Montgomery County, VA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)

Section 10-21's building requirements set the minimum yards for the A-1 Agricultural District: a 40-foot front yard, 15 feet on each side for every principal structure, and a 40-foot rear yard. The front yard figure carries a cross-reference to section 10-41(16), which layers additional setback distance onto residential uses sited near intensive agricultural operations, so a homeowner near an intensive farm operation may face a larger front setback than the base 40 feet. Accessory buildings get a separate, tighter standard: none may sit closer than 10 feet to a side or rear lot line.

Setbacks from public streets are measured from the wider of the existing dedicated right-of-way or the minimum right-of-way VDOT requires for state maintenance, under section 10-3's measurement rules, and if no dedicated right-of-way exists the measurement runs from the edge of the existing travelway instead. 0-acre minimum lot size and 120-foot minimum lot width at the setback line, and any structure exceeding 40 feet in height must also add extra setback distance under the district's height rule.