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Campbell County, KY Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)

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

Key Facts

Max height, R-1A zone
35 feet (§ 154.078(D)(6))
Minimum lot area
One acre in R-1A zone
River Recreation/Conservation cap
25 feet (§ 154.075(D)(6))
Conditional-use variance path
Board of Adjustments, § 154.049
Penalty for violation
Class B misdemeanor, § 154.999
Enforcing agency
Campbell County Planning and Zoning Commission

Summary

Campbell County's R-1A Residential One-A zone caps single-family homes at 35 feet under § 154.078(D)(6), on lots of at least one acre with 100-foot width. The same 35-foot ceiling applies in the R-1B and R-1C residential zones, while the River Recreation/Conservation zone tops out lower at 25 feet. The Planning and Zoning Commission enforces these dimensional standards through the building permit process for the unincorporated county.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Campbell County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

(D) Area and height regulations for permitted uses. No buildings shall be erected or structurally altered hereafter except in accordance with the following regulations: (1) Minimum lot area, one acre. (2) Minimum lot width, 100 feet. (3) Minimum front yard depth, 50 feet. (4) Minimum side yard width on each side of lot, total: 25 feet; one side: ten feet. (5) Minimum rear yard depth, 25 feet. (6) Maximum building height, 35 feet.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-50: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. O-09-2026, passed 8-5-26; and Res. R-42-26, passed 7-15-26; and State legislation current through KRS Pamphlet 2025).

Full Breakdown

Chapter 154 of the Campbell County Code of Ordinances sets separate area-and-height tables for each unincorporated residential zone. 078(E) applies the identical 35-foot cap to conditionally permitted uses such as churches and schools. 075(D)(6) limits structures to 25 feet given its location along the Ohio River corridor. 078(F)(4) adds a ten-foot screening buffer wherever a conditionally approved use in the R-1A zone abuts a single-family zone. 049, the same body that reviews cemeteries, schools, and other listed conditional uses in these residential zones. The county's Planning and Zoning Commission, with offices in Newport, administers the permit review, and the County Engineer's certificate of approval is required for construction affecting drainage or natural features.

Because the ordinance is written zone-by-zone rather than as a single citywide height chart, a homeowner must confirm which residential zone applies to a specific unincorporated parcel before assuming the 35-foot figure controls; the River Recreation/Conservation zone is the one documented exception at 25 feet.

Violations & Fines

Constructing or altering a building beyond the height and yard limits set in § 154.078(D) without an approved permit is a violation of Chapter 154. Under § 154.999, any violation of the zoning chapter is a class B misdemeanor, and each day the violation continues counts as a separate offense. Enforcement runs through the county's Planning and Zoning Commission and building permit office in Newport, which can deny or revoke permits for non-conforming construction.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the maximum house height allowed in Campbell County's R-1A zone?
Section 154.078(D)(6) of the Campbell County Code of Ordinances caps building height at 35 feet in the R-1A Residential One-A Zone, alongside a one-acre minimum lot and 100-foot minimum lot width. The same 35-foot ceiling applies to conditionally permitted uses in that zone under § 154.078(E).
Does every residential zone in the county share the 35-foot limit?
Most do: R-1A, R-1B, and R-1C all cap buildings at 35 feet. The River Recreation/Conservation Zone is the documented exception, limiting structures to 25 feet under § 154.075(D)(6) because of its location along the county's waterways.
What happens if I build taller than the code allows?
Under § 154.999, violating the zoning chapter's height and yard standards is a class B misdemeanor, with each day of continuing violation treated as a separate offense. The county's Planning and Zoning Commission can also withhold or revoke the building permit.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Campbell County

All Campbell County rules

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