Woodbury, MN Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)

Woodbury's zoning district standards set maximum building height separately for each residential zone in chapter 24, article III. Section 24-134(f)(6) caps the R-4 urban residential district, the city's principal single-family and townhouse zone, at three stories or 40 feet. Section 24-133(f)(6) sets the same 40-foot ceiling in the R-2 single-family estate district. Section 24-132(f)(5) allows a lower two and one-half stories or 35 feet in the R-1 urban reserve district, the city's large-lot agricultural holding zone, but exempts silos, grain elevators, water towers, spires and similar structures from the cap entirely.

Height is enforced by the zoning administrator during building permit review, and plans that exceed the applicable district maximum are not approved. A property owner seeking additional height, such as for a cupola, elevator overrun or rooftop mechanical screen that pushes a structure over the limit, must apply for a variance from the board of adjustments and appeals and show a practical difficulty tied to the lot rather than a design preference. Commercial and institutional districts elsewhere in chapter 24 carry different ceilings; the B-1 office park district allows 60 feet and the MC medical campus district allows 75 feet with conditional approval, so the residential 35-to-40-foot range does not carry over to non-residential parcels.