Cary, NC Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Base height limit
- 35 feet
- Bonus
- +1 ft height per +1 ft setback
- Telecom towers allowed up to
- 350 ft
- Governing table
- LDO Table 6.1-1
Summary
Cary's Land Development Ordinance caps residential building height at 35 feet across the R-80 through R-8 and TR districts under Table 6.1-1, with a one-foot bonus for each extra foot of setback beyond the minimum.
The maximum height limits set forth in Section 6.1 may be increased by one (1) foot for every additional foot provided between the building footprint and the minimum required setbacks determined in accordance with this Ordinance... TABLE 6.1-1: R-20 Residential District — Height (Ft) 35.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2023 S-87_S-57: Current through local ordinance 2022-Code-05, passed 11-17-2022 and effective 11-17-2022 | LDO: Current through local ordinance 2022-LDO-04, passed 11-17-22 and effective 11-17-22).
Full Breakdown
Cary's Land Development Ordinance sets a base maximum building height of 35 feet in the R-80, R-40, R-20, R-12, R-8, and TR residential districts under Table 6.1-1. LDO § 6.4.2(A)(1) lets that limit rise on a one-to-one basis: for every extra foot a structure is set back beyond its zoning district's minimum required setback, its allowed height increases by one foot. The Planning Director can also add up to 15% more height for mixed-use buildings in the Town Center District or a Destination Center under an approved development agreement. Telecommunications facilities are a separate exception, reaching up to 350 feet under § 6.4.2(B).
Violations & Fines
Building above the district height limit without qualifying for a setback-based increase draws Cary's standard civil penalty schedule under LDO § 11.5.1(C): $100 for the first day of violation, rising to $400 per day for continuing violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Cary home exceed the 35-foot height limit?
Does the height limit apply to cell towers?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cary
Compare Cary to another location·View the North Carolina building setbacks & zoning overview
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Structure Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wake County handle structure height limits.