What is the front setback requirement for houses in Birmingham, MI?

Birmingham's front setback in the single-family districts is the average of the front setbacks of homes on the same side of the street within 200 feet of your lot (§§ 2.04, 2.06, 2.08, 2.10). If there are no homes to average, the default is 25 feet. This applies in R1A, R1, R2, and R3.

Two related rules shape the front of the lot:

• The combined front and rear setback must total at least 55 feet, so a shallow front setback pushes the rear requirement deeper.
• Porches and steps may project up to 10 feet into the front open space, and eaves may project 2 inches per foot of open-space width up to 2 feet (§ 4.30).

Because the averaging rule depends on a survey of your neighbors, the required number differs lot by lot. The Planning Division at 248-530-1850 can confirm how it applies to your street.