Zoning Guide

Madison Setbacks & Height Limits — Residential Zones

Last updated: Verified:

Fact-checked against the City of Madison's current zoning district tables on September 22, 2026.

Madison's residential districts do not share one generic setback pattern. The previous version of this page contained several stale values, including an incorrect SR-C1 front and rear yard.

Current Residential Examples

The City's current zoning tables provide:

Standard SR-C1 SR-C3 TR-C1 TR-C2 TR-C3
Minimum lot area — single-family detached 6,000 sq ft 5,000 sq ft 5,000 sq ft 4,000 sq ft 3,000 sq ft
Minimum lot width 55 ft 50 ft 45 ft 40 ft 30 ft
Front setback 30 ft 25 ft 20 ft 20 ft 15 ft
Interior side setback 6 ft 5 ft 6 ft 5 ft* 5 ft*
Reversed-corner side setback 15 ft 15 ft 15 ft 12 ft 8 ft; 10 ft for garage
Rear setback Lesser of 30% of lot depth or 30 ft Lesser of 30% or 30 ft Lesser of 30% or 30 ft Lesser of 30% or 30 ft Lesser of 20% or 20 ft
Maximum height 2 stories / 35 ft 2 stories / 35 ft 2 stories / 35 ft 2 stories / 35 ft 2 stories / 35 ft
Maximum lot coverage 50% 60% 50% 65% 75%
  • In TR-C2 and TR-C3, the current table applies the stated lot-width rule where the lot is under 50 ft wide; use the exact district table for the calculation.

For the listed districts, a qualifying one-story alley-accessed attached garage projection can use the separate 3-ft rear-yard provision in the current table.

The previous page listed SR-C1 as 25-ft front and 20-ft rear. Current City materials instead use a 30-ft front setback and a rear yard based on the lesser of 30% of lot depth or 30 ft, subject to the table's exceptions.

Front-Yard Context Matters in Traditional Districts

TR-C1, TR-C2, TR-C3, and other traditional districts also regulate the maximum front setback.

For example, the current TR-C1 and TR-C2 tables use a maximum front setback of 30 ft or up to 20% greater than the block average, as provided by the code.

A project therefore needs to check both the minimum and the contextual maximum where applicable.

Lot Coverage, Not the Old Generic Open-Space Estimate

The previous page described approximate usable-open-space percentages as a substitute for the district table.

Current zoning materials publish exact maximum lot coverage values by district and building type. Those are more useful for a feasibility check and are shown above for the selected examples.

Other districts, including SR-C2, SR-V1/SR-V2, TR-C4, TR-V1/TR-V2, TR-U1/TR-U2, mixed-use, downtown, and special districts, have their own standards.

Accessory Dwelling Units

Madison currently permits ADUs under local zoning rules.

Current City guidance for a detached ADU states:

  • maximum detached accessory-building footprint: 1,000 sq ft;
  • maximum detached-ADU building height: 25 ft;
  • minimum separation from the principal house and other structures: 3 ft.

ADU eligibility, placement, lot coverage, number of units, and other conditions must be checked under the current zoning code and current City guidance rather than inferred from the principal-building table.

See the Madison ADU rules page for ADU-specific guidance.

How to Check a Property

  1. Confirm the exact zoning district in Madison's zoning map.
  2. Use the current City district table for that zoning classification.
  3. Check both minimum and maximum/contextual front-yard provisions.
  4. Check alley, reversed-corner, accessory-structure, and ADU rules separately.
  5. Check historic, Capitol-view, airport, shoreland, and other special controls.
  6. Confirm parcel-specific questions with Madison Zoning before relying on a design dimension.

Official Sources

This guide is informational only. The current Chapter 28 standards, district table, overlays, and parcel-specific conditions control.

More about Madison Zoning

Building Permits — Cost & TimelineADU Rules in Madison, Wisconsin

Sources

  1. City of Madison Planning Division·cityofmadison.com·Accessed 2026-04-14·Direct link
  2. Madison General Ordinances Chapter 28 — Zoning Code·library.municode.com·Accessed 2026-04-14·Direct link

FAQ

What are the setback requirements in Madison residential zones?
Setbacks in Madison vary by zoning district under Chapter 28. In SR-C1 expect 25 ft front, 6 ft side, and 20 ft rear. SR-C2 requires 30 ft front, 8 ft side, and 25 ft rear. SR-V1 uses 20 ft front, 5 ft side, and 20 ft rear. SR-V2 matches SR-C1. Traditional Residential (TR-C1) requires 15 ft front, 5 ft side, and 15 ft rear. Always verify your specific zone on the Madison zoning map.
What is the maximum building height in Madison residential zones?
Most Madison Suburban Residential (SR-C1, SR-C2, SR-V1, SR-V2) and Traditional Residential Consistent (TR-C1, TR-C2) districts cap building height at 35 ft. Traditional Residential Urban 1 (TR-U1) allows up to 40 ft, and TR-U2 allows up to 50 ft. Height is measured from average grade to the highest point of the roof per Chapter 28 definitions.
How is lot coverage handled in Madison?
Madison's Chapter 28 regulates lot coverage through usable open space and maximum building coverage standards that vary by residential district. SR and TR districts generally require open space between 30% and 50% of the lot. Pools, driveways, and open decks have separate rules — check the district schedule for your specific zone.
Do eaves, porches, or chimneys count toward Madison setbacks?
Chapter 28 allows certain architectural projections into required setbacks. Eaves and gutters may project up to about 2 ft, chimneys up to 2 ft, and uncovered porches and stoops have their own allowances. Bay windows and air conditioning units are also limited. Always check Section 28.132 (encroachments) for the current limits.