Hampton, VA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Front setback
- 30 ft (min 20 ft)
- Side yards
- 25% of lot width total
- Rear setback
- 20 ft, up to 35 ft
- Corner side street
- 15 ft minimum
Summary
Hampton's one-family districts require a 30-foot front setback, side yards totaling 25% of lot width, and a 20-foot rear yard that grows on deep lots.
(1)Front yard. The front yard setback shall be a minimum of thirty (30) feet... (2)Side yard. The depth of the two (2) side yards shall total at least twenty-five (25) percent of the lot width, measured at the front setback line... (3)Rear yard. The rear yard setback shall be a minimum of twenty (20) feet, provided if the depth of the lot is greater than seventy-five (75) feet, the required depth of the rear yards shall be increased by an amount equal to one-third of the excess depth.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 31 | Zoning: Supplement 20).
Full Breakdown
In Hampton's standard one-family residential districts, the zoning ordinance sets three yard minimums: a 30-foot front setback (reducible to no less than 20 feet on pre-existing lots, matched to the block average), combined side yards equal to at least 25% of lot width measured at the front setback line (no single side yard under 10% of lot width, or 10 feet if the total must reach 25 feet), and a 20-foot rear setback that increases by one-third of any lot depth beyond 75 feet, capped at 35 feet. Corner-lot side yards along the side street must be at least 15 feet. Religious facilities and schools carry separate, larger setbacks. As amended through November 2025.
Violations & Fines
Structures built inside the required front, side, or rear setback without an approved variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals are subject to a stop-work order and removal or relocation of the encroaching structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close to the property line can I build in Hampton, VA?
Do older lots get relief from the front setback?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hampton
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