots under footnote b. Side and rear yards are not fixed: footnote a ties them to lot width. A lot narrower than 46 feet gets a 3-foot minimum single side yard, a 12-foot combined side-yard total, and a 20-foot rear yard; a lot wider than 180 feet gets an 18-foot single side yard, 20% of width combined, and a 30-foot rear yard.
Violations & Fines
Building inside the required yard without a variance is enforced as a Code of Ordinances § 1-9 general penalty violation, a fine up to $500 and up to 93 days, and the Building Department will not issue a permit for a plan that violates the setback table.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dearborn's side yard setback the same for every house?
Can Dearborn's 25-foot front setback be adjusted?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dearborn
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Setback Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wayne County handle setback rules.