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Newark, OH Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified October 2026

Key Facts

RS Suburban, 1 to 1½ stories
35 ft front, 15 ft side, 50 ft rear
RL Low Density, 1 to 1½ stories
30 ft front, 8 ft side, 40 ft rear
RM Medium Density, 1 to 1½ stories
25 ft front, 7 ft side, 35 ft rear
RH High Density, 1 to 1½ stories
20 ft front, 6 ft side, 30 ft rear
Corner lots
25 ft from intersection point; front yard on each street
Missed setback inspection
$150.00 fee

Summary

In the City of Newark, Ohio, § 1248.08 prints a minimum front, side and rear yard for the RS Suburban, RL Low Density, RM Medium Density and RH High Density districts, from a 35-foot front yard in RS down to 20 feet in RH.

The following minimum requirements shall apply, except as provided in Chapters 1270 and 1271. Use Lot Area (sq. Lot Frontage Front Yard Side Yard Rear Yard (ft.) ft.) (ft.) (ft.) (ft.) Single-Family RS SUBURBAN 1 & 1 ½ 20,000 100 35 15 50 stories 2 OR MORE 20,000 100 35 20 50 stories RL LOW DENSITY 1 & 1 ½ 8,400 70 30 8 40 stories 2 OR MORE 8,400 70 30 10 40 stories Use Lot Area (sq. Lot Frontage Front Yard Side Yard Rear Yard (ft.) ft.) (ft.) (ft.) (ft.) Single-Family RM MEDIUM DENSITY 1 & 1 ½ 7,200 60 25 7 35 stories 2 OR MORE 7,200 60 25 9 35 stories RH HIGH DENSITY 1 & 1 ½ 6,000 50 20 6 30 stories 2 OR MORE 6,000 50 20 8 30 stories

Full Breakdown

Section 1248.08 of the Newark Code of Ordinances sets minimum lot area, lot frontage, front yard, side yard and rear yard for single-family lots in the City of Newark, Ohio, subject to the modifications in Chapters 1270 and 1271. Side yards depend on height. For a one or one-and-a-half story house the table prints: RS Suburban 20,000 square feet, 100 feet of frontage, a 35-foot front yard, 15-foot side yard and 50-foot rear yard; RL Low Density 8,400 square feet, 70 feet, 30-foot front, 8-foot side and 40-foot rear; RM Medium Density 7,200 square feet, 60 feet, 25-foot front, 7-foot side and 35-foot rear; RH High Density 6,000 square feet, 50 feet, 20-foot front, 6-foot side and 30-foot rear.

A house of two or more stories keeps the same lot area, frontage, front and rear figures but takes a larger side yard: 20 feet in RS, 10 in RL, 9 in RM and 8 in RH. Section 1240.05 measures setbacks from the property line to the wall or other supporting element of the structure, including posts supporting a floor (including porches and decks), a roof or a story above. Section 1240.11 keeps every structure at least twenty-five feet from the point of intersection of the improved road surface on a corner lot and applies the district's front yard minimum to each bordering street.

Accessory structures in these districts follow § 1274.03, which sets three feet from an adjoining lot line and five feet from an alley. In the Agricultural District, § 1247.08 uses fifty feet from a public right-of-way and thirty feet from any side or rear lot line.

Violations & Fines

Under § 1232.99, a setback violation draws a notice of non-compliance with fees of $150.00 for the first, $250.00 for the second, and $500.00 for the third and subsequent. Failure to call for a setback inspection is a separate $150.00 fee. After a fourth unremedied notice the violator is guilty of a first-degree misdemeanor under a strict liability standard, and unpaid fines become a lien on the real estate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far must a house sit from the street in Newark, Ohio?
The front yard minimum in § 1248.08 is 35 feet in RS Suburban, 30 feet in RL Low Density, 25 feet in RM Medium Density and 20 feet in RH High Density. Section 1248.12 also modifies front yard setbacks along public and private roadways in accordance with the thoroughfare maps kept in the office of the City Engineer.
Where is a setback measured from in the City of Newark?
Section 1240.05 measures setback distances from the property line to the wall or other supporting element of the structure, including posts supporting a floor (including porches and decks), a roof or a story above. A porch or deck counts the same as the house wall for that measurement.
What changes on a corner lot in Newark, Ohio?
Under § 1240.11, no structure can be erected within twenty-five feet of the point of intersection of the improved road surface, and a corner lot must meet the district's front yard minimum for each street bordering it. The applicant determines which yard opposite a street counts as the rear yard.

Sources & Official References

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