SF-8 Single-Family Residential Setback Requirements in Reno
In the City of Reno's SF-8: Single-Family Residential district, principal buildings are required to maintain a minimum 10-foot front setback, 5-foot side setbacks, and a 20-foot rear setback. Street-facing garages in the SF-8: Single-Family Residential district must be set back at least 20 feet from the sidewalk, while single-story accessory structures under 16 feet in height may be eligible for a reduced rear setback of 5 feet.
SF-8: Single-Family Residential Setback Standards
The City of Reno defines setbacks for the SF-8: Single-Family Residential district based on whether the structure is a principal building or an accessory structure. These requirements are intended to maintain the character of detached residential neighborhoods while providing adequate transitions to other districts [Section 18.02.206].
| Feature | Principal Building Setback (Minimum) | Accessory Structure Setback (Minimum) |
|---|---|---|
| Front | 10 ft | Prohibited between front line and principal structure |
| Side | 5 ft | 5 ft |
| Rear | 20 ft | 20 ft / 5 ft (See Notes) |
| Street-Facing Garage | 20 ft (from sidewalk or planned sidewalk) | N/A |
Setback Notes and Exceptions
- Alley Access: A minimum zero-foot setback is permitted in the City of Reno SF-8 district when a property line abuts an alley and at least 24 feet of backup space is provided from all garage doors and parking spaces [Section 18.02.206, Table 2-9 Note 1].
- Accessory Structure Placement: Within the SF-8: Single-Family Residential district, all accessory structures must be located behind the front face of the existing principal structure [Section 18.02.206, Table 2-9 Note 2].
- Reduced Rear Setback: The 5-foot rear setback for accessory structures applies only to single-story buildings or structures that do not exceed 16 feet in height. All other accessory structures must comply with the standard 20-foot rear setback [Section 18.02.206, Table 2-9 Note 3].
- Infill Setback Calculation: For infill lots in established Reno neighborhoods, if a consistent front setback (within 3 feet of deviation) exists along a block face, the SF-8: Single-Family Residential development must be consistent with that established setback [Section 18.04.903(a)(5)].
Alternative Setback Developments
The City of Reno allows for modifications to standard SF-8: Single-Family Residential setbacks under specific subdivision or parcel map conditions:
- Rear Setback Reduction: The rear yard setback may be reduced to 10 feet if one side yard is at least 20 feet wide and contains at least 400 square feet with a maximum slope of seven to one (7:1) [Section 18.04.904(c)(1)].
- Zero Side-Lot Line: Buildings may be placed on one side property line (0-foot setback) provided there is a 10-foot minimum setback from the opposite side property line [Section 18.04.904(c)(2)].
- Consent Requirement: These alternative setbacks cannot be used to reduce a setback adjacent to a property located outside the development site without the written consent of the adjacent property owner [Section 18.04.904(c)(3)].
Additional Compatibility Standards
When a nonresidential or multi-family use is permitted within the SF-8: Single-Family Residential district, the City of Reno requires a minimum 20-foot setback from any property line that adjoins a single-family dwelling use [Section 18.04.904(d)]. Furthermore, any building in the SF-8 district taller than 24 feet must provide an additional 1-foot horizontal setback (or a 1:1 height-to-stepback ratio) for every foot of height exceeding 24 feet when abutting another residential district [Section 18.04.903(c)(1)].
Sections Cited
- Section 18.02.206, SF-8: Single-Family Residential
- Section 18.04.903, General Standards for Residential Districts
- Section 18.04.904, Additional Standards in Single-Family Residential Districts
- Section 18.09.205, Property Line Setback/Yard