Surry County, NC Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)

The Dimensional Table lists a Max Building Height column alongside minimum lot area, width, depth and yard setbacks for every district. RA, RA-C, RE, RE-C, RR, RR-C, RL, RL-C and RG, RG-C, the county's rural agricultural and standard residential districts, all top out at 50 feet, the same ceiling used for MR (mixed residential), CP (Conservation Protected), RB and CB. MHP (manufactured home park) is lower at 35 feet, and the business/industrial tier climbs to 60 feet in HB and MI. Note (4) to the table fixes how height is measured: at the roof deck for a flat or low-slope roof, or at the highest point for a pitched roof, so chimneys, antennas and similar appurtenances above the roof line are not counted the same way the roof itself is.

Note (5) layers on a further limit where a property also sits in an overlay zoning district, such as the AO-1 Elkin Municipal Airport Overlay or AO-2 Mount Airy/Surry County Airport Overlay, where obstruction height limits from the airport approach and transition zones can cut the 50-foot base figure down further. A zoning permit from the Zoning Administrator under § 154.005-01(C) is required before any building covered by these limits can be constructed, moved or altered.