Tuscaloosa, AL Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)

Tuscaloosa establishes building setbacks district by district in its Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 25, Article IV), not as a single citywide number, so the required front, side, and rear setbacks depend on the lot's zoning classification. Examples from the adopted intensity and dimensional standards tables: SFR-E (Single Family Residential Estate) requires a 35-foot front, 10-foot side, and 35-foot rear setback; SFR-1 requires 35-foot front, 10-foot side, and 35-foot rear; SFR-2 requires 30-foot front, 9-foot side, and 35-foot rear; and LR (Lake Residential) requires 35-foot front, 10-foot side, and 35-foot rear. In some single-family districts the minimum front setback may be reduced to the average alignment of existing buildings within 100 feet on either side on the same block where that alignment is less than the standard. Under the definition of 'Setback' (Sec. 25-29 area) front and side-street setbacks are measured from the edge of each right-of-way; on a corner lot, the minimum front setback from the side-street right-of-way equals two-thirds of the district's minimum front setback. Side interior setbacks are measured from the side lot line and rear setbacks from the rear lot line (or the alley edge where an alley exists). Section 25-30 lists features allowed to encroach into required setbacks - including fences and walls, eaves, gutters, cornices, customary yard accessories, play equipment (side/rear yards), and mechanical units - subject to the limits stated there.