Auburn caps building height by zoning district. Neighborhood Conservation single-family districts limit structures to 35 feet; the Industrial district allows up to 75 feet; urban, mixed-use and redevelopment districts range from 35 to 75 feet. Height is measured per the Section 203 'Structure, Height' definition, with limited exceptions for parapets, steeples and mechanical equipment.
Building height in Auburn is set district-by-district. In all Neighborhood Conservation (NC) districts, Table 5-2 limits structures to 35 feet. The Industrial (I) district allows a maximum height of 75 feet (Section 503.D), and the manufactured-home-park standard caps conventional structures at 35 feet. Urban, mixed-use and redevelopment districts carry their own caps - for example, certain Corridor Redevelopment standards limit structures to 45 feet (reduced to 35 feet when across the street from or adjacent to a single-family district), while other districts allow 50 or 75 feet depending on location relative to North Donahue Drive or Ross Street. Height is measured under the Section 203 definition of "Structure, Height": the vertical distance to the highest point of the roof for flat roofs, to the deck line of mansard roofs, and to the eave height for gable, hip and gambrel roofs, measured from grade (the average of least and greatest grade where the ground slopes). Section 412 grants limited height exceptions: steeples, bell towers, cupolas and similar ornamental features may exceed the limit by up to 25%; chimneys, ventilators, solar panels, flag poles, fire escapes and elevator/stair enclosures may exceed by 12 feet; and parapet walls (limited to 4 feet) and low balustrades are excluded, but these exclusions can't exceed 25% of the ground-floor area. A light-exposure calculation can also add required setback for taller buildings next to single-family districts.
Exceeding the district height limit, or treating an excluded rooftop feature as if it were a structure-height exclusion when it isn't (e.g., enclosed rooftop amenities), violates the ordinance and can result in denial of permits, a stop-work order, and a required variance from the Board of Zoning Adjustment or redesign.
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See how Auburn's structure height limits rules stack up against other locations.
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