Tuscaloosa, AL Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Code Section
- Zoning Ordinance Ch. 25, Art. IV district tables; Building Height definition
- SFR-E / SFR-1 / SFR-2
- 35 ft max building height
- LR (Lake Residential)
- 3 stories max
- LMF (Lake Multifamily)
- 3 stories (SF/2-family/townhouse); up to 5 stories other uses
- Measurement
- From mean finished grade to roof point by roof type
- Adjustment
- Up to 10% via administrative adjustment (Table III-2)
Summary
Maximum building height is set per zoning district. In the single-family residential districts (SFR-E, SFR-1, SFR-2) the maximum building height is 35 feet. Lake-area districts use a story limit (for example 3 stories in LR and for most LMF uses). Building height is measured from finished grade to the roof point defined by roof type.
Table IV-11 (SFR-1): Building height (max) 35 ft. Table IV-13 (SFR-2): Building height (max) 35 ft. Table IV-5 (SFR-E): Building height (max) 35 ft. Table IV-7 (LR): Building height (max) 3 stories.
Building Height in Feet: The vertical distance measured from the mean level of the finished grade abutting all sides of the building to the following points: For mansard roofs, to the deck line; For gable, gambrel, and hip roofs, to the mean height between eaves and ridges; and For flat roofs and all other types of roofs, to the highest point.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Tuscaloosa sets maximum building height by zoning district in the Article IV dimensional standards tables of its adopted Zoning Ordinance. In the Single Family Residential Estate (SFR-E), Single Family Residential 1 (SFR-1), and Single Family Residential 2 (SFR-2) districts, the maximum building height is 35 feet. The Lake Residential (LR) district uses a story-based limit of 3 stories, and the Lake Multifamily (LMF) district allows 3 stories for single-family/two-family/townhouse uses and up to 5 stories for other uses. The Ordinance defines 'Building Height in Feet' as the vertical distance from the mean level of the finished grade abutting all sides of the building to a point determined by roof type: for mansard roofs, to the deck line; for gable, gambrel, and hip roofs, to the mean height between eaves and ridges; and for flat and other roofs, to the highest point.
5 feet. A maximum building height may be increased by up to 10 percent through an administrative adjustment under Table III-2. Taller structures such as wireless telecommunications towers are governed by separate use-specific standards.
Violations & Fines
Building above the district's maximum height without an administrative adjustment (up to 10 percent) or a variance violates the Zoning Ordinance and can result in permit denial, stop-work orders, and orders to bring the structure into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a house be in Tuscaloosa?
How is building height measured?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tuscaloosa
Compare Tuscaloosa to another location·View the Alabama building setbacks & zoning overview
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