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

Sec. 058(a) sets the maximum height for any building or structure by zoning district, unless a different limit applies under Sec. 059 for community facilities buildings or an exception applies under Sec. 060. The base residential and lighter commercial limit is 35 feet, covering the R-1 single-family, R-2 single-family and duplex, R-3(a) and R-5(a)/(b) multi-family, R-4 mobile home park, and S-1 neighborhood commercial and office districts. The OFF office district, R-5(c), and S-2 community shopping and office district allow 50 feet. The B-2 general business service and I-1 light industrial districts allow 60 feet, while the S-3 central shopping district and I-2 heavy industrial district allow up to 250 feet, reflecting downtown high-rises and industrial structures.

Sec. 058(b) lets the city council raise the residential cap on petition: up to 50 feet in an R-3(b) district or up to 150 feet in any OFF district, but only after a public hearing before the Springfield Planning and Zoning Commission and a review of the petitioner's site plans, and only if the council finds the proposed height will not have a detrimental effect on surrounding properties. Sec. 059 sets a separate 45-foot cap for community facilities buildings, such as churches and schools, in the R-1, R-2, R-3, and R-5 districts.

Sec. 060 exempts specific building features from all of these limits, including chimneys and flues, elevator shafts, stairwell towers, roof water tanks, cooling towers, flagpoles, noncommercial radio and television antennas, spires, bell towers, and parapet walls up to four feet high.