Rowlett, TX Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)

Setbacks in Rowlett are governed by Chapter 77-400 (Dimensional Requirements) of the Rowlett Development Code, with the numbers set out in Sec. 77-401, Table 4.1-1 (Dimensional Requirements - Residential Districts). The city defines a setback as the required minimum distance between a building and the related front, side, exterior side (the street side of a corner lot), or rear property line. Because Rowlett has many single-family districts (SF-40, SF-20, SF-15, SF-10, SF-9, SF-8, SF-7, SF-5), the exact numbers vary by district, so you must check the table for your specific zoning. Examples from Table 4.1-1: in SF-40, the front setback is 50 feet and the rear is 25 feet; in SF-20, the front is 35 feet (with averaging under Note 1) and the rear is the lesser of 30 feet or 20% of lot depth; in SF-10, the front is 25 feet and the rear is the lesser of 20 feet or 20% of lot depth. The side setback for dwellings is generally the greater of 10% of the lot width or 7.5 feet. Sec. 77-402 adds measurement rules: front setbacks on corner, through, and three-sided lots are handled as front and side setbacks (no rear setback), and certain projections are allowed into required setbacks. Some uses carry stricter, use-specific setbacks under Subchapter 77-300/302. Properties under the Form-Based Code (FBC) instead of the Rowlett Development Code follow the FBC's own build-to/setback standards.