Olmsted County, MN Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- R-2 setback (through road)
- 45 feet front/side
- R-2 setback (local road)
- 25 feet front/side
- R-2 interior side yard
- 10 feet
- R-2 rear yard
- 25 feet
- R-1 interior side yard
- 8 feet
- Variance path
- Board of Adjustment, § 4.08
Summary
In Olmsted County's R-2 Mixed Low Density Residential District, front and side yards must be 45 feet from federal, state or county roads (25 feet from local roads), interior side yards need 10 feet, and every rear yard needs 25 feet, all set by Section 6.04 of the zoning ordinance.
5. Front Yard Regulations: a) A minimum front yard depth of not less than forty-five (45) feet shall be provided on all lots adjoining federal, state, and county roads. b) A minimum front yard depth of not less than twenty-five (25) feet shall be provided on all lots adjoining local roads and streets. 6. Side Yard Regulations: a) A minimum side street yard width of not less than forty-five (45) feet shall be provided on all lots adjoining federal, state, and county roads. b) A minimum side street yard width of not less than twenty-five (25) feet shall be provided on all lots adjoining local roads and streets. c) A minimum interior side yard width of not less than ten (10) feet shall be provided. 7. Rear Yard Regulations: a) A minimum rear yard depth of not less than twenty-five (25) feet shall be provided.
Full Breakdown
04(C)(5)-(7) of the R-2 Mixed Low Density Residential District, the county's zone for modest multi-unit development in the unincorporated area, sets four separate setbacks. 02(C)(3)-(5): the local-road front and side street setbacks drop only to 30 feet rather than 25, and the interior side yard is narrower at 8 feet instead of R-2's 10. 00(E): 45 feet front, 45 feet side street, 25 feet interior side and 25 feet rear. 08.
Violations & Fines
Building or expanding a structure closer to a lot line than these setbacks allow, without an approved variance, is a zoning violation. Ch. 1400 § 3.10 makes any violation of the ordinance a misdemeanor, with each day the encroaching structure remains in place counted as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close to the road can I build in Olmsted County's R-2 district?
What's the setback between neighboring houses?
Can I get a smaller setback than the ordinance requires?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Olmsted County
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