Waukegan, IL Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- R1 front setback
- 40 to 60 feet, by lot-width tier
- R5 front setback
- 15 feet flat
- R1 rear setback
- 40 to 75 feet, by lot-width tier
- R2-R4 interior side setback
- As low as 6 feet
- Front setback averaging
- Allowed in R2/R3, floor of 20 ft.
- Governing table
- UDO Table 8.10-1
Summary
Waukegan's Table 8.10-1 sets minimum yard setbacks by residential district: R1 requires a 40-60 foot front yard and 40-75 foot rear yard, while the densest R5 district allows setbacks as small as 15 feet front, 5 feet interior side, and 20 feet rear.
Table 8.10-1 Residential Zoning District Requirements R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 Minimum Front Setback (ft) A: 40 A: 25 A: 20 25 15 B: 50 B: 30 B: 25 C: 60 C: 50 C: 50 Minimum Corner Side Setback (ft) A: 30 A: 20 A: 15 A: 15 20 B: 40 B: 30 B: 25 B: 20 C: 50 C: 40 C: 40 C: 40 Minimum Interior Side Setback (ft) A: 20 A: 6 A: 6 A: 6 A: 6 B: 25 B: 15 B: 15 B: 10 B: 10 C: 30 C: 30 C: 30 C: 30 C: 20 Minimum Rear Setback (ft) A: 40 A: 30 A: 25 A: 25 A: 25 B: 50 B: 40 B: 30 B: 30 B: 30 C: 75 C: 75 C: 60 C: 40 C: 40
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 113).
Full Breakdown
10-1, Residential Zoning District Requirements, fixes bulk and setback minimums for the R1 through R5 Districts. Front setbacks range from a Type A minimum of 40 feet in R1 up to Type C's 60 feet, down to a flat 15 feet in R5; corner side setbacks run from 30-50 feet in R1 to 20 feet in R5; interior side setbacks run from 20-30 feet in R1 down to as little as 6 feet in R2-R4 and 0-20 feet in R5; and rear setbacks range from 40-75 feet in R1 to 20-40 feet in R4/R5.
The A/B/C letter tiers reflect a sliding scale tied to lot width under Note (1): wider lots (Type C, 500 feet or more of frontage in R1) must observe the largest setbacks, while narrower lots (Type A) get the smallest minimums within that district. Sec. 2 backs the table with an enforcement rule of general application: lot dimensions and setbacks may not be reduced below these minimums, or extended beyond any listed maximum, without a variance or planned unit development approval, and any lot or setback created after the Ordinance's effective date must meet the standard for the district it sits in.
Sec. D adds a front-setback-averaging option in the R2 and R3 Districts: where neighboring buildings on the same block vary in front setback by 15 feet or more, new construction may build to the four-closest-lot average instead of the district minimum, but never closer than 20 feet from the front lot line.
Violations & Fines
Building or extending a structure inside the Table 8.10-1 minimums without a variance is a Zoning Administrator enforcement matter under the UDO's nonconformity provisions in Section 6; a permit will not issue for construction that violates the applicable setback, and an existing nonconforming setback encroachment cannot be enlarged or extended under Sec. 6.04.C absent one of the Ordinance's specific exceptions, such as repairs ordered by the Building Commissioner or an ADA accommodation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum front setback in Waukegan's R1 district?
Can a setback be smaller than the table minimum?
Does Waukegan allow averaging setbacks with neighboring homes?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Waukegan
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