Madison, WI Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Front yard setback
- 30 feet (SR-C1)
- Side yard setback
- 6 feet
- Reversed corner side setback
- 15 feet
- Rear yard setback
- Lesser of 30% depth or 30 ft
- Setback averaging floor
- Never under 10 feet, § 28.031(1)
- Penalty
- $1–$1,000 forfeiture, § 28.207(1)
Summary
Madison's SR-C1 single-family district requires a 30-foot front yard setback, 6-foot side yards, and a rear yard equal to the lesser of 30 percent of lot depth or 30 feet, per Madison General Ordinances § 28.035(2). Corner lots carry a deeper 15-foot reversed corner side setback.
Front Yard Setback 30 30 30 30 Side Yard Setback 6 6 6 6 Reversed Corner Side Yard Setback 15 15 15 30 Rear Yard Setback Lesser of 30% lot depth or 30
See (a) below ... (a)If the existing principal structure and any additions to it, covers twenty percent (20%) or less of the lot area, the rear yard setback may be reduced by twenty-five percent (25%).
Full Breakdown
035(2) sets minimum yard setbacks for single-family detached, two-family, and twin dwellings: a 30-foot front yard setback, a 6-foot interior side yard setback, and a 15-foot reversed corner side yard setback on corner lots. The rear yard setback is "Lesser of 30% lot depth or 30" feet, with footnote (a) allowing a reduction, "If the existing principal structure and any additions to it, covers twenty percent (20%) or less of the lot area, the rear yard setback may be reduced by twenty-five percent (25%)", and footnote (b) permitting a one-story, alley-accessed attached garage projection to sit as close as 3 feet from the rear line.
031(1) can further adjust the front setback: where at least half of a block face is already built up, the minimum front setback for a new house becomes the average of the existing structures' setbacks or the district's standard requirement, whichever is less, but never under 10 feet. Nonresidential uses in SR-C1 face a larger 35-foot rear setback and a 30-foot reversed corner side setback. 053, so the governing number always depends on the parcel's zoning designation.
Violations & Fines
Constructing a structure that encroaches into a required setback without a variance or approved exception is a Chapter 28 zoning violation. Madison General Ordinances § 28.207(1) makes any violation of the zoning code subject, upon conviction, to a forfeiture of not less than $1 and not more than $1,000, and the Zoning Administrator can deny or revoke a building permit until the encroachment is corrected or a variance is granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far back from the street must a house sit in SR-C1?
What are the side and rear setbacks?
Can a garage sit closer to the rear line?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Madison
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Setback Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dane County handle setback rules.