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Alachua County, FL Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 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.

City-specific rules exist: Gainesville has its own structure height limits rules that differ from Alachua County's county-level regulations. If you live in Gainesville, check the city-specific page instead.

(b)Maximum height. The maximum height for all structures within the single-family residential zoning districts is thirty-five (35) feet.

View official code

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?
Up to thirty-five feet in every single-family residential district, RE, RE-1, R-1aa, R-1a, R-1b, and R-1c, under Alachua County Code § 403.07(b). The limit applies to the whole structure, not just the roof ridge.
Is the height limit different on agricultural land?
Buildings on Agricultural (A) or Agricultural Rural Business (A-RB) zoned land have no height cap under Table 403.04.1: except a residential structure on that same land, which is still held to the standard thirty-five-foot limit.
Does this height limit apply in Gainesville?
No. Section 403.07 is part of the county's Unified Land Development Code and governs only unincorporated Alachua County. Gainesville and the county's other eight municipalities set their own building-height rules.
What happens if a structure exceeds 35 feet without a variance?
It's a Code violation. The county can pursue the general penalty under § 10.08, up to a $500 fine and 60 days in jail, or a civil action under § 10.09 to force the structure into compliance.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Alachua County

All Alachua County rules

Florida rules heatmap·Compare Alachua County to another location·View the Florida building setbacks & zoning overview

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