Section 6Setback and yard requirements by district
Plain English: what this chapter covers
This is the part of Ashburn's zoning ordinance (adopted Feb. 1, 1996) that splits the city into zoning districts, from R-20 single-family neighborhoods to downtown commercial and heavy industrial, and sets the basic ground rules: how big a lot has to be, how far back you build, how tall fences can be, and where sheds and pools can go. The chart that lists exactly which uses are allowed in each district (Section 5) didn't come through in the copy we reviewed, so check that section on Municode or with the zoning administrator before relying on it.
6-1. Development Standards. Within the various as indicated on the Official Zoning Map of Ashburn, Georgia, no building or structure, excluding all signs other than the advertising signs, shall be constructed or erected except as indicated in the following schedule:
Zoning District
Development Standard
R-20
R-12
R-8 andR8M
M-R
R-P
MHP
Minimum gross floor area per dwelling unit
(squarefeet)
1,500
1,200
800
800***
800***
400
Minimum lot area for dwelling units
(square feet)
20,000
12,000
8,000 square feet for single-family; 4,000 square feet additional lot space for duplex, 4,000 square feet additional lot space for triplex
6,000 square feet for first unit plus 3,000 square feet each additional unit
Gross minimum lot size of 5 acres; see section 9-4 for individual units
Minimum lot width
(feet) 100
100
80
60
60
200
Minimum front yard from the centerline ofR/W
(feet) Principal & MinorArterials
70*
70*
65*
65*
65*
65*
CollectorStreets
60*
60*
55*
55*
55*
55*
Local Streets
55*
55*
50*
50*
50*
50*
Minimum side yards
(feet) 10
10
10
8 feet except multifamily or residential group development projects, 3 or more stories - 20 feet
20
Minimum rear yards
(feet) 40
40
30
30**
30**
20
Maximum height
(feet) 35
35
35
None**
None**
35*
* Plus half any amount which the R/W width exceeds 50 feet for local streets, 60 feet for collector streets, and 80 feet for principal and minor arterials.
** The minimum distance from all other property lines to any building over 35 feet in height shall be increased 1 foot for every 2 feet (or part of 2 feet) of building height greater than 35 feet.
*** 800 square feet for each unit (2-bedroom or larger); 600 square feet for each 1-bedroom unit (not to exceed 25% of project); 400 square feet for each efficiency unit (not to exceed 25% of project).
Zoning District
Development Standard
N-C
G-C
D-C
WLI
H-I
C-A†
Minimum lot width(feet)
60
60
None
None
None
150
Minimum front yard from the centerline of R/W(feet):
Principal/minorarterials
100**
80**
None
100**
100**
100**
Collectorstreets
70**
65**
None
70**
70**
N/A
Local streets
65**
65**
None
55**
55**
N/A
Minimum sideyards
*
None***
*
None*
**
*
None**
*
*
None**
*
*
None
***
40*
***
Minimum rear yards(feet)
*
12***
*
12***
None**
*
*
12***
*
None*
**
40*
***
Maximumheight
None*
None*
None*
None*
None*
None*
* The minimum distance from all other property lines to any building over 35 feet in height shall be increased 1 foot for every 2 feet (or part of 2 feet) of building height greater than 35 feet.
** Plus half any amount which the right-of-way width exceeds 50 feet for local streets, 60 feet for collector streets, and 80 feet for principal and minor arterials.
*** If the adjoining yard is within any residential district, the yard requirements specified in this table shall be increased 10 feet; and screening shall be provided as specified in section 3-19 along the lot line common with said lot.
† Additional development standards and guidelines are contained in the to regulate Adult Entertainment Establishments within the City of Ashburn, adopted July 1, 1993, Ordinance No. 93-006, as amended [see ch. 10, art. II et seq., Code of Ordinances].
This is a plain-English guide, not legal advice. The official code is on Municode and at City Hall. Our copy is from April 30, 2026.
Online: https://jamesburgessleads.com/city-code/APXAZO_S6SEYAREDI
Official version: https://library.municode.com/GA/Ashburn/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=APXAZO_S6SEYAREDI
Paid for by James Burgess