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Citrus County, FL Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)

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

Key Facts

CHHA residential height
Two stories above design flood elevation
CHHA nonresidential height
Four stories, max 50 feet
Non-CHHA rule
Extra setback required above 50 feet
CHHA boundary
Mapped on the LDC Atlas
Applies to
Unincorporated Citrus County only

Summary

Citrus County does not set one countywide maximum building height. Inside the Coastal High Hazard Area, Land Development Code Section 3540.B caps residential structures at two stories of finished living area above the design flood elevation, while a separate rule in Section 2300.B adds extra setback once any building tops 50 feet, anywhere in unincorporated Citrus County.

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

All residential structures located within the CHHA are limited to two stories of finished living area above the design flood elevation. For properties lying in V Zones and Coastal A Zones, the measurement shall be taken from the top of the lowest horizontal structural member to the peak of the roof. For properties lying in A zones located landward of the Coastal A Zones, this shall be measured from the bottom of the first floor to the peak of the roof, except as exempted below.

Full Breakdown

Height in the Land Development Code is not handled through a single across-the-board number. Within the Coastal High Hazard Area (CHHA), defined on the LDC Atlas by the Category 1 Hurricane Evacuation Zone, Section 3540.B of Chapter Three, Use Standards (Ordinance 2026-A16, effective June 22, 2026), limits residential structures to two stories of finished living area above the design flood elevation. In V Zones and Coastal A Zones that height is measured from the top of the lowest horizontal structural member to the peak of the roof; landward of those zones, in A zones, it is measured from the bottom of the first floor to the peak of the roof. Spires, belfries, cupolas, domes, radio or television antennas, flagstaffs and chimneys are exempt from that limit, provided a roof-mounted exempt feature covers no more than 20 percent of the roof area. Nonresidential CHHA structures get a separate cap under Section 3540.D: four stories, not to exceed 50 feet above finished grade at the front of the building, with parking or storage floors counting toward the story count; the Old Homosassa Special Overlay District can set its own different standard.

Outside the CHHA, the LDC does not print a flat maximum number of stories or feet for residential building height. Instead, Section 2300.B of Chapter Two increases the required building separation once a structure passes 50 feet: the minimum distance to an adjacent building or property line grows by two feet for every 10 feet of height above that mark. Both rules apply only in unincorporated Citrus County; Crystal River and Inverness administer their own height standards.

Violations & Fines

Building a CHHA residence taller than two stories of finished living area above the design flood elevation, or a CHHA nonresidential structure over four stories or 50 feet, without an approved exception is a Land Development Code violation. The Code Compliance Division can refer the case to the Code Compliance Special Master under Chapter 19 of the Code of Ordinances, which can order remedial work, fines, and a lien on the property until it is resolved.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a maximum house height in unincorporated Citrus County?
Outside the Coastal High Hazard Area, the Land Development Code does not set one flat maximum; instead Section 2300.B requires extra separation from neighboring buildings once a structure exceeds 50 feet. Inside the Coastal High Hazard Area, Section 3540.B caps residential structures at two stories of finished living area above the design flood elevation.
What counts as the Coastal High Hazard Area for height purposes?
Section 3540.A defines the CHHA as the area within the Category 1 Hurricane Evacuation Zone, mapped on the LDC Atlas. Properties there follow the two-story residential cap and the four-story, 50-foot nonresidential cap in Section 3540, on top of every other Land Development Code requirement otherwise applying to the site.
Do antennas or chimneys count toward the CHHA height limit?
No. Section 3540.C.1 exempts spires, belfries, cupolas, domes, radio or television antennas, flagstaffs, and chimneys from the CHHA height limitation, as long as a roof-mounted exempt feature does not cover more than 20 percent of the roof area under Section 3540.C.2.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Citrus County

All Citrus County rules

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