Building Setbacks & Zoning in Forsyth County, NC (2026)

3 rules for unincorporated Forsyth County, North Carolina.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Forsyth County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Setback Rules

The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County UDO sets minimum yards by zoning district: for example RS9 requires a 20-ft front, 25-ft rear, and 7-ft one-side setback. RS7 requires 15-ft front, 20-ft rear, 5-ft side. No setback is required for twin homes; all other uses need at least five feet.

Residential Building Setbacks in Forsyth County

Some Restrictions

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County UDO — General Dimensional Requirements (Residential Districts), Note 4

No setback is required for twin homes; all other uses must be set back a minimum of five (5) feet.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Structure Height Limits

In unincorporated Forsyth County, a detached accessory structure is limited to 17 feet maximum height under the UDO; a detached accessory dwelling unit may go up to 25 feet. Principal-building heights are set district-by-district in the UDO dimensional tables.

Building and Accessory Height Limits

Some Restrictions

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County UDO-CC15 (ADU amendment) — Height provisions

Detached: Size requirements for accessory structures (17 ft. maximum) ... Proposed: Detached: 25 ft. maximum; Attached: Cannot exceed the height of the principal.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Lot Coverage Limits

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County single-family districts cap impervious surface cover at 40% of the zoning lot. Detached accessory structures cannot exceed 5% of the lot (576 sq ft always allowed) and may occupy no more than 25% of the required yard.

Lot Coverage and Impervious Limits

Some Restrictions

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County UDO — Accessory Structure Size Limits (Sec. 5.3.1)

Not exceed five percent (5%) of the actual size of the zoning lot or the minimum permitted lot size of the zoning district, whichever is larger. An accessory structure up to five hundred seventy-six (576) square feet in area shall be permitted in all districts. ... Cannot occupy more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the area of the required yard.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

All Forsyth County ordinances

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