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Building Setbacks & Zoning in Roanoke, VA (2026)

2 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Roanoke, Virginia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Setback Rules

Roanoke's Section 36.2-312 dimensional table sets minimum yard depths by residential district: front yards run from 10 feet in RM-1, RM-2, and RMF up to 30 feet in RA; side yards run from 3 feet up to 15 feet in RMF; rear yards are 5 feet everywhere except RA's 50-foot minimum.

Roanoke Residential Yard Setback Minimums

Some Restrictions

Roanoke, VA Code of Ordinances § 36.2-312

Front yard Minimum 30 20 20 15 15 10 10 10 Maximum None None None 40 25 30 30 None ... Side yard minimum depth 10 5 3 3 3 3 3 15 Rear yard minimum depth 50 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 ... Frontage, yard depth, height, and setback are expressed in feet

Structure Height Limits

Roanoke caps building height at 45 feet in the RA, RM-2 and RMF districts and 35 feet in the R-12, R-7, R-5, R-3 and RM-1 districts under the Section 36.2-312 dimensional table. Church spires, chimneys, and rooftop mechanical equipment covering up to 20 percent of the roof are exempt from that cap under Section 36.2-205(j).

Roanoke Residential Building Height Limits

Some Restrictions

Roanoke, VA Code of Ordinances § 36.2-312

District RA R-12 R-7 R-5 R-3 RM-1 RM-2 RMF ... Height maximum 45 35 35 35 35 35 45 45 ... Lot area is expressed in square feet Frontage, yard depth, height, and setback are expressed in feet