Fall River, MA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Single/Two-Family Districts
- 35 ft max height
- G, A-2, M Districts
- 45 ft max height
- WTOD District
- 80 ft or 6 stories
- Governing table
- City Code § 86-35
Summary
Fall River limits building height to 35 feet in its single- and two-family districts and 45 feet in multi-family residence districts, per the zoning code's dimensional table.
Single-Family S: Maximum Building Height 35 feet. Two-Family R-4: Maximum Building Height 35 feet. General Residence G: Maximum Building Height 45 feet. Apartment A-2: Maximum Building Height 45 feet. Multiple-Family Residence M: Maximum Building Height 45 feet.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4739915; v14 updated 2025-12-23; through 12-23-2025).
Full Breakdown
Under the Fall River Table of Dimensional Regulations (adopted by City Code § 86-35), maximum building height is 35 feet in the Single-Family (S, R-8, R-30, R-80) and Two-Family (R-4) Districts, and 45 feet in the General Residence (G), Apartment (A-2), and Multiple-Family Residence (M) Districts. Nonresidential districts run higher, up to 80 feet (or six stories) in the Waterfront and Transit-Oriented Development District.
Violations & Fines
A structure built above the district's height cap without a special permit or variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals is out of compliance and can be denied a certificate of occupancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a house be in Fall River's R-8 district?
Are multi-family buildings allowed to be taller?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fall River
Compare Fall River to another location·View the Massachusetts building setbacks & zoning overview
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Structure Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Bristol County handle structure height limits.