Bloomington, IN Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- R1/R2/R4 primary height
- 40 feet maximum
- R3 primary height
- 35 feet maximum
- Accessory height (R1-R4)
- 20 feet maximum
- RM height
- 3 stories, max 40 feet
- RH height
- 5 stories, max 63 feet
- Governing table
- UDO Table 04-2, BMC § 20.04.020
Summary
The City of Bloomington caps building height by zoning district in Table 04-2 under BMC § 20.04.020. Primary structures top out at 40 feet in the R1, R2, and R4 districts and 35 feet in R3, while accessory structures are capped at 20 feet across every single-family district.
Dimensional Standards R1 R2 R3 R4 RM [1] RH [1] RMH [1] ... Other Standards Entire Development Dwelling Site ... Primary structure height (maximum) 40 feet 40 feet 35 feet 40 feet 3 stories, not to exceed 40 feet [2] [6] 5 stories, not to exceed 63 feet [2] [6] None 20 feet Accessory structure height (maximum) 20 feet 20 feet 20 feet 20 feet 20 feet 20 feet None 20 feet
Full Breakdown
020's Table 04-2 (Residential District Dimensional Standards) sets a maximum height for both primary and accessory structures in each residential zoning district. R1 (Residential Large Lot), R2 (Residential Medium Lot), and R4 (Residential Urban) all cap the primary structure at 40 feet, while R3 (Residential Small Lot) caps it at 35 feet. Every one of those single-family districts caps accessory structures, garages, sheds, and similar outbuildings, at 20 feet regardless of the primary structure's height. 070(d)(5) where the building abuts an R1-R4 lot. The manufactured/mobile home park district (RMH) sets no height cap for the park as a whole but limits an individual dwelling site's structure to 20 feet. 02 (Zoning Districts), so Table 04-2 is the number to check even when a specific district's own page lists something else.
Violations & Fines
Building above the district height cap without an approved incentive or variance is a UDO violation subject to enforcement under BMC § 20.06.100. Table 06-3 assigns a $100 fine for a first-offense failure to comply with development standards, each day the excess height goes uncorrected counts as a separate violation, and a repeat violation of the same standard within three years doubles the fine, up to the ordinance's overall civil penalty ceiling.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bloomington
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