Blog · September 27, 2026
What Is a Setback Line
A setback line is the closest a structure is allowed to a lot line, a street, or another feature.
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The distance may come from zoning, from a plat building line, or from both. The plat sometimes prints the setback so every lot in the subdivision carries the same rule.
On the recorded sheet
Measure from the right-of-way line, not from the curb, unless the code says otherwise. The right of way is usually wider than the pavement.
The mix-up to avoid
A setback is a building limit. It is not the property line.
Find the county map
Search the county on the Platbookmapper home page. The directory links to the official parcel viewer. It does not draw the lots, and the line on the screen is an assessment map, not a survey.
Not a survey. County GIS and tax parcel maps are assessment and planning layers. They are not a substitute for a recorded plat, deed, or licensed survey.