Royal Oak, MI Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)

Section 770-21C establishes how every setback in Chapter 770 is measured: a front yard setback is the minimum perpendicular distance from the road right-of-way to the nearest point of the principal structure, and a side or rear yard setback is the minimum perpendicular distance between the nearest point of the structure and the parallel lot line. On corner lots, front setbacks apply along both street frontages. In the One-Family Residential Zone, § 770-34D(5) requires an interior lot's principal building to sit back the greater of 25 feet or the average setback of the adjacent dwellings, but never more than 50 feet from the front property line; a corner lot's side-street setback drops to as little as 10 feet, or eight feet on a lot narrower than 50 feet.

Section 770-34D(6) sets the side yard setback at a minimum of five feet per side, with the two sides totaling at least 15 feet, on lots 45 feet wide or more at the building line; narrower lots drop to a four-foot minimum per side and a 12-foot combined total, and one side yard must keep an eight-foot unobstructed driveway strip if no accessory building sits there. Section 770-34D(7) sets a flat 35-foot rear yard setback for principal buildings. Section 770-21C(5) carves out limited exceptions: unroofed terraces, patios and decks at grade need no setback, though those raised six inches or more above grade need three feet from the rear and side lines; unenclosed porches and steps may project up to seven feet into the front setback if no taller than one story; and chimneys, cornices, eaves, bay windows and similar features may project up to 24 inches into any required yard.