Murfreesboro, TN Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- RS-15 setbacks
- 40 ft front, 12.5 side, 30 rear
- RS-12 & RS-10 setbacks
- 35 ft front, 10 side, 25 rear
- RS-8 to RS-4 setbacks
- 35 ft front, 5 side, 20 rear
- Source
- Appendix A – Zoning, Chart 2
Summary
Murfreesboro's Chart 2 sets minimum front, side, and rear yard setbacks by residential district: 40 feet front in RS-15, 35 feet front with 10-foot sides in RS-12 and RS-10, and 35 feet front with 5-foot sides in RS-8 through RS-4.
Chart 2, Minimum Yard Requirements[5][17][25] -- RS-15 DISTRICT: Front [38] 40, Side 12.5, Rear[19] 30 (Ft.). RS-12 and RS-10 DISTRICTS: Front 35, Side 10, Rear 25. RS-8, RS-6 and RS-4 DISTRICTS: Front 35[1][29], Side 5, Rear 20.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 18 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Chart 2 of Appendix A – Zoning fixes minimum yard setbacks per district. RS-15 requires a 40-foot front yard, 12.5-foot side yards, and a 30-foot rear yard. RS-12 and RS-10 both require a 35-foot front yard, 10-foot side yards, and a 25-foot rear yard. RS-8, RS-6, and RS-4 drop to a 35-foot front yard (subject to the chart's footnotes), 5-foot side yards, and a 20-foot rear yard. These minimums apply on top of each district's minimum lot width and area requirements, and any structure built inside the required setback needs Board of Zoning Appeals relief.
Violations & Fines
Building a structure inside the required front, side, or rear setback for its district, for example inside RS-15's 40-foot front yard or RS-8 through RS-4's 5-foot side yard, is a zoning violation without a variance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far back from the street must a Murfreesboro house sit?
What's the minimum side yard in Murfreesboro's smaller-lot districts?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Murfreesboro
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