Alachua County, FL Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Height cap
- 35 feet
- Districts covered
- RE, RE-1, R-1aa, R-1a, R-1b, R-1c
- Agricultural district exception
- Unlimited except residential structures (35 ft)
- Governing section
- Alachua County Code § 403.07(b)
- General penalty
- $500 fine / 60 days jail
Summary
Alachua County Code § 403.07(b) caps every structure in the county's single-family residential zoning districts at thirty-five feet. The limit applies uniformly across RE, RE-1, R-1aa, R-1a, R-1b, and R-1c: there's no separate, taller allowance for any one of those six districts.
(b)Maximum height. The maximum height for all structures within the single-family residential zoning districts is thirty-five (35) feet.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 63).
Full Breakdown
07(b) of the Alachua County Code states the rule in one sentence: the maximum height for all structures within the single-family residential zoning districts is thirty-five feet. That single ceiling covers the principal dwelling and any accessory structure alike, and it applies across all six single-family districts, RE, RE-1, R-1aa, R-1a, R-1b, and R-1c, regardless of the district's minimum lot size or density range, which otherwise varies from one unit per two acres in RE up to eight units per acre in R-1b. 1's footnote 3, building height in the Agricultural (A) and Agricultural Rural Business (A-RB) districts is unlimited, with one carve-out, a residential structure built in those districts is still held to the same thirty-five-foot cap that applies in the single-family zones.
2, so a proposed structure has to clear both the height ceiling and the applicable front, rear, and side setback before it can be permitted. There is no separate variance procedure written into this section itself, height relief runs through the county's general variance process administered by the Board of Adjustment for dimensional standards that strict application of the Code would otherwise prevent.
Violations & Fines
A structure built over the 35-foot cap without an approved variance violates the Unified Land Development Code and is subject to Alachua County Code § 10.08, a fine up to $500, up to 60 days in jail, or both, plus a possible civil action by the Board of County Commissioners under § 10.09 to compel a fix, which can include requiring the owner to reduce the structure to the permitted height.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can I build a house in unincorporated Alachua County?
Is the height limit different on agricultural land?
Does this height limit apply in Gainesville?
What happens if a structure exceeds 35 feet without a variance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Alachua County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Alachua County to another location·View the Florida building setbacks & zoning overview
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