Q: "Setback from road right of way"

[Will.S]

I know this is a huge conversation regarding SURVEY & ARC, but in the Villages basically, If I have "front and rear" setbacks 20' from the road right-of-way , does that mean 20' from the center of the paved street surfaces ?
Thanks for your input.,

[Bogie Shooter]

Mine is 13’ measured from the edge of the street.

[retiredguy123]

No. You need to get a copy of your official property plat. It will show you exactly where your property lines are located and the rights of way and easements. The term "setback" usually refers to where your can build on your property. Twenty feet seems excessive for building purposes.

[asianthree]

Our corner lot had set back of 20’ from the curb, of the road in the rear and side yard. ARC gave us an answer that any property back to or side of property is 20’ setback to give clear site of traffic.

[Topspinmo]

Mine 10 yards off my front, back and sides. For those that bricked in their whole yards if there need to dig the brick won’t be put back in, that you’re responsibility. I really don’t understand how arc can approve whole front side yards bricked in CYVs so 3 plus vehicles can be parked in front of house and patio villas can’t have stone gravel front yard?

[Will.S]

Where can I get that ? Thank you.

No. You need to get a copy of your official property plat. It will show you exactly where your property lines are located and the rights of way and easements. The term "setback" usually refers to where your can build on your property. Twenty feet seems excessive for building purposes.

[BrianL99]

I know this is a huge conversation regarding SURVEY & ARC, but in the Villages basically, If I have "front and rear" setbacks 20' from the road right-of-way , does that mean 20' from the center of the paved street surfaces ?
Thanks for your input.,

Mine 10 yards off my front, back and sides. For those that bricked in their whole yards if there need to dig the brick won’t be put back in, that you’re responsibility. I really don’t understand how arc can approve whole front side yards bricked in CYVs so 3 plus vehicles can be parked in front of house and patio villas can’t have stone gravel front yard?

People are comparing apples and oranges.

The "roads" in most CYV's are not "roads", they are "driveways". A regulation requiring a "set back" from a road, usually does not apply to a "driveway". That said, there can be a required set back from a driveway.

When discussing a "road", there are 2 separate and somewhat distinct parts of a road. There is the "travelled way" (paved, usually) and the "road layout" (or "road easement"). The layout part of the road, is generally about 1.25-1.5 times the width of the travelled way, approximately divided evenly on both sides.

Setback is usually measured not from the travelled way, but from the bounds of the road layout.

You need to see a stamped engineered/surveyed plan of your particular lot and roadway.

[retiredguy123]

Where can I get that ? Thank you.
You should have gotten a plat at your closing. If not, it will depend on which county you live in. I would start by calling the county records department and ask how to get one.

[villagetinker]

I know this is a huge conversation regarding SURVEY & ARC, but in the Villages basically, If I have "front and rear" setbacks 20' from the road right-of-way , does that mean 20' from the center of the paved street surfaces ?
Thanks for your input.,

We have the same situation, and I was able to get the house plans from Sumter County, and in our case the rear 20 feet right of way is measured from the edge of the sidewalk, so we had to be real careful with landscaping and the birdcage addition.
Get a copy of your plat plan this will have the necessary information, and you can make copies to provide ARC when you go to make changes to landscaping or building.

[Topspinmo]

People are comparing apples and oranges.

The "roads" in most CYV's are not "roads", they are "driveways". A regulation requiring a "set back" from a road, usually does not apply to a "driveway". That said, there can be a required set back from a driveway.

When discussing a "road", there are 2 separate and somewhat distinct parts of a road. There is the "travelled way" (paved, usually) and the "road layout" (or "road easement"). The layout part of the road, is generally about 1.25-1.5 times the width of the travelled way, approximately divided evenly on both sides.

Setback is usually measured not from the travelled way, but from the bounds of the road layout.

You need to see a stamped engineered/surveyed plan of your particular lot and roadway.


In my CYV there call streets with names. Private streets nevertheless streets.

Can traffic laws be enforced on private property in Florida?
Basically, if a land owner (apartment, condo, shopping center, etc) has a written agreement with law enforcement, then the cops may issue traffic citations on their private property. This ruling, of course, does not apply to criminal matters. Crimes may be investigated on private property without such an agreement.

22) “Road” means a way open to travel by the public, including, but not limited to, a street, highway, or alley.

[BrianL99]

In my CYV there call streets with names. Private streets nevertheless streets.

Symantecs. Private Ways, Driveways ... non-public ways and normally not defined as "streets" in Zoning Ordinances (although they can be).

[MrChipster]

You should have gotten a plat at your closing. If not, it will depend on which county you live in. I would start by calling the county records department and ask how to get one.

If possible request the plat in digital format as an 8.5x11 copy will be very hard to see small text and or details like measurements

[Pwanderson]

We have the same situation, and I was able to get the house plans from Sumter County, and in our case the rear 20 feet right of way is measured from the edge of the sidewalk, so we had to be real careful with landscaping and the birdcage addition.
Get a copy of your plat plan this will have the necessary information, and you can make copies to provide ARC when you go to make changes to landscaping or building.

Where is the location of the Sumter office to get that? Did it cost anything?

[Annie66]

We went through this several years ago. We do not live on a corner lot. Our front easement is 13 feet from the edge of the curb and 7.5 feet from the property line in the backyard.

These are District requirements. The county definition is much more liberal. In essence, the Villages requirements are much more stringent.

[Rainger99]

Call the district offices.
They have more accurate information than TOTV.

Main Office
1026 Canal Street
The Villages, FL 32162

Phone: 352-753-4022

[Shipping up to Boston]

Symantecs. Private Ways, Driveways ... non-public ways and normally not defined as "streets" in Zoning Ordinances (although they can be).

It’s tricky but definitely not exclusive to TV. The private way conundrum is controversial....more so today than say 25 yrs ago

[villagetinker]

Where is the location of the Sumter office to get that? Did it cost anything?

I went to Pinellas Plaza, the building with the copper top, in the main entrance, turn right and the building department is on the left. NO cost, the documents were in PDF format and were emailed to me.

[Will.S]

Thanks !
People are comparing apples and oranges.

The "roads" in most CYV's are not "roads", they are "driveways". A regulation requiring a "set back" from a road, usually does not apply to a "driveway". That said, there can be a required set back from a driveway.

When discussing a "road", there are 2 separate and somewhat distinct parts of a road. There is the "travelled way" (paved, usually) and the "road layout" (or "road easement"). The layout part of the road, is generally about 1.25-1.5 times the width of the travelled way, approximately divided evenly on both sides.

Setback is usually measured not from the travelled way, but from the bounds of the road layout.

You need to see a stamped engineered/surveyed plan of your particular lot and roadway.

[JRcorvette]

I know this is a huge conversation regarding SURVEY & ARC, but in the Villages basically, If I have "front and rear" setbacks 20' from the road right-of-way , does that mean 20' from the center of the paved street surfaces ?
Thanks for your input.,

All I know that if you have a corner lot you get screwed because the side of your lot las a 30’ set back which make no sense at all!

[Shipping up to Boston]

All I know that if you have a corner lot you get screwed because the side of your lot las a 30’ set back which make no sense at all!

I think, as stated, that’s for motorists vision. It’s not unique to TV. I think it’s a little overkill by the ‘system’ but getting a variance in most places is an adventure

[jasamy]

And you have to maintain it at your expense! Water, feed, and mow it!



All I know that if you have a corner lot you get screwed because the side of your lot las a 30’ set back which make no sense at all!