DeKalb County, GA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing table
- Chapter 27, Sec. 2.2.1, Table 2.2 (Residential Zoning Districts)
- R-100 front setback
- 50 ft major arterial, 40 ft minor arterial, 35 ft other streets
- R-100 side and rear
- 10 feet interior side, 40 feet rear
- R-60 rear setback
- 30 feet, the shortest rear setback of the six standard districts
- Corner lot width
- Minimum width increases by 15 feet for residential corner lots
- Setback averaging
- Applies when 60 percent of block face is single-family houses
- Porch projection
- Open porches up to 10 feet into front or rear yard
Summary
In unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, residential building setbacks come from Table 2.2 in Section 2.2.1 of Chapter 27 and depend on the zoning district and the class of street the lot faces. An R-100 lot needs 50 feet from a major arterial, 40 feet from a minor arterial and 35 feet from any other street, plus 10 feet at the side and 40 feet at the rear.
Dimensional requirements, such as overall site requirements, individual lot dimensions, and setbacks for residential zoning districts are established in Table 2.2, "Residential Zoning Districts Dimensional Requirements." Residential infill development may also be subject to compatibility regulations as specified in sections 5.2.3 and 5.2.4. [...] Element RE RLG R-100 R-85 R-75 R-60 MHP RNC* [...] Building Setbacks (minimum) Subject to Article 5, Averaging Requirements Front, [...] major arterial (feet) 60 70 50 50 45 30 Parks: 250 Lots: 10 [...] Front minor arterials (feet) 50 60 40 40 35 20 150 [...] Front collector and all other streets (feet) 45 55 35 35 30 If RC/TC/NC: 15 If SUB: 20 100 [...] Side - interior building setback (feet) 20 10 10 8.5 7.5 7.5 Parks: 50 Lots: 7.5 [...] Side - corner lot on public street (feet) 2 Same as district indicates front setback, following street type along the corner side property line Rear (feet) 40 40 40 40 40 30 Parks: 40 4 Lots: 7.5 4 [...] 4 100 feet if adjacent to property zoned or used for residential purposes
Full Breakdown
Section 2.2.1 sends every residential setback question to Table 2.2, which sets minimum distances by zoning district and by the class of street the lot fronts. Street classes are set in section 14-190 of the Code, as Section 2.1.3 points out. Reading the seven data columns left to right as RE, RLG, R-100, R-85, R-75, R-60 and MHP, the front setback on a major arterial is 60, 70, 50, 50, 45 and 30 feet for the first six districts. On a minor arterial it drops to 50, 60, 40, 40, 35 and 20 feet. On a collector or any other street it is 45, 55, 35, 35 and 30 feet, and R-60 takes 15 feet in the RC, TC and NC character areas but 20 feet in the SUB character area. A lot with alley access has a 25 foot front setback in RLG, R-100, R-85 and R-75, and 10 feet in R-60.
Interior side setbacks are 20 feet in RE, 10 feet in RLG and R-100, 8.5 feet in R-85, and 7.5 feet in R-75 and R-60. Rear setbacks are 40 feet in RE, RLG, R-100, R-85 and R-75, and 30 feet in R-60. The MHP column splits into Parks and Lots: a park needs 250 feet from a major arterial, 50 feet at the side and 40 feet at the rear, while an individual lot inside it needs 10 feet in front, 7.5 feet at the side and 7.5 feet at the rear. Footnote 4 raises the rear figure to 100 feet if the property is adjacent to property zoned or used for residential purposes.
On a corner lot, the table sets the corner side setback equal to the district's front setback for the street type along that side. Section 5.1.4 makes the frontage with the shortest distance to a public right-of-way the front yard and adds 15 feet to the minimum lot width for residential corner lots. A legal nonconforming corner lot that does not abut a thoroughfare can cut its side corner setback to 60 percent of the minimum front setback.
Section 5.2.1.C adds setback averaging for a vacant single-family lot when at least 60 percent of the other lots on the block face hold single-family houses. The new house then matches the average front setback of the adjacent dwellings, but never sits closer to the street than the district minimum. If the neighbors' front setbacks differ by more than 30 feet, the dwelling closest to the street sets the number. Section 5.2.1.A lets eaves, sills and chimneys project 3 feet into a required yard, open porches and steps project up to 10 feet into a front or rear yard (never closer than 5 feet to a side lot line), and enclosed porches project up to 8 feet into a front or rear yard. Table 2.2 was last amended by Ord. No. 2022-2270 on 12-12-2023.
Violations & Fines
Section 7.7.16 makes it unlawful to erect, enlarge, alter or move any building contrary to Chapter 27, which covers a house or addition built inside a required yard. Under Section 7.7.17 the violator is guilty of an offense punished as provided in section 1-10 of the DeKalb County Code, and each day the violation continues is a separate offense. The owner, architect, builder, contractor and any tenant who assists each commit a separate offense, and the county can revoke the business license of a guilty entity for up to five years.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far back must a house in R-100 sit from the street?
What are the side and rear setbacks for an R-85 or R-75 lot?
How is a corner lot handled?
Can a porch or steps extend into a required setback?
Who decides if I can build closer than the table allows?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in DeKalb County
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