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Building Setbacks & Zoning in Bessemer, AL (2026)

2 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Bessemer, Alabama, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Setback Rules

Bessemer sets minimum front, rear and side yards for every zoning district in Table 2, backed by general rules in Section 8.3 that keep required yards open to the sky and unoccupied by other buildings, sheds or storage.

Bessemer Yard Setback Rules by Zone

Some Restrictions

Bessemer Code of Ordinances, Appendix B (Zoning) §§ 8.1 (Table 2), 8.3

Sec. 8.3. - General yard requirements.(1)No yard, open space, or lot area required for a building or structure shall, during its life, be occupied by, or counted as open space for any other building or structure.(2)Every part of a required yard shall be open to the sky (except for landscaping) unobstructed by any accessory structure or part thereof and unoccupied for storage, servicing or simil...

Structure Height Limits

Bessemer caps building height at 35 feet in single-family districts, rising to 45 feet in multi-family and most commercial zones, with no limit at all in the C-2 Central Business district and a stepped formula for industrial buildings near homes.

Bessemer Building Height Limits by Zone

Some Restrictions

Bessemer Code of Ordinances, Appendix B (Zoning) § 8.1, Table 2, footnote *2

DEVELOPMENT CRITERIA—TABLE 2 District Minimum Lot Area Minimum Lot Width in Feet at Front Building Line Yard Requirements Maximum Area of Ground Coverage (Building) Maximum Height ... R-1 Single family 12,500 sq. ft. *1) 100 ft. 110 ft. (corner lot) 25 ft. (res) 35 ft. (other) 25 ft. 15 ft. 25 ft. (other) 30% res 25% (other) 35 ft. ... * 2) Maximum height (industrial districts): The maximum hei...

Looking for Jefferson County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Bessemer city rules.

Building Setbacks & Zoning in Jefferson County