Setback Requirements for the R-E: Residential Estate District in Bentonville

In the City of Bentonville, the R-E: Residential Estate district requires a uniform minimum setback of 30 feet for all front, side, and rear yards. These substantial separation requirements support the district's purpose of providing extremely low-density residential areas with maximum privacy and open space [Sec 401.07].

R-E: Residential Estate Setback Standards

The City of Bentonville establishes the following minimum setback requirements for all building types within the R-E: Residential Estate zoning district:

District	Building Type	Front Setback	Side Setback (Interior)	Side Setback (Exterior)	Rear Setback
R-E: Residential Estate	All	30 feet	30 feet	30 feet	30 feet

[Sec 401.07(c)(1)]

Additional Setback Regulations and Exceptions

Beyond the general yard requirements, the City of Bentonville applies specific rules regarding garages, easements, and minor architectural encroachments within the R-E district.

Garage Setbacks

Specific standards apply to the placement of garages in the R-E: Residential Estate district to ensure they do not negatively impact the neighborhood's aesthetic:

Street-Facing Garages: Must maintain a minimum front setback of 30 feet from the property line the garage faces.
Side or Rear-Loading Garages: Must maintain a minimum front setback of 20 feet from the front property line. This applies to both attached and detached garages.

[Sec 401.07(c)(3)]

Setback Encroachments

Certain architectural features in the City of Bentonville are permitted to project into the required setbacks of the R-E: Residential Estate district, provided they do not enter a right-of-way or easement:

Eaves, Sills, and Cornices: May project up to 18 inches into any required setback.
Bay Windows and Chimneys: May encroach up to 2 feet into a required setback but must remain at least 3 feet from any side or rear property line.
Open Porches and Decks: If the finished floor is 30 inches or less above the lowest adjacent grade, they may encroach into required setbacks. However, they must be at least 12 feet from the front property line and 5 feet from the side or rear property lines.
Steps: May encroach up to 2 feet into a required setback but must be no closer than 3 feet to the side or rear property line.

[Sec 401.04(h)]

Easements

In any instance where a utility easement extends beyond the required building setback line in the City of Bentonville, the edge of that utility easement becomes the effective setback line for the R-E: Residential Estate district [Sec 401.07(c)(4)].

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