Pawtucket, RI Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)

Article VI's § 410-44 dimensional table lists a 'Minimum Yard Setback Line' with Front, Side, and Rear columns for every zoning district. In the Residential Single-Family zone, a one-family dwelling needs an 18-foot front yard, an 8-foot side yard, and a 25-foot rear yard; the Residential Two-Family zone reduces the front yard to 15 feet while keeping the same 8-foot side and 25-foot rear. Residential Multifamily raises the side yard to 10 feet for three-family and multifamily buildings. 2 caps the front setback there at a maximum of 40 feet to keep parking out of the pedestrian zone.

Section 410-52 treats dwellings sharing a common party wall as one building for side-yard purposes, so a duplex with a shared wall does not need a side setback at that wall. Section 410-53 lets specific features intrude into a required yard: a fire escape up to four feet into a side or rear yard, and an open porch, deck, or stairway up to six feet into a front, side, or rear yard, provided it stays at least four feet from the side or rear lot line.

Section 410-55 layers on a corner-lot visibility rule: where front or side lot lines meet at 100 degrees or less, no building, structure, parking, or vegetation or fencing taller than three feet may occupy the resulting eight-foot corner triangle, except for narrow light and sign poles.