540.410. - Maximum height for principal structures.
(a) In general. The maximum height requirements of principal buildings located in the built form overlay districts shall be as set forth within Table 540-6, Maximum Height by District, and Table 540-7, Other Maximum Height Requirements by Use.
(b) Exemptions. Except in the SH Shoreland Overlay District and when not allowed in the MR Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area Overlay District, the following may be exempt from the maximum height requirements of principal structures as set forth within each built form overlay district:
(1) Communication antennas, wind energy conversion systems, and solar energy systems otherwise allowed by administrative review in Chapter 550, Development Standards.
(2) Parapets not exceeding three (3) feet, except where located on single-, two-, or three-family dwellings or cluster developments.
(3) Railings up to four (4) feet in height as measured from the roof, and not more than sixty (60) percent opaque.
(4) Rooftop features used exclusively for mechanical equipment, elevators, or stairways, provided all of the following conditions are met:
a. Such building features are not located on single-, two-, or three-family dwellings.
b. The combined coverage of such building features shall not occupy more than thirty (30) percent of the roof area of the floor below.
c. Such building features may extend up to sixteen (16) feet above the roof of the floor below.
d. Where located within fifteen (15) feet of the wall of the floor below, such building features shall not exceed twenty (20) feet in width as measured parallel to the adjacent wall.
(5) Rooftop features used exclusively for mechanical equipment, elevators, or stairways on single-, two-, or three-family dwellings, provided all of the following conditions are met:
a. Such building features may extend up to ten (10) feet above the roof of the floor below.
b. The combined coverage of such building features shall not occupy more than one hundred fifty (150) square feet of the roof area.
(c) Existing buildings. Principal buildings existing on the effective date of this ordinance, that exceed the maximum height requirements shall be considered legally conforming, except that additions to such buildings or other redevelopment shall be subject to the standards of this chapter.
Table 540-6 Maximum Height by District
Built Form Overlay District | Maximum Height, except as otherwise required in Table 540-7
Interior 1 | 2.5 stories, 35 feet
Interior 2 | 2.5 stories, 35 feet
Interior 3 | 3 stories, 42 feet
Corridor 3 | 3 stories, 42 feet
Corridor 4 | 4 stories, 56 feet
Corridor 6 | 6 stories, 84 feet
Transit 10 | 10 stories, 140 feet
Transit 15 | 15 stories, 210 feet
Transit 20 | 20 stories, 280 feet
Transit 30A | 30 stories, 420 feet
Transit 30B | 30 stories, 420 feet
Core 50 | No limit
Parks | 2.5 stories, 35 feet
Production | 10 stories, 140 feet
Table 540-7 Other Maximum Height Requirements by Use
Use | Built Form Overlay District | Maximum Height
Single- and two-family dwellings and common lot developments with two (2) units | All districts | 2.5 stories, 28 feet The highest point of a gable, hip, or gambrel roof shall not exceed 33 feet.*
Three-family dwellings, common lot developments with three (3) units, and cluster developments with any number of units | Interior 1 and Interior 2 | 2.5 stories, 28 feet The highest point of a gable, hip, or gambrel roof shall not exceed 33 feet.*
Three-family dwellings, common lot developments with three (3) units, and cluster developments with any number of units | Interior 3, all Corridor districts, all Transit districts, Core 50, and Production | 3 stories, 42 feet For 3 rd story additions, the following compatibility design standards shall apply: a. The roof pitch of a partial 3 rd story addition shall match an existing roof pitch if more than one roof pitch is present on the structure. b. The primary roof pitch shall be at least 6/12 for full 3 rd story additions, unless designed as a flat roof. c. Dormers shall meet the following conditions. Dormers that meet these conditions shall be exempt from conditions a and b. 1. The dormers are located no closer than three (3) feet from any end-of-house corner of the floor below and any gable end wall. 2. The dormers will not extend beyond the wall below and will not interrupt the eave edge of the hip or gable roof. 3. The roof of the dormer shall not extend above the primary roofline.
Institutional and civic uses | Interior 1 and Interior 2 | 3 stories, 42 feet
*Notwithstanding the height limitations of this chapter, the maximum height of single-, two-, and three-family dwellings may be increased to thirty-five (35) feet when the established height of a minimum of fifty (50) percent of the single-, two-, and three-family dwellings within one hundred (100) feet of the subject site exceed the maximum height. The highest point of a gable, hip, or gambrel roof shall not exceed forty (40) feet.
(Ord. No. 2025-023, § 19, 5-15-2025; Ord. No. 2025-057, § 6, 12-11-2025)
