2.24.D Setbacks | Sedona Land Development Code

Setbacks referred to in this Code shall be measured as stated below.

a. A setback is the required distance between the established lot line and any building on the lot or, where the lot line is within a street or access easement, the edge of the street or easement and any building on the lot. All setbacks shall be measured from the edge of all ingress/egress/access easements.

The line that defines the depth of the required front setback area. The front setback shall be parallel with the street line or future right-of-way line.

The line that defines the width or depth of the required side setback area. The side setback line shall be parallel with the property line or if abutting a street shall be parallel with the street line or future right-of-way line.

The line that defines the width or depth of a required side setback area that is parallel with an adjacent property line that is not abutting a street or public right-of-way and is not defined as a front or rear setback area.

The line that defines the width or depth of a required side setback area that is parallel with the abutting street line or future right-of-way line and is not defined as a front or rear setback area.

The line that defines the width or depth of the required rear setback area. The rear setback line shall be parallel with the property line or if abutting the street shall be parallel with the street line or future right-of-way line. The rear setback area is that which is furthest away from the front setback area.

For all residential zoning districts, the setback from National Forest or Open Space zoning districts shall be a minimum of 20 feet. For all nonresidential zoning districts, the setback from National Forest or Open Space lands shall be a minimum of 10 feet.

a. Multifamily dwellings on one lot shall be construed as one structure for purpose of measuring setbacks. (See “a” in Figure 2-1.)

b. For purposes of setback calculations for side-by-side single-family attached or multifamily dwellings, only those dwelling units that do not share a common wall with an adjacent unit (end units) need observe the required side setback for the district. (See “b” in Figure 2-1.)

setbacks for SF attached MF — Figure 2-1: Setbacks for Single-Family Attached and Multifamily Dwellings

Every part of a required setback shall be unobstructed from ground level to the sky, except as follows:

a. Setback restrictions do not apply to: slabs, uncovered patios, walks, steps, fences, landscaping and/or hedges, or freestanding walls; however, such features are subject to Section 5.4.F, Visibility Triangles.

b. Certain architectural features and improvements may encroach into required setbacks as follows:

Table 2.6 Authorized Exceptions to Setback Requirements
Type of Exception	Extent of Exception
Change in elevation in front setback	In any district, the front setback may be reduced by up to 50 percent at the discretion of the Director for lots with a 26 percent grade or higher as measured from the front property line to the center of the lot.
Electrical service, swimming pools and spa equipment, and other mechanical equipment	Electrical service equipment, swimming pools, and appurtenant structures and equipment, HVAC equipment, propane tanks, and all other mechanical equipment may encroach into any side or rear setback provided such equipment is not located closer than five feet to any property line. Greater projections may be permitted by the Director if adequate screening is provided.
Front porches and stoops	In any residential district, porches and stoops may project into the front setback up to eight feet provided such porch or stoop is not located closer than five feet to the front property line.
Ground‐mounted solar and geothermal equipment, and rainwater harvesting tanks	In any district, ground-mounted solar and geothermal equipment may project into the side or rear setback area provided such equipment is not located closer than five feet to any property line and no more than eight feet in height if located within the setback area.
Incidental architectural features	In any residential district, steps and architectural features, such as eaves, cornices, awnings, chimneys, or wing walls, may project up to five feet into any required front or rear setback, or into any required side setback up to one-half of the required side setback. Greater projections may be permitted by the Director when it is demonstrated that such additional projections are needed for solar or alternate energy purposes.
Mobility access ramps and lifts	As necessary upon written request to the Director.
Stairway, entrance, or vestibule	In any district, a stairway, entrance, or vestibule not exceeding 10 feet in width may project into the front or rear setback area up to five feet.
Uncovered decks, patios and balconies	In all residential and mixed-use districts, decks, patios and balconies that are uncovered may extend up to six feet into any setback provided they are located no closer than five feet from all property lines.

The Director may require greater setbacks for properties in the mixed-use and nonresidential districts to avoid development of steep slopes adjacent to public rights-of-way.

The front setback for infill development may be established as a range based on the locations of the primary structures on abutting lots in the same zoning district located on the same street frontage as, and on each side of, the subject lot (e.g., two abutting lots set the range), as approved by the Director. (See Figure 2-2.)

contextual setbacks — Figure 2-2: Contextual Setbacks

On corner lots, front setbacks shall be established along the shorter property line abutting a street. (See Figure 2-3.) The Director, at their sole discretion, may allow the front setback to be established along the longer property line in instances such as:

a. The building entrance is provided along the longer property line;

b. The building has multiple entrances;

c. The longer property line is less than 20 percent longer than the shorter property line; and/or

d. The property has steep topography or mature vegetation that would be avoided.

For developed properties, the setbacks shall be established to create the most conforming site conditions.

On any corner lot where a front and side setback are required, all development activity and site improvements shall comply with Section 5.4.F, Visibility Triangles.

In the case of double-frontage lots, front setbacks shall be provided on all frontages. (See Figure 2-4.) If one of the frontages is along a major collector, arterial street or highway and the property does not take access from that frontage, the property line along the major collector, arterial street or highway shall not be considered a front setback.

Structures on irregularly shaped lots shall comply with the following:

1. Lots with multiple street frontages, except for corner lots, shall be required to comply with front setbacks along each lot line abutting a street.

2. Lots with multiple side and/or rear lot lines not abutting a street shall comply with side setback requirements for all lot lines except that any lot line abutting a street shall comply with the front setback and the lot line farthest from the front lot line shall comply with the rear setback. (See Figure 2-5.)

3. In the case of an irregular “pie-shaped” lot, the rear lot line may be considered to be a line within the lot, parallel to and a maximum distance from the front lot line, having a length of not less than 10 feet.

The Director may establish alternative setbacks for properties with irregularly shaped lots based on unique site and/or lot conditions.