Building Setbacks & Zoning in York County, VA (2026)

2 rules for unincorporated York County, Virginia.

Verified from official government sources

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

Setback Rules

York County, Virginia fixes minimum yard depths by zoning district in its dimensional standards tables. A single-family home in the R13 High Density district needs a 30-foot front yard, side yards of at least 12.5 feet (never under 10 feet), and a 25-foot rear yard; the R20 Medium Density district requires 40 feet, 15 feet, and 30 feet instead. Corner lots carry a flat 30-foot setback from the street right-of-way on every street-facing side.

York County yard setback minimums by zone

Some Restrictions

York County Code §§ 24.1-220, 24.1-324

Sec. 24.1-220. - Requirements for corner lots. In the case of corner lots, all yards abutting a street shall be considered front yards and a minimum building setback of thirty feet (30') from a public street right-of-way shall be maintained unless a larger setback is otherwise required. ... ... Sec. 24.1-324. - R13—High density single-family residential district. ... (b)Dimensional standards. E...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Structure Height Limits

York County, Virginia caps single-family home height at 35 feet before extra fire-safety conditions kick in under Sec. 24.1-233. Homes with a ridgeline or roofline above 35 feet must keep exterior access to the top floor no higher than 30 feet off grade and sit within 600 feet of a fire hydrant; going past 40 feet needs a special exception from the Board of Supervisors. District height tables set the underlying baseline, generally 35 feet.

York County residential structure height limits

Some Restrictions

York County Code §§ 24.1-230, 24.1-233

Sec. 24.1-230. - Applicability. The general height regulations of the district in which a parcel is located shall apply to all principal and accessory structures except as may be specifically provided elsewhere in this chapter. ... ... Sec. 24.1-233. - Special provisions for single-family detached dwellings with increased heights. (a)Ridgeline or Highest part of the Roof Exceeding Thirty-five F...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

All York County ordinances

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