What are setbacks and how do they affect my property?

Setbacks are defined as the distance between roads, property lines, structures, or significant features where building is prohibited.  Setbacks are created by Municipal and Provincial governments through By-laws to protect public safety, privacy, and the environment.

When building a structure on your property, such as a garage or even a shed, you should know how far it needs to be located from a setback line prior to construction.  Costly mistakes are made by property owners who build within the setback limits.

As a licensed Ontario Land Surveyor I’m available to discuss the setback regulations governing your property and help ensure any structure you plan on building meets these regulations.