Floyd County, GA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- A-R, S-R, HT-R, LT-R, M-R cap
- 45 feet
- D-R Duplex Residential cap
- 30 feet
- Tallest allowed district
- U-M-U, 100 feet
- Exempt structures
- barns, silos, church spires, water towers, antennae
- Maximum penalty
- $1,000 fine or 6 months jail (§ 7.6.2)
Summary
Unincorporated Floyd County caps building height by zoning district under the Unified Land Development Code's Table 3-5. Most residential districts, A-R, S-R, HT-R, LT-R and M-R, top out at 45 feet, while the D-R Duplex Residential district is capped at 30 feet. Agricultural buildings, church spires, water towers, and similar structures are exempt.
The maximum height of all structures in each zoning district (except as provided in the subsections below) shall be as follows: ... Zoning District Maximum Building or Structure Height (feet) A-R 45
S-R 45 D-R 30 HT-R 45 LT-R 45
M-R 45 ... a.Agricultural buildings such as but not limited to barns, silos, windmills, grain elevators, and other farm structures, but not including dwellings.b.Cooling towers, gas holders, or other industrial structures where required as part of the manufacturing process.c.Church spires, belfries, cupolas, domes, monuments, water towers, observation towers, commercial radio and television transmission towers, windmills, chimneys, smokestacks, derricks, conveyors, communication towers, and TV reception antennae.
Full Breakdown
1 of the Unified Land Development Code sets the maximum height of all structures in each zoning district. Table 3-5 lists a flat 45-foot cap for the A-R Agricultural Residential, S-R Suburban Residential, HT-R High Density Traditional Residential, LT-R Low Density Traditional Residential, and M-R Multi-Family Residential districts. The D-R Duplex Residential district is held to 30 feet, the tightest residential limit in the county. Nonresidential districts run higher: N-O-C tops out at 35 feet, O-I and C-C at 45 feet, C-B-C at 75 feet, and U-M-U at 100 feet, while H-C and L-I stay at 45 feet and H-I rises to 60 feet.
In the P-D Planned Development district, height is set individually as part of each development's zoning approval rather than by table. 2 carves out exceptions to every district's cap: agricultural buildings such as barns, silos, windmills and grain elevators (but not dwellings), cooling towers and other industrial structures required for a manufacturing process, and church spires, belfries, cupolas, domes, water towers, observation towers, commercial radio and television transmission towers, chimneys, smokestacks, derricks, conveyors, communication towers, and TV reception antennae. 2 exemptions.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the district height cap without an approved variance is a land-use violation of the Development Code. Section 7.6.2 makes it a misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both, plus costs, and treats each day the oversized structure remains as a separate offense. The Chief Building Inspector can issue a stop-work order under Section 7.5.2 the moment noncompliant framing is discovered, and the Board of Adjustments hears any hardship variance request under Section 7.4.3.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can I build a house in unincorporated Floyd County?
Are barns and silos subject to the height limit?
What happens if a new house is built taller than the district cap?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Floyd County
Compare Floyd County to another location·View the Georgia building setbacks & zoning overview
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