WALLACE — The Shoshone Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) voted to amend county codes pertaining to County Ordinance No. 165, specifically as it concerns property yard setbacks.

The term “setback” refers to the distance (measured in feet) a house or structure must be from the front, side and rear property lines. Setbacks allow for access to underground utilities and distance between properties.

Local governments create setbacks through ordinances and building codes, usually for reasons of public policy such as safety, privacy and environmental protection. Setbacks prevent landowners from crowding the property of others, and allow for the safe placement of pipelines.

Following a brief public hearing last week, the BOCC decided it they would move forward with amending the ordinance — a process that began roughly three years ago with the Shoshone County Planning and Zoning Commission in January 2019.

After a series of workshops since that time, the P&Z Commission narrowed the scope of its amendments down to the yard setbacks.

Previously, homes were required to be 25 feet from the front of the house to the property line, 20 feet from the rear, 5 feet from any side yard, and 20 feet from any street-side yard.

One of the few concerns that was received during the public comment period came from Shoshone County Fire District No. 2 Chief Aaron Cagle, who expressed some concern initially over the possibility of any reduction in side yard setbacks, stating that doing so would limit emergency access to areas between structures. However, Chief Cagle’s concerns were heard and he was assured the 5-foot setback from adjacent properties would not be changed or altered.

With the amendments approved by the BOCC, the new setback guidelines maintain the 25 foot distance in the front, reduce the rear setback to 10 feet, maintain the side yard setback distance of 5 feet, and reduce the side-street setback distance to 10 feet.

There are variances for these new guidelines, but they must come with administrative approval.

The new guidelines are effective immediately.