Tucson, AZ Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential height cap
- 24 feet
- Nonresidential height cap
- 30 feet
- Governing rule
- Stricter of HDZ or base zone limit
- Overlapping overlays
- Most restrictive standard applies
- Applies to
- Hillside/steep-slope parcels only
Summary
Inside Tucson's Hillside Development Zone, UDC § 5.2.7.A caps new construction at 24 feet for residential buildings and 30 feet for nonresidential buildings, or the underlying zone's limit, whichever is stricter. The rule targets the city's steep-slope terrain; it doesn't apply to ordinary flat-lot residential zoning, which follows its own base-zone height table.
5.2.7. HILLSIDE SITE IMPROVEMENT STANDARD A. Building Height Buildings are limited to a building height of 24 feet for residential development and 30 feet for nonresidential development or the maximum height permitted by the underlying zone, whichever is more restrictive. If the building is also located within the boundaries of other overlay zones, the most restrictive of the standards shall apply.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-150: Current through June 23, 2026).
Full Breakdown
A sets a firm height ceiling for anything built within its boundaries: 24 feet for residential development and 30 feet for nonresidential development, or the height allowed by the underlying base zone, whichever number is smaller controls. A doesn't let an applicant pick the more generous standard; it requires the single most restrictive height limit among all applicable overlays to govern the project. This height rule sits inside the broader Hillside Site Improvement Standard, which also requires any grading plan for the site to be reviewed and approved by the City Engineer or designee under Section 2-01 of the Technical Standards Manual before grubbing, grading, or clearing can begin, and it requires undisturbed portions of the site to stay that way, no stockpiling, construction staging, or vehicle storage outside the staked grading area. 2 of the UDC.
Violations & Fines
A structure in the HDZ that exceeds the 24-foot residential or 30-foot nonresidential cap, or that starts grading without an approved grading plan, is a civil infraction under UDC § 10.3.1, with each day of the violation counted separately. The Zoning Administrator can issue a stop-work notice and a citation under Tucson Code Chapter 8, and the City Attorney may seek a court order to prevent occupancy of the noncompliant structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 24-foot limit apply everywhere in Tucson?
What if my underlying zone allows a taller house?
What counts as residential versus nonresidential for this cap?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tucson
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Structure Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Pima County handle structure height limits.