Hendersonville residential building setbacks are set by zoning district in Title 14 (Zoning) Chapter 10.3 (district dimensional standards). The city's primary residential districts include Suburban Residential-Low Density (SR-1), Suburban Residential-Medium Density (SR-2), Multi-Family Residential (MFR), and Planned Developments. Accessory-building setbacks under Ch. 10.4 are: 10 ft side in SR-1, 8 ft side in SR-2, 20 ft rear in both, with a 5 ft small-structure exception for buildings under 400 sq ft at least 10 ft from the house. Accessory dwellings require 20 ft from side and rear lines.
Hendersonville's residential dimensional standards are codified in the Zoning Ordinance (Title 14), Chapter 10.3 (Use Districts) and Chapter 10.4 (Accessory Buildings and ADUs). Hendersonville's main residential zoning districts are: Suburban Residential, Low Density (SR-1) — large-lot single-family detached; Suburban Residential, Medium Density (SR-2) — smaller-lot single-family detached; Multi-Family Residential (MFR) — apartments, condos, duplexes; and various Planned Developments (PDs) with district-specific master-plan standards. Exact principal-building setbacks (front, side, rear) vary by district and should be confirmed against the official Zoning Map for any specific parcel — typical Hendersonville residential principal-building setbacks fall in the range of 30-40 ft front, 10-15 ft side, and 20-30 ft rear, but the controlling numbers are in Ch. 10.3 of the Zoning Ordinance. Accessory-building setbacks under Ch. 10.4 are clearer because the city publishes a Residential Accessory Building Standards handout: SR-1 — 10 ft side, 20 ft rear, 20 ft side-street; SR-2 — 8 ft side, 20 ft rear, 20 ft side-street. Small-structure exception (under 400 sq ft + ≥10 ft from house): 5 ft side and rear (NOT applicable to the rear setback of double-frontage lots). Arbors, trellises, gazebos, pergolas: under 120 sq ft or 15 ft high may be placed in the front yard within 20 ft of the street. Accessory Dwellings (under Ch. 10.4 ADU rules): 20 ft from both side and rear property lines (stricter than ordinary accessory-building setbacks). Accessory buildings may NOT be placed on a utility easement (exception per Ch. 10.4.4.4.D if no permanent foundation). Maximum 2 accessory buildings per lot; height not to exceed the existing house or 35 ft, whichever is less (for single-story houses, 1.5× the existing house height). Additional standards may apply via subdivision covenants, plat notes, deed restrictions, or PD master plans. Tennessee does not preempt local setback rules.
Building inside a required setback is a Ch. 10.3/10.4 violation enforceable by Building Codes & Zoning Compliance: stop-work order, denial of certificate of occupancy, removal or relocation order, double permit fees, and city general penalty under Municipal Code § 1-407 (up to $50 per offense per Tennessee constitutional cap). Encroachments into utility easements may also expose the owner to private removal-and-cost claims by the easement holder.
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Hendersonville, TN
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Hendersonville, TN
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