Phoenix, AZ Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Standard option cap
- 2 stories / 30 feet
- PRD option cap
- 3 stories / 30 feet
- Applies to
- R1-6 and other single-family districts
- Governing table
- ZO § 613.B, item (10)
Summary
Phoenix caps standard single-family homes at two stories and 30 feet; a Planned Residential Development can reach three stories at the same 30-foot cap.
B. District Regulations. The following table establishes standards to be used in the R1-6 district... Category (A) Standard Option (B) Planned Residential Development (PRD) ... (10) Building height (maximum) | 2 stories and 30 feet | 3 stories and 30 feet
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance G-7524, passed June 17, 2026).
Full Breakdown
The Zoning Ordinance's District Regulations table for the R1-6 Single-Family Residence District sets maximum building height at 2 stories and 30 feet under the Standard development option, or 3 stories and 30 feet under the Planned Residential Development (PRD) option. The same 2-story/30-foot Standard-option cap repeats verbatim across every conventional single-family district (RE-43, RE-35, RE-24, R1-18, R1-14, R1-10, R1-8, R1-6). R1-6 is quoted here as the citywide baseline for detached single-family lots. Taller residential zoning (R-2 and up) steps the cap up district by district, reaching 4 stories/48 feet in the highest-density multifamily district.
Violations & Fines
Building Permit review measures proposed height against the district table before a permit issues; a structure exceeding the 30-foot Standard-option cap must either qualify for a PRD entitlement or seek a variance from the Board of Adjustment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build a 3-story house in an R1-6 lot in Phoenix?
Does the 30-foot cap apply to every Phoenix residential district?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Phoenix
Compare Phoenix to another location·View the Arizona building setbacks & zoning overview
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Structure Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Maricopa County handle structure height limits.