Why We Protect Frontyards

The main intention of a building setback is to protect the building occupants and adjacent buildings from visual intrusion, noise, erosion, landslides and slope failure, sight problems for vehicles and pedestrians, and pollutants from the road. They also promote light and air separation for fire protection and access for firefighting; promote reasonable physical relationship between houses; promote privacy for neighboring properties; promote visually pleasing front yards; promote lot flexibility; protect environmental features, such as wetlands, slopes, wooded areas, lakes, etc. They also reflect the city’s intent to scale and placement of homes and buildings that are compatible with the neighborhood.
They also provide for emergency access, utility easements, snow storage, water drainage, storm water control and future right-of-way needs. Setbacks are used to help safeguard and enhance the environmental quality of the area in relation to streetscape or physical landscape, building size, and building density.