Gwinnett County, GA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Single-family districts (RA-200 to R-SR)
- 35 feet max height
- R-TH Townhouse max height
- 40 feet
- LRR max height
- 60 feet, 0.5 FAR
- MRR max height
- 75 feet, 1.0 FAR
- HRR max height
- No maximum (N/A)
- Violation fine
- $250-$1,000 per day, Recorders Court
Summary
UDO § 210-120 caps building height at 35 feet across Gwinnett County's six single-family districts, RA-200 through R-SR, then steps up for higher-density housing: 40 feet in R-TH Townhouse, 45 feet in R-IF Infill, 60 feet in LRR, and 75 feet in MRR. HRR, the High-Rise Residential Multifamily District, carries no maximum height at all.
RA-200 R-LL R-100 R-75 R-60 R-SR R-TH R-IF LRR MRR HRR Max. FAR N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 4 N/A N/A 0.5 1.0 None Max. Bldg. Height (ft.) 35 35 35 35 35 35 40 45 60 75 N/A
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 9).
Full Breakdown
The dimensional standards table sets a single 35-foot height ceiling for every detached single-family district in unincorporated Gwinnett County: RA-200, R-LL, R-100, R-75, R-60 and R-SR all top out at 35 feet, whether the district permits half-acre estate lots or 5,000-square-foot lots. Height increases only as the code allows denser housing types. R-TH, the Townhouse district, is capped at 40 feet. R-IF, the Residential In-Fill district built for missing-middle housing, allows 45 feet. 0 FAR cap. ' Height is measured under the UDO's building height definition and administered by the Department of Planning and Development at plan review, and any project that needs to exceed its district's figure, a taller cupola, elevator overrun or communications element, has to seek relief through the Zoning Board of Appeals under § 270-90 rather than through the building permit counter.
A variance petition must identify the specific dimensional standard at issue, explain the hardship, and pay the non-refundable fee the Board of Commissioners sets before the Department will schedule the hearing.
Violations & Fines
Constructing a building taller than its district's § 210-120 ceiling without an approved variance is a UDO violation. Recorders Court can fine the responsible party $250 to $1,000, order up to 60 days in county jail, or both, under § 120-70.4, and § 120-70.3 makes each day the violation continues a separate offense. The Director of Planning and Development can suspend a permit or certificate of occupancy under § 120-50.2 until the structure is brought into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a house be built in most of Gwinnett County's residential zoning?
Is there a height limit in Gwinnett's high-rise multifamily district?
How much taller can townhouses be built than single-family homes in Gwinnett?
What happens if a building in Gwinnett exceeds its district's height limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gwinnett County
Compare Gwinnett County to another location·View the Georgia building setbacks & zoning overview
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