Dothan, AL Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)

City Code § 114-132's Table of Dimensional Regulations sets a maximum building area percentage of gross lot area for every zoning district in Dothan, and the spread is wide. The lowest-density districts carry the tightest caps: AC and R-1 both max out at 25 percent, R-2 rises to 40 percent, R-3 to 50 percent, and R-4 and R-A both reach 60 percent, reflecting their higher allowed density. MH-1 manufactured home communities are capped at 50 percent, while MH-2 manufactured home subdivisions show 'n/a,' meaning the standard coverage limit does not apply there.

On the commercial and industrial side, the B-1 central business district also shows 'n/a,' consistent with its intended wall-to-wall downtown building pattern, while B-2 highway commercial and O-I office/institutional are both capped at 50 percent, B-3 local shopping and O-2/O-3 office districts at 30 to 40 percent, and L-I light industry at 50 percent, with H-I heavy industry reaching the citywide high of 60 percent. Section 114-132(a) explains that these bulk regulations exist to control building size and placement in support of the city's long range development plan, and the section ties the percentage directly to whether a building permit or zoning compliance approval can be issued at all.