Ridgefield, CTZoning for Custom Homes

What Is a Zone, and Why Does It Come First?

Every property in Ridgefield sits in a zoning district, and that district sets the rules for what can legally be built there, before any design work starts. The zone determines the maximum size, height, and setbacks of a house, and how much of the lot can be covered by the house, driveway, and pool combined.

That’s why zoning comes first. A design that doesn’t fit the zone’s limits isn’t buildable as is. It needs a variance, a redesign, or a different lot. Knowing the zone before you start design work means the design work is actually usable.

Ridgefield has seven residential zones: RAAA, RAA, RA, R-20, SD R-20, R-10, and R-7.5, largest minimum lot size to smallest. SD R-20 is a special overlay district along North Main Street with the same dimensional numbers as R-20 but its own review layer. Find your zone above, then check the tables for what it allows.

The same sliding scale applies regardless of zone — only the lot's own size determines the allowance. Coverage counts building footprint; open porches (first 200 sf) and minor accessory structures under 200 sf are excluded.

Illustrative, drawn to scale for RA. Lot dimensions are normalized; the envelope shape changes with the zone's setbacks.

Floor area follows its own sliding scale, separate from coverage — again uniform across all seven zones.

Example: a 1-acre (43,560 sf) lot allows 5,850 sf of floor area — a 2-acre (87,120 sf) lot allows 8,464 sf.

Unlike coverage and FAR, setbacks do step down zone by zone.

• * The side/rear setback increases to 25 ft for any non-residential use permitted by Special Permit in these zones.
• ** In the SD R-20 zone specifically, the front setback is 40 ft from the Main Street right-of-way, and 25 ft from any other front lot line.

Here's what the numbers actually mean on the ground — select a Ridgefield zone to see its setbacks drawn to scale. The shaded band is where nothing can be built; the white area is your buildable envelope.

Illustrative, drawn to scale for RA. Lot dimensions are normalized; the envelope shape changes with the zone's setbacks.

A short list of features are allowed to poke through the height cap or into a required yard, each within its own limit.

• Spires or belfries (religious/public buildings) may exceed the height cap up to 50 ft, covering up to 10% of the roof area, as-of-right; beyond that needs a Special Permit.
• Cupolas or chimneys may exceed total building height by up to 20%, covering up to 5% of the roof area, as-of-right; beyond that needs a Special Permit.
• Water tanks can only exceed the height limit with a Special Permit.
• Rooftop equipment on non-residential buildings (HVAC, ventilators, skylights, bulkheads) may exceed total height as-of-right if screened and no more than 15% of the roof area; beyond that needs a Special Permit.
• Basement hatchways may project up to 6 ft into a side or rear setback.
• A one-story open porch may project into the front setback by up to 20% of the required front setback distance.
• Uncovered entry stairs/stoops and covered fire escapes may extend up to 6 ft into any required setback.
• Accessible ramps may extend into any required setback with ZEO approval, for as long as needed.

Ridgefield doesn't publish a numeric setback table for accessory structures the way it does for the principal building — instead it works by permit tier and a front-yard restriction.

• No zoning permit needed for the smallest accessory items: a single detached shed ≤200 sf, fences, walls, gazebos/pergolas/playhouses under 200 sf, shallow prefab pools (≤24 in deep), and unattached decks ≤200 sf and ≤30 in above grade.
• Zoning Permit (ZEO) required for outbuildings (sheds, detached garages, studios, cabanas), non-illuminated pools/tennis/sport courts, and larger accessory structures (bigger decks, larger gazebos/pergolas, outdoor kitchens, spas, renewable-energy systems) — none of these may sit in the front yard.
• Special Permit (Commission) required for any outdoor recreation facility placed in the front yard, any illuminated recreation facility anywhere on the lot, or any outbuilding/accessory structure located in the front yard.
• Home occupations: a home office (no permit) is capped at 20% of dwelling area; a minor home occupation (Zoning Permit) at 25% with up to one non-resident employee; anything larger is a Major Home Occupation requiring Special Permit.
• Accessory Dwelling Units (Zoning Permit) are capped at 900 sf (main house under 3,000 sf) or 1,200 sf (main house 3,000 sf+), max 2 bedrooms, owner-occupied, with 4 off-street spaces required for both units combined.

Many older properties in Ridgefield predate the current standards above. What you can do about it depends on whether the nonconformity is in the use, the structure, or the lot itself.

• Nonconforming uses can't grow or move. A legal nonconforming use may continue, but it can't be extended or expanded, can't be moved to another part of the same lot, and can only be changed to a conforming use — or, with a Special Permit, to a different nonconforming use that's no more intensive and better fits the neighborhood and zone.
• Nonconforming structures can be enlarged. Unlike the use restrictions above, a nonconforming structure may be enlarged horizontally, vertically, or both, provided the enlargement itself complies with the Regulations for that use and zone — the whole structure doesn't have to be brought into conformance first.
• Rebuilding after casualty damage is capped at the prior footprint. If a nonconforming structure is damaged or destroyed by fire, explosion, act of God, or the public enemy, it may be rebuilt with the same footprint and floor area and the use continued — but not to any greater extent than what existed before.
• Ordinary repairs and alterations are allowed as long as the work doesn't increase the nonconforming aspect of the structure, or otherwise complies with the applicable Regulations for that use and zone.
• A nonconforming lot can still be built on. A lot lawfully recorded before these Regulations (or an amendment) that falls short on area, shape, frontage, or another lot standard may still be built on, added to, or altered — provided the building or structure itself complies with all current requirements as of the date of the zoning permit application.
• Adjoining nonconforming lots merge automatically. If two or more nonconforming lots are contiguous and held in the same ownership, they must be combined or merged into a conforming lot — or as conforming as possible.