Prince George's County, MD Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Front yard minimum
- 25 feet
- Side yard minimum
- 8 feet each side
- Rear yard minimum
- 20 feet
- Corner lot street-side yard
- 25 feet minimum
- Block-face averaging
- can reduce front setback
- Enforcing agency
- DPIE
- Variance authority
- Board of Zoning Appeals, § 27-3613
Summary
In Prince George's County's RSF-65 zone, the standard single-family subdivision zone, Section 27-4202(e) sets minimum yard depths of 25 feet in front, 8 feet on each side, and 20 feet in the rear for both single-family detached homes and other permitted uses. On a corner lot, the side yard facing the street must be at least 25 feet deep, and DPIE checks these depths against the plat before issuing a building permit.
Front yard depth, min. (ft) | 25 | 25 Side yard depth, min. (ft) (2) | 8 | 8 Rear yard depth, min. (ft) | 20 | 20
... On corner lot, min. side yard depth alongside street = 25 ft. May be increased for certain purposes by approval of a special exception pursuant to Section 27-3604, Special Exception. ... If the average front setback on improved lots located on the same block face and in the same zone is less than the minimum front setback applied to a lot by the standards in PART 27-4: Zones and Zone Regulations, the minimum front setback applicable to a lot on the block face shall be reduced to such average.
Full Breakdown
The RSF-65 (Residential, Single-Family-65) zone table in Section 27-4202(e) fixes three yard minimums that apply identically to a single-family detached dwelling and to any other principal use on the lot: a 25-foot front yard, an 8-foot side yard, and a 20-foot rear yard. Section 27-2201's Yard Depth standard measures each one as the horizontal distance along a straight line extending at a right angle from the lot's front, corner side, side, or rear lot line to the foundation of the nearest structure on the lot.
Corner lots carry a heavier front-facing burden: the footnote to the RSF-65 table requires a minimum side yard depth of 25 feet, not 8, along the street side of a corner lot. The Ordinance also allows the front setback to shrink below the zone standard where the neighborhood is already built out: Section 27-2202's block-face-average exception provides that if the average front setback on already-improved lots on the same block face is less than the RSF-65 minimum, the minimum front setback applicable to a lot on the block face shall be reduced to such average, excluding any outlier setback that exceeds the next-deepest by more than 15 feet.
5 feet, and open porches or steps up to 9 feet into the front yard, per Section 27-2203. Anything larger than the code's allowed encroachments, or any structure that fails to meet the 25/8/20-foot minimums outright, requires a dimensional variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals under Section 27-3613 on a showing of unnecessary hardship, or approval of a special exception under Section 27-3604.
Violations & Fines
Erecting or maintaining a structure inside the required 25-foot front, 8-foot side, or 20-foot rear yard without an approved variance or exception violates Section 27-8206. DPIE can issue a civil fine under Subtitle 28 or refer the case for misdemeanor prosecution, carrying up to a $500 fine and 90 days in jail. A setback violation that continues day to day is treated as a new violation each day it persists.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the minimum yard setbacks in PG County's RSF-65 zone?
Does a corner lot get a different side setback?
Can my front setback be smaller than 25 feet?
What can I build inside my required yard without a variance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Prince George's County
Compare Prince George's County to another location·View the Maryland building setbacks & zoning overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.