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Albany, NY Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

R-1L / R-1M / R-2 max
35 feet, 2.5 stories
R-T max
45 feet, 3.5 stories
R-M max
55 feet, 4 stories
R-V max
65 feet, 5 stories
Accessory structure max
16 feet, 1.5 stories

Summary

Albany caps principal residential buildings at 35 feet (2.5 stories) in the R-1L, R-1M and R-2 districts, rising to 45 feet in R-T, 55 feet in R-M and 65 feet in R-V, under the Unified Sustainable Development Ordinance's dimensional standards table.

Building Height[5] Principal structure Height maximum (stories) 2.5 2.5 2.5 3.5 4 5[7] Height, maximum (feet) 35 35 35 45[6] 55[6] 65 ... [5] Building height cannot exceed either the specified number of stories or feet and the more restrictive shall control.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4873446; v61 updated 2026-03-18; through 03-18-2026).

Full Breakdown

USDO Table 375.401.1 sets a maximum for every residential zoning district as both a story count and a footage, with the more restrictive of the two controlling (§ 375-401(3)(a), note [5]). R-1L, R-1M and R-2 lots top out at 2.5 stories/35 feet; R-T allows 3.5 stories/45 feet; R-M allows 4 stories/55 feet; and R-V allows 5 stories/65 feet. Accessory structures are capped at 1.5 stories and 16 feet in every residential district, and no building permit may issue for construction that exceeds these dimensional standards (§ 375-401(2)).

Violations & Fines

A structure built above the table's story or foot limit cannot obtain a building permit; the City's Department of Buildings and Regulatory Compliance enforces the USDO's dimensional standards and can require the noncompliant portion reduced or removed as a code violation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall can a house be in Albany, NY?
In the R-1L, R-1M and R-2 single- and two-family districts, USDO § 375-401(3)(a) caps principal buildings at 2.5 stories or 35 feet, whichever is more restrictive.
Are taller buildings limited near single-family blocks?
Yes: table footnote [6] caps R-T and R-M buildings at three stories or 35 feet within 100 feet of an R-1L or R-1M line, or 25 feet of an R-2 line.
How tall can a detached garage or shed be?
Accessory structures are capped at 1.5 stories and 16 feet in every residential zoning district under Table 375.401.1.

Sources & Official References

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