Setback Requirements for RI-12 District in Fayetteville

In the City of Fayetteville's RI: Residential Intermediate, Twelve (12) Units Per Acre (RI-12) district, principal structures are governed by a 25-foot front build-to zone rather than a traditional minimum setback. Side and rear setbacks in this district are determined by the specific use of the building, with single-family residences requiring 5-foot minimums, while "other uses" require 8-foot side setbacks and 20-foot rear setbacks [Section 161.11].

Primary Setback Standards for RI-12

The City of Fayetteville established the RI: Residential Intermediate, Twelve (12) Units Per Acre district to provide a transition between low-density and medium-density residential areas. To maintain a consistent urban form, the City uses a "build-to zone" for the front of properties, requiring buildings to be placed within a specific range of the property line [Section 161.11].

The following table outlines the specific dimensional requirements for yards within the RI-12 district:

Yard Location	Specific Use	Setback or Build-to Requirement
Front	All Permitted Uses	A build-to zone located between the front property line and a line 25 feet from the front property line.
Side	Single & Two-family Dwellings	5 feet
Side	Other Permitted Uses	8 feet
Rear	Single Family Dwellings	5 feet
Rear	Other Permitted Uses	20 feet

[Section 161.11(E)]

General Rules and Exceptions

Measurement of Setbacks

In the City of Fayetteville, setbacks and build-to zones are measured from the street right-of-way or the street right-of-way setback as designated by the Master Street Plan [Section 161.01(F)(1)]. For corner lots, the Unified Development Code specifies that the property has two fronts and two sides [Section 161.01(F)(4)].

Home Protection Overrides

Regardless of the standard district setbacks, the City of Fayetteville enforces "Home Protection Requirements" for new multi-family construction. If an RI-12 development involves multi-family construction exceeding 24 feet in height and it adjoins a property used primarily as a single-family residence within the Downtown General or Main Street Center districts, the structure must be set back at least 15 feet from the side or rear adjoining property line [Section 164.11(C)].

Accessory Structure Setbacks

Standard accessory structures in the RI-12 district must follow specific placement rules:

Height of 10 feet or less: Must maintain a minimum side setback of 3 feet and a minimum rear setback of 5 feet.
Height greater than 10 feet: Must meet the same side and rear setback requirements as the principal structure for that zoning district.
Build-to Zones: Accessory structures are exempt from the front build-to zone requirements in any zoning district [Section 164.02(A)].

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