Williamson County, TN Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Typical residential cap
- 3.0 stories, Table 10.02-4/10.02-5
- No-cap districts
- A, RP-5, RD-5 (15+ acre lots)
- Measured by
- Complete stories above finished grade
- Exempt features
- Chimneys, spires, flagpoles, water towers
- Penalty
- $10-$50 fine per day, Sec. 22.07(A)
Summary
Most residential zoning districts in unincorporated Williamson County cap building height at 3.0 stories. Table 10.02-4 sets that limit for the Rural Preservation District 1 (RP-1), and Table 10.02-5 sets the identical 3.0-story cap in the Rural Development District 1 (RD-1), while the large-lot Agricultural, RP-5, and RD-5 districts list no maximum height at all.
TABLE 10.02-4: DIMENSIONAL STANDARDS FOR THE RURAL PRESERVATION DISTRICT-1 ... DIMENSIONAL STANDARDS RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES NONRESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES ... Maximum Height All Subdivisions 3.0 stories 3.0 stories
Full Breakdown
Article 10 of the Zoning Ordinance sets maximum building height district by district rather than in a single countywide number. 02-4, governing the Rural Preservation District 1 (RP-1), reads: 'DIMENSIONAL STANDARDS RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES NONRESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES ... 0-story cap for the neighboring Rural Development District 1 (RD-1). 0-story ceiling recurs across most of the county's traditional residential districts. By contrast, the large-lot Voluntary Agricultural District (A), Rural Preservation District-5 (RP-5), and Rural Development District-5 (RD-5), where minimum lots run 15 acres or more, list 'Not Applicable' for maximum height, meaning the Ordinance sets no story or foot ceiling there.
03(E)(2)(b) exempts specific features from every district's height limit: 'chimneys, church spires, belfries, cupolas, domes, flag poles, monuments, water towers, rooftop dish antennas, or similar appurtenances,' so long as the appurtenance does not conflict with FAA Part 77 airspace rules. 04 defines STORY as the part of a building between one floor and the next, and treats a basement as a full story if its ceiling sits more than six feet above grade.
Violations & Fines
Building above the applicable story limit without an approved variance is a violation under Section 22.03(D), which bars erecting or altering any structure 'in violation or contravention of any zoning, subdivision, or general regulation of this Ordinance.' Section 22.07(A) makes the violation a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of ten to fifty dollars per offense under Tennessee Code Annotated Section 13-7-111, with each day the oversized structure stands counted as a separate offense, and the Codes Compliance Director may also pursue civil enforcement under Section 22.05.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a house be in unincorporated Williamson County?
Are any districts exempt from the height limit?
Do chimneys and flagpoles count toward the height limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Williamson County
Compare Williamson County to another location·View the Tennessee building setbacks & zoning overview
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