High Point, NC Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Front setback
- 30 ft outside Core City
- Side setback
- 10 ft outside Core City
- Rear setback
- 25 ft outside Core City
- Core City reduction
- Inside Core City: 15/5/15 ft
- Applies to
- R-3 single-family detached lots
Summary
In High Point's R-3 single-family district, homes must sit at least 30 feet from the street, 10 feet from side lines, and 25 feet from the rear: smaller setbacks apply inside the Core City area.
Minimum Street Setback (feet) Front 30 n/a 30 30 [2] n/a 30 [2]
Side 15 15 [2] Minimum Side Setback (feet) 10 n/a n/a 5 [2] n/a n/a Minimum Rear Setback (feet) 25 n/a n/a 15 [2] n/a n/a Minimum Perimeter Setback (feet) n/a n/a 25 n/a n/a 25 Maximum Building Height (feet) 50 n/a 50 50 n/a 50
[1] Lots in projects 2 acres or greater in area may be between 75% and 125% of the district minimum lot area, provided the development as a whole maintains an average lot area that equals or exceeds the district minimum (See Section 10.2.3 C.2 Lot Area Averaging). [2] At applicant's option, may be reduced to the lesser of: zoning district minimum or between 75% and 125% of the average for lots on the same block face (See Section 10.2.3 D, Dimensional Standards in the Core City). [3] All development shall comply with the City's Driveway Ordinance requirements.
C. TYPICAL BUILDING FORMS
D. TYPICAL LOT PATTERNS
E. DISTRICT DIMENSIONS
F. TYPICAL BUILDING CONFIGURATION
(Ord. No. 7266/17-08, § 32, 1-17-2017; Ord. No. 7415/18-44, § 3.B, 5-21-2018)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 9 | Development Ordinance: Supplement 14).
Full Breakdown
The R-3 dimensional standards table in Development Ordinance § 3.3.2.B sets single-family detached setbacks outside the Core City area at 30 feet from the street, 10 feet from the side line, and 25 feet from the rear line. Inside the Core City area those minimums drop to 30 feet front (15 feet on a side street), 5 feet side, and 15 feet rear, reflecting the tighter, more urban lot pattern the City allows downtown. Every other residential and business district, R-5, R-7, GB, and the rest, carries its own dimensional standards table in Chapter 3, so R-3's figures apply only within R-3-zoned land.
Violations & Fines
Building closer to a lot line than the R-3 table allows is a Development Ordinance violation under § 9.9.5, carrying a civil penalty of $50 for a first offense up to $500 for the fourth and later.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far from the street must a house sit in High Point's R-3 zone?
Do setback minimums differ by zoning district in High Point?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in High Point
Compare High Point to another location·View the North Carolina building setbacks & zoning overview
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Setback Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle setback rules.