Huge front yard (Post, Mart: HOA, houses, neighborhood)

[dosto]

We bought an old house with a huge front yard. I think it was typical of those times (1950s). We are thinking of rebuilding or renovating the house and would like to increase the footage. Do you know if there are any laws/rules on how close to the sidewalk we can build? Ideally, I would like to add some footage by using some of the front yard space. Is it even possible?

[huma281]

Check the utility easement first. I think it's code that it has to be a specific amount of space from the foundation.

[ToyYot]

When you bought the house you should have gotten a survey showing the setbacks and easements.

[Maybe So]

Are you in a neighborhood with an HOA thAt has an ACC committee? If so, they may have requirements regarding building envelope. I would check that out first.

[PedroMartinez]

If the front yard is huge, how many square feet do you plan to add so that you encroach on the sidewalk?

[dosto]

We don't have an HOA. We would like to add 1000 sq feet. It won't be too close to the sidewalk, but closer than most of the houses on the street (old houses). I'll look at the survey. Does it say on it what line is what?

[PedroMartinez]

Originally Posted by dosto

We don't have an HOA. We would like to add 1000 sq feet. It won't be too close to the sidewalk, but closer than most of the houses on the street (old houses). I'll look at the survey. Does it say on it what line is what?

The sidewalk should appear on the drawing. You'll want to look for dashed lines, as they show easements

Edit: Here is an example.



Another Edit:

If you had an HOA, they might call for a setback, which would not show on the survey, but since you don't have an HOA, you probably don't have a setback.

[ToyYot]

[quote=PedroMartinez;34504708
If you had an HOA, they might call for a setback, which would not show on the survey, but since you don't have an HOA, you probably don't have a setback.[/quote]

The ones I've seen do show the setbacks but there was also an HOA. I guess it depends on the surveyor? As something like that can affect how one may value the property you'd think setbacks would be required on a survey when purchasing.

EDIT: PM - aren't the 20' & 25' building lines in your example above what I'm calling the setback lines?

[PedroMartinez]

Originally Posted by ToyYot

The ones I've seen do show the setbacks but there was also an HOA. I guess it depends on the surveyor? As something like that can affect how one may value the property you'd think setbacks would be required on a survey when purchasing.

EDIT: PM - aren't the 20' & 25' building lines in your example above what I'm calling the setback lines?

Any setback that is part of a county, city, township, etc. code will be included in the survey and indicated with a dashed line.

HOA's can place rules for their own setbacks, and these won't necessarily show on a survey.

[ToyYot]

Originally Posted by PedroMartinez

Any setback that is part of a county, city, township, etc. code will be included in the survey and indicated with a dashed line.

HOA's can place rules for their own setbacks, and these won't necessarily show on a survey.

Got it, thanks.