Land records · Parcel maps · October 5, 2026
How to Find Building Setbacks for Your Lot
How to find building setbacks: check zoning for your district, read plat notes and recorded restrictions, and measure from parcel lines—not the fence.
How to find building setbacks for your lot is a zoning and plat question, not something the tax map alone decides. A setback is the minimum distance a building or structure must stay from a lot line, street, or other feature. Front, side, and rear setbacks can differ, and corner lots often have two “front” yards.
Step 1: Find your zoning district
- Look up the property’s zoning designation with the city or county planning office, or on a zoning GIS layer.
- Open the zoning ordinance table for that district and note front, side, and rear setbacks, plus any special rules for garages, pools, or sheds.
- Confirm whether you are inside city limits or under county zoning—the rules change at the boundary.
How to find zoning of a property walks through that lookup. A zoning variance is a separate process if you need relief from a setback.
Step 2: Read plat notes and deed restrictions
Recorded plats sometimes impose building lines stricter than zoning. HOA or subdivision covenants can do the same. Check the plat and any CC&Rs before you assume the ordinance number is the only limit. How to find deed restrictions covers that search.
Step 3: Measure from true lot lines
Setbacks are measured from the legal lot line (or right-of-way line), not from an old fence or hedge. Open the parcel on the county GIS viewer from our county GIS map directory for a rough picture, then rely on a survey or recorded plat dimensions for permit drawings. Tax-map lines can be off by feet.
If a fence sits near the line you are measuring from, ownership of that fence is its own question—see who owns the fence on a property line.
Permits and site plans
Building and zoning permits usually require a site plan that shows existing structures, proposed work, and setback dimensions. Staff will compare that plan to the ordinance and to any recorded building lines. When in doubt, call the planning counter with your parcel number before you pour concrete or order materials.
How to find building setbacks FAQ
Are setbacks on the tax map?
Tax maps show parcel lines for assessment. Setback distances come from zoning ordinances, plat building lines, and sometimes deed restrictions.
Do city and county setbacks differ?
Yes. Properties inside city limits usually follow city zoning; unincorporated areas follow county rules. Confirm which applies to your parcel.
Can HOA rules be stricter than zoning?
Yes. Private covenants can impose larger setbacks or building lines. Check CC&Rs and the plat as well as the zoning table.
Should I measure setbacks from the fence?
No. Measure from the legal lot line or right-of-way line. Fences are often off the record line.