Lorain County does not zone incorporated cities, so setbacks come from your city or township. In the City of Lorain's low-density R-1A district, buildings need a 45-foot front, 35-foot rear, 10-foot interior side, and 25-foot street-side setback. Denser residential districts require less.
Setbacks in the Lorain metro are set by municipal zoning, not the county. City of Lorain Zoning Code Section 10.11 requires every building to conform to the setback of its district, measured from the property lines. Table 4-3 sets minimum residential setbacks: R-1A front 45 ft, rear 35 ft, interior side 10 ft, street side 25 ft; R-1B front 40 ft, rear 30 ft, side 6 ft; R-1C front 30 ft, rear 30 ft, side 5 ft. Corner-lot and clear-vision rules also apply. Unincorporated township land is set by township zoning under ORC Chapter 519; the county zones rural land under Chapter 303 only where adopted.
Building within a required setback without a variance is a zoning violation subject to a minimum $500.00 penalty per day; the structure is also ineligible for a variance while in violation.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Lorain County's setback rules rules stack up against other locations.
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