In the case of most narrow lots, the house practically cuts the lot in two, divid- 

 ing it into front and back yards. Where the building line is not fixed by restric- 

 tions in the sale contract, one is free to place his house as near or as far back from 

 the street as he chooses. The depths of the front and back yards will, of course, 

 depend upon the position of the house. What considerations determine, or 

 should determine, the distance of the house front from the street line and the 

 amount of space necessary in the back yard? 



The building line should be fixed when the character of a street or a neighbor- 

 hood is determined; but in the past this decision has ordinarily been left to the 

 discretion of those who built the first houses. This haphazard procedure is 

 especially serious if the houses are very close together or if they join. However 

 one might wish to place his house, he finds himself limited, to a considerable extent, 

 by this established building line. In the earlier days of this country, it was the 

 custom to place houses immediately on the sidewalk line, thus saving all the land 

 possible for a garden in the rear. This practice was followed even with detached 

 houses. During the past fifty years, the garden in the rear has given way to the 

 spacious front lawn and the front porch affording a grandstand seat from which 

 to observe all the excitement of the street. The latest tendency, however, seems 

 to be a reversion toward the old idea of spacious back yards, or at least toward 

 a more reasonable adjustment of space, and toward more severe house fronts. 

 One cannot vary an established building line without detriment to the appearance 

 of the block and possible injury to his neighbor's house as well as his own. There- 

 for it is unwise to buy on badly planned streets; and in new developments the 

 purchaser should insist upon proper restrictions for the street. But how far 

 back should this building line be located? 



The attractive appearance of one or of all house fronts on any street must depend 

 upon a well-conceived street plan. The "front scene" is not that of a single 

 yard, but of many, and includes also a part of the street itself. Therefore the 

 street, in its width, kind of pavement, width of parkings, and disposal and kind of 

 trees, should be considered together with the depths of the lawns, and the even 

 size and harmonious character of the house fronts. All this should be combined into 

 one study, in order that all parts and elements may be planned in good proportion 

 and in fitting character. Deep lawns will not improve a street unless possibly the 

 street is very wide and the adjoining yards and houses are likewise ample. The 

 unnecessarily deep lawn only makes a narrow street seem narrower by comparison, 

 and will also dwarf a small house front and accentuate the narrowness of a lot. 



What, then, is the determining factor in the question of the amount of space 

 needed for the front yard? What is to be the function of the yard? It cannot be 

 that of a garden, as there is no privacy; nor can it be given over to any specific 

 use, as in most cases front yards are not enclosed. Its purpose is merely that 

 of an entrance feature and an appropriate foreground for the house. The question 

 then becomes, How much land is necessary to make the house look well? 



Usually the building line should be in from the sidewalk a distance of from 

 one-half to two-thirds of the lot widths. If there is any suggestion of lot bound- 

 aries between the lawns, such a building line makes every lot appear wider, 

 as the widths of all front yards will be their greatest dimension. And after all, 

 but little space is required in a front yard, since only a walk, good turf, and 

 few very trim shrubs or evergreens are necessary. There is little opportunity 



