RMF-18 District Setback Standards in Fayetteville
In the City of Fayetteville RMF-18: Residential Multi-family - Eighteen (18) Units per Acre district, primary structures must be located within a front build-to zone between 0 and 25 feet from the front property line. Side and rear setbacks are 5 feet for single-family or two-family dwellings, while all other permitted uses require an 8-foot side setback and a 20-foot rear setback.
Standard Setback Requirements
The Fayetteville Unified Development Code (UDC) establishes specific setback distances for the RMF-18 district based on the type of use. These distances are measured from the property lines or, where applicable, the right-of-way setback line established by the Master Street Plan [Section 161.15(E); Section 166.18].
| Boundary Type | Use Category | Required Setback / Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Front | All Uses | Build-to zone: 0 to 25 feet |
| Side | Single and Two (2) Family Dwellings | 5 feet |
| Side | All Other Permitted Uses | 8 feet |
| Rear | Single and Two (2) Family Dwellings | 5 feet |
| Rear | All Other Permitted Uses | 20 feet |
Front Build-to Zone and Frontage Requirements
Unlike conventional minimum setbacks, the RMF-18 district utilizes an urban "build-to zone." The primary façade of the structure must be located within the first 25 feet of the property, measured from the front property line [Section 161.15(E)]. Furthermore, the building must occupy at least 50% of the lot width along this frontage to maintain the intended urban form [Section 161.15(H)].
Height-Based Setback Adjustments
The Fayetteville Code of Ordinances imposes additional side setback requirements for RMF-18 developments that exceed two stories in height and are adjacent to a single-family district.
If a building exceeds two stories, any portion of the structure above the second story must provide an additional setback from the side boundary line shared with an adjacent single-family district. The distance of this additional setback must be equal to the difference between the total height of that portion of the building and the height of two stories [Section 161.15(F)].
Relationship to the Master Street Plan
In Fayetteville, building setbacks are not always measured from the physical property line. Per the UDC, the city requires developers to establish a right-of-way setback line based on the street's designation in the Master Street Plan. This established line is treated as the property line for the purpose of calculating all building setbacks, meaning no new structures may be placed within the right-of-way setback area [Section 166.18].
Sections Cited
- 161.15 - District RMF-18, Residential Multi-Family — Eighteen (18) Units Per Acre
- 164.11 - Height Or Setback Regulations; Exceptions And Home Protection Requirements
- 166.18 - Master Street Plan Setbacks