Wellington, FL Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- RS front setback
- 25 ft
- RS side interior setback
- 7.5 ft
- ER front/rear setback
- 100 ft
- CC commercial setback
- 30 ft all sides
- Waterfront reduction allowed
- 30-50% near open space/water
- Setback measured from
- Property line to base building line
Summary
Wellington's Land Development Regulations set minimum front, side, corner, and rear setbacks by zoning district in Table 6.3-1, ranging from 25 feet front and 7.5 feet side in the RS single-family district up to 100 feet front and rear in the ten-acre ER equestrian district, measured from the property line to the base building line.
Table 6.3-1. General Property Development Regulations Zoning Districts Minimum Lot Maximum FAR Maximum Building Coverage Minimum Setbacks Size Width Depth Front Side Corner Rear RS (1) 6,000 sf 65 ft 75 ft — 40% 25 ft 7.5 ft 15 ft 15 ft ... CC 1 acre 100 ft 200 ft 0.35 25% 30 ft 30 ft 30 ft 30 ft ... ER 10 acres 300 ft 300 ft — 20% 100 ft 50 ft 50 ft 100 ft ... 2.Setbacks shall be measured from the property line to the base building line. When the property line and the center line of a road are the same line, the setback shall be measured from the right-of-way line or roadway easement line to the base building line.
Full Breakdown
Wellington's minimum yard setbacks run district by district in Table 6.3-1 of the Land Development Regulations, not as one citywide number. The RS single-family district requires 25 feet front, 7.5 feet side interior, 15 feet side corner, and 15 feet rear. RM and RH multifamily districts step the side and rear setbacks up to 15 feet and 25 feet respectively while keeping a 25-foot front setback. Non-residential CC commercial parcels require a uniform 30 feet on all four sides. At the far end of the table, the ten-acre-minimum ER equestrian district requires 100 feet front and rear, with 50 feet on both side and corner setbacks, and the three-acre ECR (Equestrian Commercial Recreation) district requires 80 feet front, 50 feet side, 80 feet corner, and 50 feet rear.
Section 6.3.1.C.2 measures every one of these setbacks from the property line to the base building line, or from the right-of-way or easement line where the property line and road centerline coincide, not from any roof overhang. Section 6.3.1.C.4 allows a 30 percent reduction in the side interior and rear setback for principal structures, and a 50 percent reduction for accessory structures, when at least 75 percent of the lot backs onto open space or a water body wider than 50 feet. Any setback written into an approved development order or into the principal or accessory use standards for a specific use supersedes these general district numbers under Section 6.3.1.C.7.
Violations & Fines
A structure built into the required setback is a Land Development Regulations violation enforced by Wellington's Code Compliance Division under Code of Ordinances Chapter 2. Officers issue a correction notice before citing the property, and Code of Ordinances Section 2-47 sets the resulting civil penalty at up to $500.00, heard by the special magistrate or contested in county court; encroaching structures may also be required to be relocated or removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum front setback in Wellington's RS district?
Can my setback be reduced if my lot backs onto a lake?
How does Wellington measure a setback on a corner lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wellington
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Wellington to another location·View the Florida building setbacks & zoning overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Setback Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Palm Beach County handle setback rules.