Southfield, MI Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Max height
- 25 ft
- Max stories
- 2 stories
- Applies to
- R A, R1, R2, R3, R4, R E
- Accessory building cap
- 15 ft (Sec. 5.69)
- Enforcement
- Building & Safety Engineering Dept.
Summary
In the City of Southfield, Sec. 5.193's schedule of regulations caps single-family building height at 25 feet or two stories, whichever governs, and this ceiling is identical across the R A, R 1, R 2, R 3, R 4 and R E residence districts even though lot size and setbacks vary between them.
MAXIMUM HEIGHT (w) ... Feet Stories Front Least Side Total Sides Rear ... R 1 9,000 70 25 2 40 8 20 35 1,000 30 R 2 9,000 70 25 2 40 8 20 35 1,000 30 R 3 9,000 70 25 2 40 8 20 35 1,200 30 R 4 9,000 70 25 2 40 10 25 35 1,400 30 R E 20,000 90 25 2 40 10 25 35 1,400 30
Full Breakdown
Sec. 5.67 of Southfield's zoning chapter states simply that in all residence districts, the maximum height of buildings shall be regulated by the schedule of regulations in Article 22, so the operative numbers sit in the table at Sec. 5.193 rather than in the district-by-district text of Article 5. That table lists a Maximum Height column giving two figures for every single-family residence district: a height in feet and a maximum number of stories. For R 1, R 2, R 3, R 4 and R E, the figures are identical: 25 feet or 2 stories.
The same 25-foot, 2-story maximum appears in the R A district row too, so the height ceiling does not vary across Southfield's six single-family residence districts even though required lot area, lot width and floor area do. This flat height standard sits well below the limits Southfield allows in its office districts: the Education-Research-Office-Limited (ERO-M) District, by contrast, permits four stories or 55 feet by right and up to six stories or 75 feet with city council approval under Sec. 5.114, while the ERO District carries no height cap at all.
For a single-family lot, the 25-foot, 2-story ceiling in Sec. 5.193 governs the principal dwelling; detached accessory buildings such as garages and sheds face a separate, lower 15-foot cap under Sec. 5.69.
Violations & Fines
The director of the department of building and safety engineering enforces the Sec. 5.193 height limit under Sec. 5.205 and reviews height on the plot plan before issuing a building permit under Sec. 5.202. Sec. 5.206 punishes an oversized structure with a fine of $25 to $500 and up to 90 days in jail per offense, treating each day the excess height stands as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a house be in a Southfield single-family district?
Does the height limit change between Southfield's residential zoning districts?
Are accessory buildings held to the same height limit as the house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Southfield
Compare Southfield to another location·View the Michigan building setbacks & zoning overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.