Tuscaloosa, AL Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Code Section
- Zoning Ordinance Ch. 25, Art. IV district tables; Secs. 25-29/25-30
- SFR-1 setbacks
- 35 ft front / 10 ft side / 35 ft rear
- SFR-2 setbacks
- 30 ft front / 9 ft side / 35 ft rear
- SFR-E & LR setbacks
- 35 ft front / 10 ft side / 35 ft rear
- Corner lot side street
- 2/3 of the district's front setback
- Adjustment
- Up to 10% via administrative adjustment (Table III-2)
Summary
Minimum front, side, and rear setbacks are set by each zoning district. In single-family districts, typical minimums are 30-35 feet front, 9-10 feet side, and 35 feet rear (e.g., SFR-1: 35/10/35; SFR-2: 30/9/35). On corner lots, the side-street front setback equals two-thirds of the district's front setback.
Table IV-11: SFR-1 Intensity and Dimensional Standards Front setback (min) 35 ft; Side setback (min) 10 ft; Rear setback (min) 35 ft; Building height (max) 35 ft; Ground Coverage Ratio (max) 30 percent.
Table IV-13: SFR-2 Intensity and Dimensional Standards Front setback (min) 30 ft; Side setback (min) 9 ft; Rear setback (min) 35 ft; Building height (max) 35 ft; Ground Coverage Ratio (max) 30 percent.
Setback: ...Primary and Side Street Setbacks, and Front Setbacks measured from the edge of each right-of-way... on a corner lot, the minimum front setback from the side street right-of-way shall be equal to two-thirds (2/3) of the minimum front setback that applies in the zoning district.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
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.
Violations & Fines
Constructing or expanding a building within a required minimum setback without an approved administrative adjustment (up to 10 percent under Table III-2) or a variance from the Zoning Board of Adjustment violates the Zoning Ordinance and can result in permit denial, stop-work orders, and orders to remove or relocate the encroaching structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far must a house be set back from the street in Tuscaloosa?
What setback applies on a corner lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tuscaloosa
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