Warwick, RI Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- A-7/A-10/O/GB side yard
- 8 to 15 feet minimum
- A-40/OS side yard
- 30 feet minimum
- Measurement rule
- From lot line to building projection, not foundation
- Industrial-to-residential buffer
- 100 feet where districts abut, Table 2B
- Governing tables
- Zoning Ordinance Table 2A and Table 2B
Summary
Warwick's zoning ordinance sets minimum front, side, and rear yard setbacks by district in Table 2A for residential zones and Table 2B for commercial and industrial zones, ranging from an 8-foot side yard in the A-7 district up to a 30-foot side yard in A-40, measured from the lot line to the building itself.
Minimum front and corner side yard (feet) 25 25 30 40 Minimum side yard (feet) 8 15 20 30 Minimum rear yard (feet) (5) 20 20 30 40... Note for all setback requirements: Setbacks shall be measured from the lot line to any building projection and not necessarily the foundation.
Full Breakdown
Table 2A, Dimensional Regulations, sets residential setbacks across the O/GB/A-7 grouping, A-10, A-15, and A-40/OS districts: minimum front and corner side yard is 25 feet in O/GB/A-7, 25 feet in A-10, 30 feet in A-15, and 40 feet in A-40/OS; minimum side yard is 8 feet in O/GB/A-7, 15 feet in A-10, 20 feet in A-15, and 30 feet in A-40/OS; and minimum rear yard is 20 feet in O/GB/A-7 and A-10, 30 feet in A-15, and 40 feet in A-40/OS. Table 2B covers nonresidential districts: minimum front and corner side yard is 25 feet in O, WB, GB, and LI/GI, but drops to 0 feet in the Intermodal and Village districts and 10 feet in Gateway; minimum side yard ranges from 15 feet in O/WB/GB/LI/GI down to 0 feet in Intermodal and Village.
A specific measurement rule applies citywide: setbacks are measured from the lot line to any building projection, not necessarily the foundation, meaning a cantilevered deck, bay window, or roof overhang counts against the setback even if the foundation itself sits farther back. Commercial or industrial buildings adjacent to a residence district face added buffers under Table 2B's footnotes: a 40-foot setback from an abutting residential, PDR overlay, or open space district, rising to 100 feet where an industrial use abuts one of those districts.
Violations & Fines
Building or expanding a structure that encroaches into the required setback, or measuring from the foundation instead of the outermost building projection as Table 2's note requires, is a zoning violation under Section 1006. The building official can order removal or alteration of the encroaching structure and fine the owner up to $500 per day until the violation is corrected.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum side yard setback in Warwick's largest-lot residential zone?
Are Warwick setbacks measured from the foundation or the building's edge?
How close can an industrial building sit to a residential district in Warwick?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Warwick
Compare Warwick to another location·View the Rhode Island building setbacks & zoning overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.