Property Setback an Important Building Restriction a Homeowner Should Know

 It is very important to understand what a property setback and how it can affect the home building process. This article will establish all you need to know about property setbacks.

What is a property setback?

A property setback is the distance required between your house and your property line. There are many things that will define the setbacks on your property such as the type of building, the property's shape, the reason you are using the lot, its height and its size.

“Property setbacks are the building and land use restrictions placed on parcels of property long before you bought it,” says Mike Powell, an engineer and certified home inspector in Tampa, FL. “These setbacks are put in place by city engineers when designing the parcels and common elements needed to subdivide the larger piece of land into smaller, more divisible units.”

Why setbacks are important

Setbacks are great for a homeowner and their neighbors allowing all parties to live comfortably. Setbacks can give ample space to replace or repair utilities and allow for first responders to have enough acess for emergencies. Other advantages are natural lighting, venilation, noise pollution and improved aesthetics.

“Setbacks ensure the functionality of the residence,” says Greg Covell, a Realtor with Re/Max Select Realty in Vancouver, British Columbia.

How to find out your home's setbacks

This is crucial when it comes to purchasing a piece of property to build on. Before you put in an offer, find out what the governing setbacks are for the property. Do your due diligence by contacting your town orr municipality or your local planning department.

“I had a sale pending the zoning approval of placing a barn outside the setback lines,” Denise Supplee, a real estate agent and founder of SparkRental.com says. “The zoning board gave a big no, and the property deal ended without a sale.”

Can a homeowner challenge setbacks?

Setbacks are not supposed to be a burden but rather a benefit for the community. These rules and regulations allow everyone to live comfortably with privacy. There are exepctions to the rules when it comes to setbacks. A homeowner can request an exception but it will more than likely involve a public hearing where neighbors can support it or oppose it.

“Obviously, engineers are incapable of fully anticipating future use, so setbacks may change over time,” says Powell. “For instance, a railroad line that has been abandoned for over 40 years may have been given a setback. The municipality may allow a variance to allow construction of your shed in the former setback location.”

What happens if you build on a property setback?

Just like any other law or ordinance it is against the law to ingore them. A homeowner that builds a structure on a setback will result in removing the structure at the homeowner's expense.

“If it happens to be a fence or a light structure, it may not be a huge problem,” Powell says. “If that building happens to be a reinforced concrete structure, the owner will have to swallow the expense of demolition and likely face additional fees or fines.”

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Lot Values Rise at Record High Rate Nationally

With half as many homes being started before the Recession, a new record has been set for lots for sale.  Not since 2006 has the cost of a lot exceeded its highest amount of $43,000, but in 2015, the average cost of a lot was $45,000, which is a record high for lot sales.  Lot values indicate an appreciation in the investment of real estate nationwide.  It is another positive indication of the recovery of the housing market, and it also allows builders to be able to value the new homes they build at higher prices as well.
One of the reasons for the increase in lot values is that there is actually a shortage of lots for sale according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).  This lot shortage seems to be a nationwide problem as the land is available, but developed lots are scarce.  Thanks to the regulatory costs which are going up at a significant rate, ultimately this translates to a rise in development costs.  The work to develop new lots for sale costs more and thus boosts the cost and value of the lot.


Another factor is that the land that is being purchased for development is trending closer to denser urban areas.  These areas typically have costlier land because of their location and proximity to the city.  Many areas of St. Tammany Parish are located close to shopping, dining, and entertainment hubs – some of which are brand new.  Shopping districts around Covington have increased exponentially in the last 8 years requiring a large amount of road construction, expansion, and renovation in order to handle the increase in drivers and traffic.

Luckily, there have been large tracts of land that were zoned residential or had zoning changes to accommodate residential construction close to Covington.  These new subdivisions and neighborhoods have been built with the distinct advantage of having lots and homes for sale that had easy access to an unusual amount of social and retail locations that would not typically be associated with quiet, country, bedroom community new home communities.  Lot values in the St. Tammany Parish area can be higher than the national average, but they come with amazing community amenities as well as location amenities.  There are many new communities springing up in St. Tammany Parish, and Ron Lee Homes, a custom home builder can design and build new custom homes on your lot or on a lot you purchase.  Contact Ron Lee Homes Today by calling 985-626-7619 or E-mail Info@RonLeeHomes.com.

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