Lakeville, MN Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)

Lakeville City Code section 11-50-15 sets the building height limit for the RS-1, single-family residential district: no structure may exceed three stories or 35 feet, whichever is less, except as otherwise provided by section 11-17-7 or other title requirements. Accessory buildings are instead governed by the separate height table at section 11-18-9(C). The same 35-foot, three-story cap applies to the RS-2 district under section 11-51-15 and the RS-3 district under section 11-52-15, while the RS-4 district (section 11-53-15) and RS-CBD district (section 11-54-15) hold principal buildings to two and one-half stories or 25 feet.

Section 11-17-7 supplies the citywide definition of building height, measured from mean ground level to the mean height of the roof, and lists exclusions from every district's height limit: belfries, church spires and crosses, cupolas and domes without usable space, flagpoles, parapet walls extending no more than 3 feet above the limit, poles and towers for essential services, chimneys, flues, cooling towers and elevator penthouses, agricultural buildings on farm properties, and permitted wind energy and antenna support structures. A conditional use permit can authorize height above the district standard, but only if the site can absorb the added intensity, traffic and utility capacity are adequate, front and side setbacks increase by 5 feet for each additional story or 10 feet of added height, and the increase does not conflict with airport zoning under chapter 36.

The Planning and Community Development Department applies these limits during building permit review, and the Zoning Administrator can require plan revisions or a stop-work order for a structure exceeding the applicable district cap.