Carrollton, TX Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Dwelling unit height cap
- 36 feet
- Accessory building height cap
- 15 feet
- Applies to districts
- SF-12/20, SF-10/18, SF-8.4/18, SF-8.4/16
- Max building coverage
- 45% of lot area
- Height variance authority
- Board of Adjustment, Art. 33
- Governing provision
- Zoning Ordinance Art. 7, Sec. L
Summary
Carrollton caps single-family homes at 36 feet under Article 7, Section L of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (April 2026 edition), and the limit holds steady across the SF-12/20, SF-10/18, SF-8.4/18 and SF-8.4/16 districts regardless of lot size. Detached accessory buildings are held to 15 feet in every one of those same four zones.
SECTION L. HEIGHT AND AREA REGULATIONS – (SF-12/20, SF-10/18, SF-8.4/18, SF-8.4/16) ... 1. Minimum lot area 12,000 10,000 8,400 8,400 (Square feet) ... 3. Maximum height of structure: a. Dwelling unit 36' 36' 36' 36' b. Accessory building 15' 15' 15' 15' 4. Maximum building coverage 45% 45% 45% 45%
Full Breakdown
4/16 (8,400 square feet each). Unlike the lot-area and floor-area figures in the same table, which shrink as the district name gets smaller, the 36-foot height ceiling stays identical across all four columns, and the accompanying maximum building-coverage figure holds at 45 percent of lot area in each of those districts (Ord. No. 1844, 11/03/92; Ord. No. 3421, 01/11/11). A detached accessory building, garage, shed or workshop is capped lower, at 15 feet, in every one of the four districts, with the measurement method cross-referenced to Article 7, Section K(3)(h).
Anyone wanting to build taller than the table allows must apply to the Board of Adjustment for a variance under Article 33: a written appeal is due within 15 days of the City Manager or Designee's adverse ruling, a filing fee set by City Council applies, and a favorable decision needs the concurring vote of a minimum seven-member board. A granted height variance lapses if the building permit isn't secured within 90 days of the Board's action, unless the Board grants a longer period.
Violations & Fines
Constructing a home or accessory structure above the district's height cap is a misdemeanor under Article 36, Penalty for Violation, punishable by a fine of up to $2,000 per day the excess height remains uncorrected. The city can cite the property owner along with the architect, builder, contractor or agent who worked on the over-height structure; a culpable mental state is not required for conviction (Ord. No. 1977, 04/19/94).
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a house be in Carrollton's SF-8.4/18 district?
Are backyard sheds and garages held to the same 36-foot limit?
Can I get permission to build higher than 36 feet?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Carrollton
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Carrollton to another location·View the Texas building setbacks & zoning overview
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Structure Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dallas County handle structure height limits.