Southborough, MA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Residence A
- Front 35, rear 50, side 25, other street 35 feet
- Residence B
- Front 30, rear 35, side 15, other street 30 feet
- Accessory buildings and pools
- 10 feet at rear and side in both districts
- Pre-1966 Residence C lots
- Front 25, rear 30, side 10 feet
- Small structures
- Exempt if at least five feet from side or rear lot lines
- Maximum fine
- $300 per offense, each day separate
Summary
Southborough's Residence A district requires 35 feet in front, 50 feet at the rear, 25 feet at the side and 35 feet from another street. Residence B requires 30, 35, 15 and 30 feet. Accessory buildings and swimming pools in both districts sit 10 feet from the rear and side lot lines.
D. Development standards are as follows: ... (3) Minimum setbacks: (a) Front: 35 feet. (b) Rear: 50 feet; ... 10 feet for accessory buildings and swimming pools. (c) Side: 25 feet; 10 feet for accessory buildings and swimming pools. (d) Other street: 35 feet. ... (3) Minimum setbacks: (a) Front: 30 feet. (b) Rear: 35 feet; ... 10 feet for accessory buildings and swimming pools. (c) Side: 15 feet; 10 feet for accessory buildings and swimming pools. ... (d) Other street: 30 feet.
Full Breakdown
Section 174-8.2(D)(3) sets the Residence A minimum setbacks: front 35 feet, rear 50 feet, side 25 feet and other street 35 feet. Accessory buildings and swimming pools get a smaller figure, 10 feet at the rear and 10 feet at the side. Section 174-8.3(D)(3) sets Residence B at front 30 feet, rear 35 feet, side 15 feet and other street 30 feet, again with 10 feet for accessory buildings and swimming pools at the rear and side.
Residence C districts were discontinued in 1966, but § 174-8.3(E) lets lots laid out and recorded in Residence B districts before that date be built onto with a front setback of 25 feet, a rear setback of 30 feet, with 10 feet for accessory buildings and swimming pools, and a side setback of 10 feet.
These setbacks sit beside the other development standards for each district. Residence A requires a minimum lot area of 43,560 square feet and 150 feet of frontage; Residence B requires 25,000 square feet and 125 feet. Section 174-8.2(D)(6) and § 174-8.3(D)(6) also add a circle test for building lots, a seventy-five-foot diameter circle in Residence A and a 62.5 foot diameter circle in Residence B that must pass from the frontage to the rear yard setback.
The definition of STRUCTURE in § 174-2 exempts only small items from yard requirements. Signs, utility poles and small decorative or accessory structures not over three feet in height or six feet in any dimension, such as sculptures, mailboxes, birdbaths and benches, are not subject to the yard requirements if located at least five feet from side or rear lot lines. Fences not over six feet in height are not considered structures.
For an existing house that already encroaches on a setback, § 174-19(B) lets a single- or two-family owner alter it as of right when the alteration complies with all current setbacks, open lot coverage and building height requirements, or when work at the rear, side or fascia does not encroach on the required yard to a distance greater than the existing structure.
Violations & Fines
The Building Inspector, acting as Zoning Enforcement Officer, enforces the yard requirements under § 174-24. No structure shall be erected, altered, demolished or moved until a permit has been issued. A person who violates the bylaw or a permit condition is punished by a fine not exceeding $300 for each offense, and each day the violation continues is a separate offense. Noncriminal disposition under MGL c. 40, § 21D is also available.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far must a house sit from the road in Southborough?
What are the side and rear setbacks for a house?
Do older small lots get different setbacks?
Can I build an addition on a house that already breaks a setback?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Southborough
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Setback Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle setback rules.