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Nassau County, FL Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

RS-E lot coverage cap: 20 percent
RS-1 lot coverage cap: 30 percent
RS-2 lot coverage cap: 35 percent
RS-2 with conservation incentive: up to 50 percent
First-offense fine cap: $1,000 per day

Summary

Unincorporated Nassau County caps how much of a residential lot buildings may cover, with the limit set per zoning district in the Land Development Code. In the RS-E Single-Family Estate district, Section 8.06(A) limits total lot coverage to 20 percent, the tightest cap among the county's single-family districts.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Nassau County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Section 8.06. - Building restrictions. (A)Maximum lot coverage: Twenty (20) percent.

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Full Breakdown

Nassau County's Land Development Code fixes maximum lot coverage separately for each zoning district rather than applying one countywide percentage. 06(A). 06(B) sets RS-1 at 30 percent and RS-2 at 35 percent. 05(B). 07 raises the RS-2 lot coverage cap to 50 percent where the subdivision's site plan preserves at least 30 percent of the gross site as natural areas or recreation land outside any building lot, stormwater facility, landscape buffer, utility easement or right-of-way. 06(A). Because the applicable percentage depends entirely on the parcel's zoning classification, a property owner must confirm the district shown on the county's zoning atlas before calculating allowable building footprint, and any proposal that exceeds the district cap requires either a site redesign or a variance from the Planning and Zoning Board.

Violations & Fines

Exceeding the maximum lot coverage for a district is enforced as a zoning code violation by the Planning and Economic Opportunity Department's code officers, who refer uncorrected violations to the county's special magistrate under Nassau County Code § 1-56. Fines under § 1-61 reach $1,000 per day for a first violation and $5,000 per day for a repeat violation, with liens against the property capped at 35 percent of assessed value.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the lot coverage limit in Nassau County's RS-E district?

Twenty percent, per Land Development Code Section 8.06(A). RS-E is the county's one-acre-minimum single-family estate district, the most restrictive on coverage among the residential zones.

Do RS-1 and RS-2 allow more building footprint than RS-E?

Yes. Section 9.06(B) caps RS-1 at 30 percent lot coverage and RS-2 at 35 percent, both higher than the 20 percent ceiling that applies in the larger-lot RS-E district.

Can a subdivision get a higher lot coverage allowance?

Yes. Section 9.07 raises the RS-2 cap to 50 percent where the approved subdivision plan preserves at least 30 percent of the site as natural areas or recreation land outside any lot, easement or drainage facility.

Who enforces the lot coverage cap?

The Planning and Economic Opportunity Department's code officers cite violations to the special magistrate under Nassau County Code § 1-56, with fines up to $1,000 per day for a first offense under § 1-61.

Sources & Official References

[1]Nassau County Code of Ordinances (Municode)

Other rules in Nassau County

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All Nassau County rules

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