Montgomery County, MD Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- R-200 front setback
- 40 feet
- R-200 side setback
- 12 feet (25' combined)
- R-200 rear setback
- 30 feet
- Governing law
- Chapter 59, Division 4.4
Summary
In the R-200 residential zone, Montgomery County requires a 40-foot front setback, 12-foot side setbacks (25 feet combined), and a 30-foot rear setback for the principal building.
Principal Building Setbacks (min) Front setback 40' Side street setback, abutting lot fronts on the side street and is in a 40' Residential Detached zone Side street setback, abutting lot does not front on the side street or is not 15' in a Residential Detached zone Side setback 12' Sum of side setbacks 25' Rear setback 30' Specification for Principal Building Setbacks a. Development may have to satisfy Section
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-90: Montgomery County Code contains legislation effective through May 7, 2026 | Zoning Updated Effective: April 13, 2026 | COMCOR Regulations effective as of July 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Montgomery County's Zoning Ordinance sets minimum yard setbacks by zone rather than one countywide number. For a detached house or other principal building in the R-200 zone (20,000-square-foot minimum lot), the Zoning Ordinance requires a 40-foot front setback, a 12-foot side setback (25 feet total for both sides), and a 30-foot rear setback; a side street setback of 40 or 15 feet applies depending on the adjoining lot. Accessory structures follow separate, generally smaller setbacks. Every other residential zone (R-90, R-150, R-400, RE-1, RE-2, etc.) carries its own setback table in Division 4.4 of Chapter 59.
Violations & Fines
Building closer to a lot line than the zone allows is a zoning violation; the Department of Permitting Services can deny or revoke permits and require correction, and an unpenalized violation defaults to a Class A civil violation carrying up to a $500 fine for an initial offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all Montgomery County zones use the same setbacks?
Does this apply inside Rockville or Gaithersburg?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Montgomery County
Compare Montgomery County to another location·View the Maryland building setbacks & zoning overview
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