Winston-Salem residential height limits typically cap structures at 35 feet or 2.5 stories in single-family zones. Commercial and downtown districts allow greater heights. Accessory structures limited to 15 feet. Heights measured per UDO definitions from average grade.
Winston-Salem UDO establishes maximum building heights by zoning district. Single-family residential districts (RS-9, RS-15, RS-20, RS-40) cap principal structures at 35 feet or 2.5 stories, whichever is less. Multi-family districts permit heights of 45 to 50 feet depending on density. Commercial districts range from 35 to 65 feet, with the downtown Central Business District and Innovation Quarter allowing significantly taller buildings subject to design review. Accessory structures (detached garages, sheds) are generally limited to 15 feet in residential zones. Height is measured from the average finished grade adjacent to the building to the highest point of the roof, with certain architectural features (chimneys, antennas, cupolas) exempt within reasonable limits. Buildings in historic districts are subject to additional height review by the Historic Resources Commission.
Height violations: stop-work order, removal of offending portions, civil penalties 500 dollars or more.
Winston-Salem, NC
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Winston-Salem, NC
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Winston-Salem, NC
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Winston-Salem, NC
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Winston-Salem, NC
Winston-Salem is not in a designated high-severity wildfire zone, but wooded neighborhoods along Salem Creek, Muddy Creek, and the western edge near Pilot Mo...
Winston-Salem, NC
Winston-Salem permits recreational fire pits under the NC Fire Code (Section 307) when fires are contained, attended, and set back at least 25 feet from stru...
See how Winston-Salem's structure height limits rules stack up against other locations.
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