Gainesville sets maximum height in stories, not feet. In the residential districts the table allows three stories by right, rising to five where a building height bonus applies.
Building height in the Land Development Code is the vertical distance from the average elevation of the proposed finished grade to the top plate of the highest story. Table V-5 in section 30-4.17 gives the residential districts — SF, RC, MH and RMF-5 through RMF-8 — a maximum of three stories by right; RMF-6, RMF-7 and RMF-8 can reach five with a building height bonus. Transect districts use Table V-2 instead. Spires, belfries, cupolas, antennas, water tanks, ventilators and chimneys are outside the Table V-2 limit; roof structures may rise up to 15 feet above the eave line and trellises up to eight feet.
Exceeding the district height limit violates section 30-1.8 and is declared a public nuisance under section 30-1.7. Penalties run through section 1-9: a fine up to $500, up to 60 days, each day a separate offense.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Gainesville's structure height limits rules stack up against other locations.
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