Wake County, NC Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Front setback, R-80
- 40 feet
- Front setback, R-15–R-5
- 20 feet
- Rear setback, all districts
- 30 feet
- Governing table
- UDO § 5-11-2
Summary
Wake County's UDO sets minimum front, side and rear yard setbacks by residential district, ranging from 40 feet in R-80 down to 20 feet in R-15 through R-5.
R-80 R-40 R-30 R-20 R-15 R-10 R-5 HD Minimum Required Setbacks (feet) Front and Corner 40 30 30 30 20 20 20 30 Side 20 15 10 10 10 10 10 10 Rear 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Unified Development Ordinance: Supplement 9).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 5-11-2 of the Wake County UDO establishes minimum required setbacks for the county's non-watershed residential districts. Front and corner setbacks range from 40 feet in R-80 to 20 feet in R-15, R-10 and R-5; side setbacks range from 20 feet in R-80 down to 10 feet in R-30 through R-5; and the rear setback is a flat 30 feet across every district from R-80 through HD. The separate watershed districts, R-80W and R-40W, use their own table with 40- and 30-foot front setbacks.
Violations & Fines
Building within the required front, side or rear setback without an approved variance is a zoning violation; the Wake County Planning Director can require removal or relocation of noncompliant structures.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far must a house sit back from the front property line in unincorporated Wake County?
Is the rear setback the same in every residential district?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wake County
Compare Wake County to another location·View the North Carolina building setbacks & zoning overview
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