Clark County, IN Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- R1 primary building height
- 30 feet (§ 156.22(I)(1))
- R1 accessory building height
- 15 feet (§ 156.22(I)(2))
- A1 residential building height
- 30 feet (§ 156.21(H))
- Variance authority
- Board of Zoning Appeals, § 156.47
- Applies to
- unincorporated Clark County only
Summary
Unincorporated Clark County caps house height at 30 feet in its R1 Single-Family Residential district, with a separate, lower 15-foot cap for detached accessory buildings like garages and sheds. The A1 Agricultural Zone carries the same 30-foot residential cap.
(I) Height restrictions. The maximum height in an R1 District shall be as follows:
(1) Primary building: 30 feet; and
(2) Accessory building: 15 feet.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2019 S-0: Code: Local legislation current through Ordinance 31-2014, passed 12-18-2014).
Full Breakdown
22(I) of the zoning chapter, governing the R1 Single-Family Residential district, states plainly: "Height restrictions. " These caps are measured for the district's permitted single-family and two-family dwellings and apply on top of the lot-size, setback and lot-coverage standards in the same sections. 47, the same body that handles other zoning variances and appeals in the county. Because chapter 156 is the Unified Development-style ordinance for unincorporated Clark County, these height limits do not reach property inside Jeffersonville, Charlestown, Utica, Sellersburg or the county's other incorporated towns, which administer their own zoning height limits.
Violations & Fines
Constructing a residential structure or accessory building above the district height cap without an approved variance is a zoning violation. The Plan Commission and Building Commissioner can withhold or revoke an improvement location permit, and the Board of Zoning Appeals hears any variance request under § 156.47; general code-construction penalties in chapter 10 apply where chapter 156 does not set a specific fine for a violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can I build a house in unincorporated Clark County?
Is there a different height limit for a detached garage?
Can I get an exception to the height limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clark County
Compare Clark County to another location·View the Indiana building setbacks & zoning overview
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