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Schaumburg, IL Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

R-1/R-4/R-6/R-6C max height
28 feet
R-7 max height
35 feet or 2½ stories, whichever is lower
Public/semipublic buildings
Up to 60 feet, extra setback over 40 feet
Accessory structure cap
15 feet, § 154.63(E)
Through-lot measuring rule
§ 154.62(A)(2)
Governing table
Appendix B, Chapter 154 (Zoning)

Summary

Schaumburg caps single-family building height at 28 feet in its R-1, R-4, R-6, and R-6C districts, rising to 35 feet or two and a half stories, whichever is lower, in R-7, per the Appendix B bulk table for Chapter 154's zoning districts.

Requirement | R-1 | R-4 | R-6 | R-6C | R-7 Maximum building height | 28 feet | 28 feet | 28 feet | 28 feet | 35 feet or 2½ stories, whichever is lower

(A)Height: The following requirements qualify or supplement, as the case may be, the district regulations appearing elsewhere in this chapter.(1)Public and Semipublic Uses: Public, semipublic hospitals, institutions, schools, or public utility and service buildings, when permitted in a district, may be erected to a height not exceeding sixty feet (60'), provided said specified buildings shall be set back from the front, rear, and side lot lines in the ratio of two feet (2') for every one foot (1') building height greater than forty feet (40').

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 56 Update 1 | Policy Manual: Supplement 20).

Full Breakdown

Appendix B to the zoning chapter fixes maximum building height for each residence district: 28 feet in R-1, R-4, R-6, and R-6C, and 35 feet or two and a half stories, whichever is lower, in R-7. Business districts run higher, from 28 feet in B-1 up to 75 feet in B-5, and the manufacturing districts (M-P and M-1) cap out at 45 feet, all set out in the same appendix. 62(A) supplements these numbers for specific situations: public and semipublic buildings, such as hospitals, institutions, schools, and public utility buildings, may rise to 60 feet in any district that permits them, but only if the building steps back from every lot line an extra two feet for every one foot of height above 40 feet.

62(A)(2) sets the measuring point: on a through lot 125 feet deep or less, height may be measured from grade on either street, while on a through lot deeper than 125 feet, the height rules and grade measurement from whichever street permits the greater height apply only to the first 100 feet of depth from that street. 63(E): no more than 15 feet, and never taller than the principal building or structure they serve.

Violations & Fines

A structure built taller than its district's Appendix B maximum, or a public/semipublic building that exceeds 60 feet or skips the extra setback required over 40 feet under § 154.62(A)(1), is enforced under the Code's general penalty, § 10.99: a fine of $100 to $50,000 with every day of the violation counted separately. The village can also refuse to issue a certificate of occupancy or require the offending portion of the structure removed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall can a house be built in most of Schaumburg's residential zones?
28 feet. Appendix B to the zoning chapter sets a 28-foot maximum building height in the R-1, R-4, R-6, and R-6C residence districts. The R-7 district allows more: 35 feet or two and a half stories, whichever works out lower, to accommodate its smaller, denser lots.
Can a school or hospital be built taller than the district height limit in Schaumburg?
Yes, up to 60 feet, under § 154.62(A)(1), which applies to public and semipublic hospitals, institutions, schools, and public utility buildings. In exchange, the building must be set back from the front, rear, and side lot lines an extra two feet for every foot of height above 40 feet.
How tall can a detached garage or shed be in Schaumburg?
No more than 15 feet, measured from the finished floor to the highest point of the structure, under § 154.63(E)(2) and (8). A detached accessory building also can never be taller than the principal house it serves, even if 15 feet would otherwise be allowed.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Schaumburg

All Schaumburg rules

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