Troy, MI Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Max height, all R-1 districts
- 30 feet
- Max stories
- 2 1/2 stories
- Applies uniformly
- R-1A through R-1E
- Lot size range covered
- 7,500 to 30,000 sq ft
- Variance authority
- Zoning Board of Appeals
- Enforcement
- Municipal Civil Infraction, Chapter 100
Summary
Troy's Section 4.06.C dimensional-requirements table caps one-family homes in the R-1A through R-1E districts at 2 1/2 stories and 30 feet, the same limit whether the lot sits on a 30,000-square-foot R-1A parcel or a 7,500-square-foot sewered R-1E lot. The height figure does not vary with lot size; only setbacks and minimum floor area do.
C. Dimensional Requirements. The following dimensional requirements shall apply to the R-1A through R-1E Districts: Minimum Lot Size Per Dwelling Unit Maximum Height Minimum Yard Setback (Per Lot in Feet) Front Sides Rear Minimum Floor Area Per Unit (Square Feet) Maximum % of Lot Area Covered by Buildings Use District Area in Sq. Ft. Width in Ft. Frontage in Ft. In Stories In Feet Least One Least Two R-1A No Sewer 30,000 150 150 2 1/2 30 40 15 30 45 1,400 30% R-1B No Sewer 21,780 110 110 2 1/2 30 40 15 30 45 1,400 30% R-1C No Sewer 21,780 110 110 2 1/2 30 30 15 30 40 1,200 30% R-1D No Sewer 21,780 110 110 2 1/2 30 25 15 30 40 1,000 30% R-1E No Sewer 21,780 110 110 2 1/2 30 25 15 30 35 1,000 30%
Full Breakdown
C of Troy's Zoning Ordinance, effective July 23, 2026, sets one maximum height for every one-family residential district: 2 1/2 stories and 30 feet, listed in the 'Maximum Height' columns of the dimensional-requirements table for R-1A, R-1B, R-1C, R-1D, and R-1E. That figure holds constant across the table even though the other dimensional standards change sharply by district: minimum lot area runs from 30,000 square feet in R-1A down to 21,780 square feet (non-sewered) or smaller on sewered lots, minimum lot width runs from 150 feet down to 60 feet, and required minimum floor area per dwelling unit steps down from 1,400 square feet in R-1A and R-1B to 1,000 square feet in R-1D and R-1E.
Front, side, and rear yard setbacks likewise shrink district to district, from a 40-foot front yard in R-1A down to 25 feet in R-1E. Because the height cap is identical across all five R-1 districts, a homeowner cannot buy into a lower-density district expecting to build taller: R-1A's larger lots buy more floor area and larger yards, not additional height. 07 cannot move forward until the applicable fees are paid in full.
Violations & Fines
Section 3.08 of the Zoning Ordinance treats a structure built above the 30-foot, 2 1/2-story limit as a Municipal Civil Infraction under Chapter 100 of Troy's Code of Ordinances. The oversized structure is also declared a public nuisance per se, subject to court-ordered abatement, and the responsible owner faces fines, costs, damages, and injunctive orders, with each day of continuing violation treated as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a house be in Troy's R-1 residential zones?
Does a bigger lot in R-1A allow a taller house than R-1E?
Can I build taller than 30 feet with a variance?
What's the penalty for building over the height limit in Troy?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Troy
Compare Troy 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.