Union County, NC Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Height limit, RA-200 to R-10
- 35 feet
- Height limit, R-8/R-6/R-4
- 50 feet
- Non-residential use in R district
- Up to 50 feet
- Solar system allowance
- Up to 3 feet above the cap
- Governing table
- Table 5-2, Section 5.030
Summary
In unincorporated Union County, the Unified Development Ordinance caps residential building height at 35 feet in the RA-200 through R-10 districts and 50 feet in R-8, R-6 and R-4 under Table 5-2, measured under Section 100.050 from grade to the roof's highest point.
Max. Building Height (feet) 35 35 35 35 35 50 50 50 ... [4] Non-residential uses allowed in residential districts may exceed the 35 ft. height limitation, but shall not exceed 50 ft. in overall height. ... Building Height Measurement Building height is measured as vertical distance from grade to the highest point of coping of a flat roof or to the deck line of a mansard roof or to the average height of the highest gable of a pitch or hip roof. 2. ... Solar Energy Systems Building-mounted solar energy systems may extend up to 3 feet above maximum zoning district height limits, provided they do not extend more than 5 feet above the roof line.
Full Breakdown
Table 5-2, R District Lot and Building Regulations, sets the maximum building height at 35 feet for the RA-200, RA-40, RA-20, R-40, R-20, R-15 and R-10 districts and 50 feet for R-8, R-6 and R-4, the higher-density districts in unincorporated Union County. 050 defines how that height is measured: vertical distance from grade to the highest point of coping of a flat roof or to the deck line of a mansard roof or to the average height of the highest gable of a pitch or hip roof.
in overall height. Several features are excluded from the height measurement entirely and may rise above the district maximum: antennas and towers (subject to any height limit set for them specifically), chimneys, parapet walls, skylights, steeples, flag poles, smokestacks, elevator bulkheads, monuments, water towers, ornamental towers and spires, mechanical penthouses, and power plants and electric substations. A building-mounted solar energy system gets its own allowance, extending up to 3 feet above the district's maximum height so long as it does not rise more than 5 feet above the roofline.
Violations & Fines
Constructing a house or accessory building above the district's 35-foot or 50-foot height cap, without qualifying for one of the UDO's listed exceptions, is a violation under Section 95.010. The administrator and county attorney enforce it through Section 95.020: a 10-day warning citation, then escalating fines of $50, $200 and $500 for repeat citations on the same offense, plus misdemeanor exposure of up to $500 or 30 days under NCGS 14-4 for continued noncompliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can I build a house in unincorporated Union County?
Do chimneys and antennas count toward the height limit?
Can I mount solar panels above my roof's height limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Union County
Compare Union County to another location·View the North Carolina building setbacks & zoning overview
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