Setback means the areas, measured from the property line to any structure, within which building is prohibited, but which may include driveway areas or other similar surface improvements. In other words, it is the distance a building must be from the street as required by zoning laws. For example, if the zoning calls for a 10 foot setback, there must be at least 10 feet between the street and any house or building. Ordinances, zoning regulations, and building codes are used by local governments to establish setbacks, which are typically for public policy reasons like safety, privacy, and environmental protection. The building ahead of a setback line may be permissible in exceptional cases with special approval.
[Last updated in June of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]