Building Setbacks & Zoning in Dothan, AL (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Dothan, Alabama, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
Dothan sets minimum front, rear and side yard depths for every zoning district in the Table of Dimensional Regulations at City Code § 114-132. A standard R-1 lot needs a 30-foot front yard, a 35-foot rear yard and 10-foot side yards, with the numbers shrinking further in the denser R-3 district.
Dothan Yard Setbacks by Zoning District
Some RestrictionsDothan City Code § 114-132
Zone District AC R-1 R-2 R-3 R-4 R-A MH-1 C MH-2 B-1 B-2 B-3 O-I O-2 O-3 E L-I H-I ... Min. ... depth of front yard, feet 50 30 25 15 30 20 50 D 20 25 25 25 25 25 40 20 20 Min. depth of rear yard, feet 40 35 30 15 15 20 50 D 10 10 10 10 20 20 40 35 10 Min. width of each side yard, feet 15 10 10 5 7.5 A 20 A 50 D 15 5 A 5 A 5 A 5 A 20 20 20 10
Structure Height Limits
Every structure built or altered in a City of Dothan zoning district must stay within the height limit set for that district in article VIII, unless the board of zoning adjustment grants a variance. Church steeples, hospitals, silos, chimneys, flagpoles and water tanks are excused from the cap, but industrial structures needing the exemption are limited to 25 percent of the lot's area, under City Code § 114-180.
Dothan Zoning District Height Limit Rule
Some RestrictionsDothan City Code § 114-180
(a)In each zoning district, each structure erected or altered shall not exceed the heights specified in the district requirements in article VIII of this chapter, except upon approval of the board of zoning adjustment.(b)Height limitations shall not apply to church steeples, hospitals, sanitariums, barns, silos, farm structures, chimneys, flagpoles, public utility poles, radio and television to...
Lot Coverage Limits
Dothan caps how much of a lot a building can occupy through its Table of Dimensional Regulations at City Code § 114-132. Maximum building area ranges from 25 percent of gross lot area in the AC and R-1 districts up to 60 percent in R-4, R-A and the H-I heavy industrial district.
Dothan Lot Coverage Caps by Zoning District
Some RestrictionsDothan City Code § 114-132
Zone District AC R-1 R-2 R-3 R-4 R-A MH-1 C MH-2 B-1 B-2 B-3 O-I O-2 O-3 E L-I H-I ... Max. building area, % of gross lot area 25 25 40 50 60 60 50 n/a n/a 50 40 50 30 30 50 60