Bentonville Detached Garage and Accessory Building Setback Guide
In the City of Bentonville, detached garages and accessory buildings with a footprint of 720 square feet or less must maintain a minimum side and rear setback of 7 feet from the property lines. For structures exceeding a 720-square-foot footprint, the side and rear setbacks must match the specific standards of the underlying zoning district, which often increases the required rear setback to 25 feet or more. Additionally, accessory structures in Bentonville are strictly prohibited in the front yard and must never be located closer to the front property line than the primary building.
General Placement Rules in Bentonville
Every accessory building or detached garage in the City of Bentonville must be subordinate in area and purpose to the principal use of the lot [Sec 201.02]. The City of Bentonville regulates the placement of these structures through the following general requirements:
- Prohibited in Front Yards: No accessory structure may be located in front of the primary residence on the lot. They must be placed in the side or rear yards [Sec 601.01].
- Front Setback Alignment: The front setback must meet the minimum requirements of the specific zoning district and cannot extend beyond the front building line of the primary structure [Sec 601.01].
- Separation Between Buildings: Any accessory structure in the City of Bentonville that exceeds 200 square feet must be located at least 12 feet away from the primary structure [Sec 601.01].
- Size Limitations: The total square footage of an individual accessory structure cannot exceed 50% of the square footage of the primary structure, unless the lot in question is larger than two acres [Sec 601.01].
Setback Requirements by Structure Size
The City of Bentonville applies different setback standards based on the footprint of the accessory building or detached garage.
| Feature / Footprint Size | Side Setback Requirement | Rear Setback Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Footprint ≤ 720 sq. ft. | 7 feet | 7 feet |
| Footprint > 720 sq. ft. | Per Zoning District standard | Per Zoning District standard |
| Non-residential < 200 sq. ft. (not on foundation) | 7 feet | 7 feet |
[Sec 601.01]
District Standards for Large Accessory Buildings
If a detached garage or building in the City of Bentonville exceeds 720 square feet, it must adhere to the standard setbacks for the district. The following table highlights common residential district requirements for these larger structures:
| City of Bentonville Zoning District | Standard Side Setback (Interior) | Standard Rear Setback |
|---|---|---|
| R-E (Residential Estate) | 30 feet | 30 feet |
| R-1 (Low Density Single Family) | 7 feet | 25 feet |
| R-2 (Medium Density Two Family) | 7 feet | 25 feet |
| R-3 (Medium-High Density Multifamily) | 10 feet | 25 feet |
| R-4 (High Density Multifamily) | 10 feet (30' if adjacent to SF) | 25 feet |
| R-ZL (Zero Lot Line) | 12 feet / 0 feet | 25 feet |
[Sec 401.07, Sec 601.01]
Special Considerations for Detached Garages
The City of Bentonville maintains specific safety and access requirements for garages to ensure they do not interfere with public rights-of-way or traffic visibility.
Alley Access
If a detached garage in the City of Bentonville is designed to be accessed from a rear alley, there must be a minimum setback of 20 feet between the alley right-of-way and the garage door [Sec 601.01].
Corner Lots
On corner lots within the City of Bentonville, an accessory structure is prohibited from projecting beyond the building line of the primary structure. Furthermore, it cannot project beyond the existing building line of a primary structure located on the adjacent lot [Sec 601.01].
Permitted Encroachments
Certain architectural features of an accessory building may slightly "encroach" or extend into the required setbacks in the City of Bentonville:
- Eaves, sills, and cornices: May project up to 18 inches into a required setback [Sec 401.04].
- Bay windows and chimneys: May encroach up to 2 feet into a required setback, provided they remain at least 3 feet away from the side or rear property line [Sec 401.04].
Sections Cited
- Sec 201.02 Definitions Of Terms And Uses
- Sec 401.04 Application Of Zoning District Regulations
- Sec 401.07 Residential (R) Districts Regulations
- Sec 601.01 Accessory Structures