Huntsville, AL Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Lower slope zone cap
- 15% of lot area
- Upper slope zone cap
- 10% of lot area
- Subdivision-wide impervious cap
- 25% of subdivision area
- Building area cap
- 10% lower / 8% upper zone
- Penalty
- Up to $500 per offense
Summary
In Huntsville's mapped Slope Development District, impervious cover on a lot is capped at 15% in the lower slope zone and 10% in the upper slope zone, with matching caps on total building area.
Density Controls Lower Slope Zone Upper Slope Zone Minimum required lot size 25,000 square feet 40,000 square feet Maximum impervious cover per lot 15% of lot area 10% of lot area Maximum impervious cover per subdivision 25% of subdivision area 25% of subdivision area Maximum total building area 10% of lot area 8% of lot area Maximum disturbed area per lot* 30% of lot area 20% of lot area Minimum lot frontage 20 feet Minimum lot width 60 feet Minimum depth of front and rear yards 50 feet from major arterials 15 feet from other streets or lots Minimum width of each side yard 10 feet
* See section 65.5.3.
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Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 30 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Huntsville's Zoning Ordinance carves out a Slope Development District covering mountainside land where a 25-foot vertical span has a slope of 15 percent or greater (Monte Sano, Green Mountain and similar terrain). Inside it, impervious cover -- driveways, parking areas, and everything under a roofline -- is capped at 15% of lot area in the lower slope zone and 10% in the upper slope zone, with a 25% cap on impervious cover for the whole subdivision either way. Total building area is separately capped at 10%/8% of the lot, and disturbed area at 30%/20%. Impervious cover is not transferrable between lots.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding these caps or building without required approval is a zoning violation: on conviction, a fine up to $500 plus court costs per offense, with each day of continued violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Huntsville limit lot coverage citywide?
What counts as impervious cover in the slope district?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Huntsville
Compare Huntsville to another location·View the Alabama building setbacks & zoning overview
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Lot Coverage Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Madison County handle lot coverage limits.