Nassau County, FL Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- RS-E height cap
- 35 feet
- RS-1 and RS-2 height cap
- 35 feet
- Conservation-incentive RS-2 height
- 40 feet
- Amelia Island carve-back
- 35 feet even with incentive
- First-offense fine cap
- $1,000 per day
Summary
Unincorporated Nassau County caps residential building height at 35 feet across its core single-family zoning districts. Section 8.06(B) sets that limit for the RS-E Single-Family Estate district, and Section 9.06(A) sets the identical 35-foot cap for both the RS-1 and RS-2 districts.
Section 8.06. - Building restrictions. ... (B)Maximum building height: Thirty-five (35) feet. ... Section 9.06. - Building restrictions. (A)Maximum building height:(1)RS-1, Thirty-five (35) feet.(2)RS-2, Thirty-five (35) feet.
Full Breakdown
The Land Development Code fixes maximum building height by zoning district rather than as one countywide number, but the county's principal single-family districts converge on 35 feet. 06(B) caps RS-E, the one-acre-minimum estate district, at 35 feet. 06(A) applies the same 35-foot cap separately to RS-1 and RS-2. 05(A), though it adds a separate 8-foot maximum garage door height. 07(A)(2)(b) pulls that increase back down to 35 feet for any lot within the unincorporated areas of Amelia Island. 06(A). Height is measured under the definition in Article 32 of the code, and any project seeking to exceed the applicable district cap must go through the variance process before the Planning and Zoning Board rather than build over the limit administratively. 07, a builder must confirm both the zoning district and location before finalizing a design that approaches 35 feet.
Violations & Fines
A structure built above the applicable height cap is a zoning violation enforced by the Planning and Economic Opportunity Department's code officers and, if uncorrected, referred to the special magistrate under Nassau County Code § 1-56. Fines under § 1-61 run up to $1,000 per day for a first violation and up to $5,000 per day for a repeat violation, with a lien against the property capped at 35 percent of its assessed value.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum residential building height in Nassau County?
Can a conservation subdivision build taller than 35 feet?
Does American Beach have a different height limit?
What happens if a house is built taller than allowed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Nassau County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Nassau County to another location·View the Florida building setbacks & zoning overview
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