Fayetteville RSF-4 District Setback and Development Standards

In the City of Fayetteville, the RSF-4 (Residential Single-family - Four Units per Acre) district requires primary structures to maintain a minimum front setback of 15 feet, a side setback of 5 feet, and a rear setback of 15 feet. These specific setback requirements are designed to support low-density detached dwellings and ensure uniform spacing within Fayetteville residential neighborhoods [Section 161.07].

RSF-4 Setback Requirements

The Fayetteville Unified Development Code (UDC) establishes the following minimum setback distances for all structures within the RSF-4 district. These distances are measured from the property lines or the street right-of-way as required by the Master Street Plan [Section 161.01].

Setback Type	Minimum Distance Required
Front Setback	15 feet
Side Setback	5 feet
Rear Setback	15 feet

District Development Standards

In addition to setbacks, the City of Fayetteville imposes specific bulk, area, and height regulations for the RSF-4 district to maintain the intended character of the "Residential Single-family - Four (4) Units per Acre" designation.

Density and Lot Dimensions

The RSF-4 district allows for a base density of 4 or fewer units per acre for single-family dwellings. While primarily intended for single-family homes, certain other dwelling types are permitted with modified lot requirements [Section 161.07].

Standard	Single-Family Dwellings	Two-Family Dwellings
Minimum Lot Width	70 feet	80 feet
Minimum Lot Area	8,000 square feet	12,000 square feet
Land Area Per Unit	8,000 square feet	6,000 square feet

Building Height and Coverage

The City of Fayetteville limits the physical footprint and vertical scale of buildings in the RSF-4 district to prevent overcrowding and preserve neighborhood aesthetics.

Maximum Building Height: Structures in the RSF-4 district are limited to a maximum height of 3 stories [Section 161.07].
Maximum Building Area: On any given lot within the RSF-4 district, the total area occupied by all buildings must not exceed 40% of the total lot area. Note that accessory ground-mounted solar energy systems are not counted as buildings for the purpose of this calculation [Section 161.07].

General Setback Rules in Fayetteville

Under Fayetteville's general provisions, a setback is defined as a required open space that must remain unoccupied and unobstructed from the ground upward, except for certain permitted projections like eaves, chimneys, or bay windows. Such projections may extend up to 3 feet into a required setback, provided they do not intrude into a public right-of-way [Section 151.01].

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