Macon-Bibb County, GA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Arterial/collector front yard
- 40 feet, all three R-1 districts
- Minor street front yard, R-1
- 25 feet
- Minor street front yard, R-1A/R-1AA
- 30 feet
- Interior side yard
- 10 feet, all districts
- Interior rear yard, R-1AA
- 40 feet
- Governing section
- Resolution § 9.06
Summary
Macon-Bibb County's yard setback table in Section 9.06 sets a 40-foot front, side, and rear setback from arterial and collector streets in the R-1, R-1A, and R-1AA districts, dropping to 25 feet (R-1) or 30 feet (R-1A/R-1AA) from minor streets, with a 10-foot minimum interior side yard countywide.
Section 9.06. - Yard requirements (building setback distance). The following minimum building setback requirements shall be provided for all buildings or structures as measured from: [1]Arterial and collector street right-of-way lines: R-1 (Feet) R-1A (Feet) R-1AA (Feet) (a) Front yard 40 40 40 (b) Rear yard 40 40 40 (c) Side yard 40 40 40 ... [2]Minor street right-of-way lines: R-1 (Feet) R-1A (Feet) R-1AA (Feet) (a) Front yard 25 30 30 (b) Rear yard 25 30 30 (c) Side yard 25 30 30 ... [3]Interior lot lines: R-1 (Feet) R-1A (Feet) R-1AA (Feet) (a) Front yard 40 40 40 (where applicable) (b) Rear yard 30 30 40 (c) Side yard 10 10 10 [4]Special setbacks shall be as required in Section 32.05.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Comprehensive Land Development Resolution: Supplement 4 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 20).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 9 of the Comprehensive Land Development Resolution, the land-use instrument rather than the general county code, governs setbacks for the R-1AA, R-1A, and R-1 single-family districts. 06's table splits the requirement by what the lot fronts: measured from arterial and collector street right-of-way lines, front, rear, and side yards are all 40 feet in every one of the three districts. Measured from minor street right-of-way lines, the front, rear, and side yards drop to 25 feet in R-1 and rise slightly to 30 feet in R-1A and R-1AA.
On interior lot lines, the front yard (where applicable) stays at 40 feet, the rear yard is 30 feet in R-1 and R-1A but 40 feet in R-1AA, and the side yard is a uniform 10 feet across all three districts. 05 layers additional special setbacks onto certain named streets and highways. 04[1] backs the table: no building may be erected, altered, or enlarged, and no required open space may be encroached upon, in a manner that does not conform to these yard requirements, though unroofed porches and steps may project up to 10 feet into a required front yard and awnings may not come closer than 1 foot to a property line.
04[3] lets the setback on a corner lot or front yard drop to match the average of existing setbacks on adjacent developed lots when that average is less than the code minimum. 20.
Violations & Fines
A structure built inside the required setback violates the Resolution under Section 33.01, a misdemeanor punishable as provided by law, with each day of the encroachment treated as a separate offense; the zoning enforcement officer may prosecute in Macon-Bibb County's Municipal Court or State Court. Under Section 33.02 the Commission may also seek injunctive relief, request public utilities be withheld from a noncompliant structure, or issue a cease-and-desist order under Section 33.04.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far must a house sit back from an arterial street in Macon-Bibb County?
Are setbacks smaller on minor streets?
Can a porch or awning extend into the required yard?
What is the minimum side yard on an interior lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Macon-Bibb County
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