UDC Building Envelope Examples3.2 Measurements and Exceptions Article 3 Building Envelope Standards
3.2.8 Width
74 Unified Development Code
3.2.8 Width
A. Building Width
Building width shall be measured by the distance along the front plane of any building (as determined by the
location of an entrance fronting on a street).
B. Site or Lot Width
1.Width shall be measured by the distance between the side site or lot lines (generally running perpendicular to a
street), measured at the front setback line along a straight line parallel to the front of the property line or along the
chord of the front property line.
2.Where a setback area applies, lot width shall be measured by the distance between the side property lines
(generally running perpendicular to a street), measured at the front building line along a straight line parallel to the
front of the property line or along the chord of the front property line.
Article 3 Building Envelope Standards 3.2 Measurements and Exceptions
3.2.9 Building Setbacks
75 Unified Development Code
3.2.9 Building Setbacks
A. General
1.No part of a yard or other open space required for any structure or use for the purpose of complying with the
provisions of this development code may be included as a part of a yard or other open space similarly required for
another structure or use.
2.All front, rear and side (street) setbacks, and parking setbacks are measured from the edge of the right-of-way.
Side yard setbacks are measured from the side property line.
B. Types of Setbacks
There are five types of setbacks – front (min), front (max), side (street), side (interior), and rear yards. Double
frontage sites are considered to have two front setbacks.
1. Residential Lots
Setbacks for corner and non-corner lots are determined according to the graphics below.
2. Non-residential Lots
Setbacks for all non-residential lots are determined according to the graphic below. On corner lots, the rear
setback is determined according to the dimensions of the lot. The rear setback is always measured from the
property line most distant from the street.
3.2 Measurements and Exceptions Article 3 Building Envelope Standards
3.2.9 Building Setbacks
76 Unified Development Code
C. Setback Area and Required Building Frontage
The setback area is the area of land within the minimum front setback line and the maximum setback line. The
required building frontage is the minimum percentage of the front building façade that must be located within the
setback area. Breezeways and other covered areas along the frontage shall be calculated as part of the required
building frontage requirements provided such breezeways and other covered areas do not constitute more than
20% of the total required building frontage.
D. Measurement of Setbacks
1. Front Setbacks
Depth of a required front setback is measured at right angles to a straight line joining the foremost points of the
side property lines. The foremost point of the side property lines, in the case of rounded property corners at
street intersections, are assumed to be the point at which the side and front property lines would have met
without such rounding.
Article 3 Building Envelope Standards 3.2 Measurements and Exceptions
3.2.9 Building Setbacks
77 Unified Development Code
2. Side (Street) Setbacks
Width of a required side (street) setback is measured in such a manner that the side yard established is a strip
of the minimum width required by district regulations with its inner edge parallel with the side property line.
3. Side (Interior) Setbacks
Width of a required side (interior) setback is measured in such a manner that the side yard established is a
strip of the minimum width required by district regulations with its inner edge parallel with the side property line.
4. Rear Setbacks
Depth of a required rear setback is measured in such a manner that the rear yard established is a strip of the
minimum width required by district regulations with its inner edge parallel with the rear property line. For
irregular lots, use the graphic below to determine the rear property line from which the required rear setback is
measured. For irregular lots, the rear property line shall generally be defined as the property line that is the
furthest from the front property line. For irregular lots with two property lines that are equidistant from the front
property line, such as the situation in Lot 2 below, the rear property line shall be considered the line that is a
distance of ten feet as measured from the rear corner of the lot. Such a line shall create an isosceles triangle
at the rear of the lot.
Article 3 Building Envelope Standards 3.2 Measurements and Exceptions
3.2.7 Transparency
73 Unified Development Code
C. Ground Floor Elevation
Ground floor elevation is measured from top of the final grade to the top of the finished ground floor.
D. Floor Height
1.Ground floor height is measured from the top of the finished to the top of the finished floor above.
2.Upper floor height is measured from the top of the finished floor to the top of the finished floor above. When there
is no floor above, upper floor height is measured from the top of the finished floor to the top of the wall plate.
3.2.7 Transparency
A. Ground Floor
The minimum percentage of windows and doors that must cover ground floor façade measured between 2 and 10
feet above the adjacent sidewalk.
B. Upper Floors
The minimum percentage of windows and doors that must cover an upper floor façade measured from floor to
floor.