Setback

Zoning law requires open space between your building and the edges of your lot, called a setback. It sets a minimum distance from each property line, and nothing permanent (no house, garage, or casita) may cross that line. Setbacks keep homes from crowding the street and each other, protect light and air, and leave room for utilities and emergency access.

Every lot has front, side, and rear setbacks, and the numbers come from your zoning district, enforced by the AHJ. Typical single-family zoning in the Phoenix metro runs a front setback around 20 to 25 feet, side setbacks of 5 to 10 feet, and a rear setback of 15 to 25 feet. Larger desert lots in Rio Verde or Cave Creek often carry deeper setbacks, while older Phoenix neighborhoods may allow less. Corner lots usually have two "front" setbacks, one for each street.

For example, if your Scottsdale lot requires a 25-foot front setback and you want a deep front porch, the porch and its roof must stay behind that line, or you apply for a variance. Eaves, patio covers, and air-conditioning units have their own allowances and sometimes may project a short distance into a setback.

Setbacks shape what you can build before design even starts. They set the buildable area, the footprint left after you subtract the setbacks from the lot. A wide lot with deep setbacks can leave a surprisingly narrow building pad. We check setbacks and the buildable area on day one, because they decide whether your floor plan fits the lot or needs to change.