Fayetteville, AR Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- RSF-4 front
- 15 feet
- RSF-4 side
- 5 feet
- RSF-4 rear
- 15 feet
- Set by
- UDC Chapter 161
- Relief
- Board of Adjustment variance
Summary
Fayetteville's common single-family zone, RSF-4, requires a 15-foot front, 5-foot side, and 15-foot rear setback. Larger-lot districts like RSF-1 demand 35-foot front and rear yards. Setbacks are set by zoning district in UDC Chapter 161.
Setback Requirements. Front: 15 feet. Side: 5 feet. Rear: 15 feet.
Full Breakdown
Fayetteville fixes minimum setbacks by zoning district in Chapter 161 of the Unified Development Code, rewritten by Ordinance 6945 (adopted December 16, 2025). In the RSF-4 district that covers much of the city's single-family housing, structures must sit at least 15 feet from the front, 5 feet from each side, and 15 feet from the rear. Denser RSF-7 matches those numbers, while low-density RSF-1 and RSF-.5 require 35-foot front and rear and 20-foot side yards, and RSF-2 requires 30, 15, and 30 feet. Front setbacks are measured from the street right-of-way or the Master Street Plan line, and a corner lot has two fronts and two sides. Building closer requires a variance.
Violations & Fines
The Zoning and Development Administrator enforces setbacks. Building into a required yard draws a stop-work order and a zoning violation, and a certificate of occupancy can be withheld. The cure is a Board of Adjustment variance under UDC Chapter 156.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the setbacks for a house in Fayetteville?
Can I build closer than the setback allows?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fayetteville
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Setback Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Washington County handle setback rules.