Building Setbacks & Zoning in Tuscaloosa, AL (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Tuscaloosa, Alabama, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
Minimum front, side, and rear setbacks are set by each zoning district. In single-family districts, typical minimums are 30-35 feet front, 9-10 feet side, and 35 feet rear (e.g., SFR-1: 35/10/35; SFR-2: 30/9/35). On corner lots, the side-street front setback equals two-thirds of the district's front setback.
Tuscaloosa Building Setback Rules
Some RestrictionsCity of Tuscaloosa Zoning Ordinance, Tables IV-11 (SFR-1) and IV-13 (SFR-2), Art. IV; Setback definition, Art. II; Sec. 25-30 Allowable Encroachments
Table IV-11: SFR-1 Intensity and Dimensional Standards Front setback (min) 35 ft; Side setback (min) 10 ft; Rear setback (min) 35 ft; Building height (max) 35 ft; Ground Coverage Ratio (max) 30 percent. Table IV-13: SFR-2 Intensity and Dimensional Standards Front setback (min) 30 ft; Side setback (min) 9 ft; Rear setback (min) 35 ft; Building height (max) 35 ft; Ground Coverage Ratio (max)...
Structure Height Limits
Maximum building height is set per zoning district. In the single-family residential districts (SFR-E, SFR-1, SFR-2) the maximum building height is 35 feet. Lake-area districts use a story limit (for example 3 stories in LR and for most LMF uses). Building height is measured from finished grade to the roof point defined by roof type.
Tuscaloosa Building and Structure Height Limits
Some RestrictionsCity of Tuscaloosa Zoning Ordinance, Tables IV-5/IV-7/IV-11/IV-13, Art. IV; Building Height definition, Art. II, p. II-2
Table IV-11 (SFR-1): Building height (max) 35 ft. Table IV-13 (SFR-2): Building height (max) 35 ft. Table IV-5 (SFR-E): Building height (max) 35 ft. Table IV-7 (LR): Building height (max) 3 stories. Building Height in Feet: The vertical distance measured from the mean level of the finished grade abutting all sides of the building to the following points: For mansard roofs, to the deck line; Fo...
Lot Coverage Limits
Tuscaloosa limits building coverage through a maximum 'Ground Coverage Ratio' set per zoning district - the percentage of lot area covered by building footprints. In single-family districts the maximum is 30 percent (SFR-1, SFR-2) or 25 percent (SFR-E and LR), while Lake Multifamily allows 35-45 percent depending on use.
Tuscaloosa Lot Coverage (Ground Coverage Ratio)
Some RestrictionsCity of Tuscaloosa Zoning Ordinance, Ground Coverage Ratio definition (p. II-2) and Tables IV-5/IV-7/IV-9/IV-11/IV-13, Art. IV
Ground Coverage Ratio: The percentage of the lot area covered by buildings, measured using the building footprint(s). Table IV-11 (SFR-1): Ground Coverage Ratio (max) 30 percent. Table IV-13 (SFR-2): Ground Coverage Ratio (max) 30 percent. Table IV-5 (SFR-E): Ground Coverage Ratio (max) 25 percent. Table IV-7 (LR): Ground Coverage Ratio (max) 25 percent. Table IV-9 (LMF): Ground Coverage Ratio...