Newport News, VA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Front yard (R1)
- 35 feet
- Rear yard (R1)
- 20 feet
- Side yard (R1)
- 10% of lot width, max 12 ft
- Corner lot side yard
- 35 feet along the street
- Governing section
- City Code § 45-603
Summary
Newport News sets minimum yard setbacks by zoning district; in the R1 single-family district, homes must sit back 35 feet from the front lot line, 20 feet from the rear, and 10 percent of lot width on each side.
(b)Requirements for main building:(1)Minimum setback requirements:a.Front yard: Thirty-five (35) feet.b.Rear yard: Twenty (20) feet.c.Side yard:1.Interior lot: Ten (10) percent of lot width; but no more than twelve (12) feet shall be required.2.Corner lot: Thirty-five (35) feet for the side yard along the street.(2)Maximum height: Thirty-five (35) feet.(c)Requirements for accessory buildings and structures.(1)Minimum setback requirements:a.Front yard: Prohibited in front yard (See Article XXVIII).b.Rear yard: Five (5) feet.c.Side yard:1.Interior lot: Three (3) feet.2.Corner lot: Thirty-five (35) feet for the side yard along the street.(2)Maximum height: Height of main building, not to exceed one and one-half (1½) stories.(3)Maximum floor area: Ground floor area of main building.(4)For special exception to height and floor area requirements, see Article XXXII, section 45-3204.E.1.(5)For modifications and adjustments to regulations, see Article XXVIII. (Ord. No. 5028-97, § 1; Ord. No. 5095-98; Ord. No. 5357-99; Ord. No. 6741-10)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 81).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 45-603 sets the R1 Single-Family Dwelling District's dimensional standards: a 35-foot front yard, 20-foot rear yard, and side yards equal to 10 percent of lot width (capped at 12 feet on an interior lot, or 35 feet along the street on a corner lot). Maximum building height is 35 feet. Accessory buildings get smaller setbacks -- 5 feet rear, 3 feet interior side -- but are barred from the front yard entirely. Every zoning district (R2 through the commercial and industrial classes) carries its own version of this table elsewhere in Chapter 45, so the exact numbers shift with the parcel's zoning.
Violations & Fines
Building within the required setback without a variance is a zoning violation; the board of zoning appeals can grant relief under Article XXXII, but unpermitted encroachments are subject to city enforcement action and removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the front setback in Newport News's R1 district?
Are setbacks the same in every Newport News zoning district?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Newport News
Compare Newport News to another location·View the Virginia building setbacks & zoning overview
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