Most of unincorporated Lee County is unzoned. The county's zoning regulations apply only in election beats that voted them in, so far just Beat 13. There the code defers yard setbacks to the Subdivision and Land Development Regulations. Auburn and Opelika set full city setbacks.
Alabama counties have limited zoning power, and Lee County's regulations apply beat by beat, only where a majority of qualified electors vote to accept the Planning Commission's authority. To date only Beat 13, near Smiths Station, has adopted zoning, effective May 2021. Even there the regulations set a minimum lot area and building height but defer front, side, and rear yard setbacks to the Lee County Subdivision and Land Development Regulations. Across most unincorporated land there is no county setback ordinance at all; the building code and subdivision plats govern. Inside Auburn, full city zoning applies. Auburn's Table 5-1 requires a 25-foot street setback with side yards of 6 to 15 feet.
Building inside a required yard in a zoned beat, Auburn, or Opelika triggers a stop-work order and correction. Relief requires a variance from the applicable Board of Zoning Adjustment. Unincorporated, unzoned land has no county setback to enforce.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Lee County, AL
Lee County may require hosts to carry liability insurance for short-term rental properties. Minimum coverage amounts vary by jurisdiction.
Lee County, AL
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Lee County, AL
Auburn, Opelika, and Lee County let residents decorate for the holidays without a permit. Displays just can't block sidewalks or sight lines, and lights must...
Lee County, AL
Garage sale signs must stay on private property in Auburn and Opelika. Both cities prohibit temporary signs in the public right-of-way and on utility or traf...
Lee County, AL
Political signs are allowed on private property across Lee County but banned from the public right-of-way. Auburn caps them at 32 square feet, allows placeme...
Lee County, AL
Alabama has no statewide rental license, and neither Lee County nor Auburn registers long-term rentals. The real local lever on Auburn's student market is zo...
See how Lee County's setback rules rules stack up against other locations.
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