What the Birmingham zoning ordinance says about permitted uses, district by district. Section numbers link to the official ordinance.
PP covers publicly owned property such as parks, schools, and municipal facilities. The district layout in Article 2 lists the permitted and accessory uses; a use not listed is not permitted (§ 1.13). For questions about a specific public parcel, ask the Planning Division.
Permitted: one-family dwellings, single-family cluster developments (use-specific standards apply), adult foster care group homes, public schools, parks, and government offices. Accessory uses include family day care homes, private garages, home occupations (§ 5.02), renting of rooms to at most 2 roomers per dwelling (§ 5.02(D)), and private pools.
A use not listed in the district layout is not permitted (§ 1.13).
Permitted: one-family dwellings, single-family cluster developments (use-specific standards apply), adult foster care group homes, public schools, parks, and government offices. Accessory uses include family day care homes, private garages, home occupations (§ 5.02), renting of rooms to at most 2 roomers per dwelling (§ 5.02(D)), and private pools.
A use not listed in the district layout is not permitted (§ 1.13).
Permitted: one-family dwellings, single-family cluster developments (use-specific standards apply), adult foster care group homes, public schools, parks, and government offices. Accessory uses include family day care homes, private garages, home occupations (§ 5.02), renting of rooms to at most 2 roomers per dwelling (§ 5.02(D)), and private pools.
A use not listed in the district layout is not permitted (§ 1.13).
Permitted: one-family dwellings, adult foster care group homes, public schools, parks, and government offices. The R3 list does not include single-family cluster developments; § 5.02 limits the cluster option to R1A, R1, and R2. Accessory uses include family day care homes, private garages, home occupations (§ 5.02), renting of rooms to at most 2 roomers per dwelling (§ 5.02(D)), and private pools.
A use not listed in the district layout is not permitted (§ 1.13).
R4 allows two-family dwellings in addition to the uses allowed in the single-family districts. Special land uses go to the City Commission after Planning Board review of the site plan and design (§§ 7.33-7.34). A use not listed in the district layout is not permitted (§ 1.13).
R5 allows multiple-family dwellings. Lot area per unit runs 1,500 square feet for a one-bedroom unit, 2,000 for two bedrooms, and 2,500 for three. Minimum unit floor areas are 600, 800, and 1,000 square feet. Total floor area may not exceed 40 percent of the lot, and height tops out at 30 feet or 2 stories.
Special land uses go to the City Commission after Planning Board review (§§ 7.33-7.34). A use not listed in the district layout is not permitted (§ 1.13).
R6 allows multiple-family dwellings at higher density than R5. Lot area per unit runs 1,375 square feet for a one-bedroom unit, 1,750 for two bedrooms, and 2,250 for three. Height tops out at 40 feet or 3 stories.
Special land uses go to the City Commission after Planning Board review (§§ 7.33-7.34). A use not listed in the district layout is not permitted (§ 1.13).
R7 is Birmingham's densest multiple-family district. Lot area runs 1,280 square feet per unit. Minimum unit floor areas are 500, 700, and 900 square feet for one, two, and three bedrooms. Height tops out at 50 feet or 4 stories.
Special land uses go to the City Commission after Planning Board review (§§ 7.33-7.34). A use not listed in the district layout is not permitted (§ 1.13).
R8 allows attached single-family dwellings. Required parking must be in a garage, a carport, or under the building (§ 4.48 PK-04).
Special land uses go to the City Commission after Planning Board review (§§ 7.33-7.34). A use not listed in the district layout is not permitted (§ 1.13).
O1 is Birmingham's office district. The district layout in Article 2 lists which office and supporting uses are permitted, which are accessory, and which need a special land use permit from the City Commission (§§ 7.33-7.34). A use not listed in the layout is not permitted (§ 1.13). Check the layout in the ordinance for your specific use.
O2 mixes office uses with a wider range of commercial uses than O1. The district layout in Article 2 lists which uses are permitted, which are accessory, and which need a special land use permit from the City Commission (§§ 7.33-7.34). A use not listed in the layout is not permitted (§ 1.13). Check the layout in the ordinance for your specific use.
P is Birmingham's parking district, for off-street parking areas. The district layout in Article 2 lists the permitted and accessory uses; a use not listed is not permitted (§ 1.13). Site plans in the P district go to the Planning Board (§ 7.25).
B1 allows neighborhood-scale retail and services. Special land uses in B1 include alcohol sales, child care centers, drive-ins, and gas stations; the City Commission decides those after Planning Board review (§§ 7.33-7.34). A use not listed in the district layout is not permitted (§ 1.13).
The B2 family of districts allows broad retail plus dwellings: multiple-family, and one- and two-family with conditions. Live/work units, hotels, and theaters (with use-specific standards) are also allowed.
Special land uses include on-premise alcohol, auto sales agencies, drive-ins, gas stations, and funeral homes (§ 2.29); the City Commission decides those after Planning Board review (§§ 7.33-7.34). Note: auto sales agencies need a special land use permit only in B2; in B2B and B2C they are permitted outright. Uses the ordinance designates as regulated uses also need City Commission approval. A use not listed in the district layout is not permitted (§ 1.13).
The B2 family of districts allows broad retail plus dwellings: multiple-family, and one- and two-family with conditions. Live/work units, hotels, and theaters (with use-specific standards) are also allowed. Auto sales agencies are a permitted commercial use in this district (§ 2.31), unlike B2, where they need a special land use permit.
Special land uses include on-premise alcohol, auto laundries, drive-ins, gas stations, and funeral homes (§ 2.31); the City Commission decides those after Planning Board review (§§ 7.33-7.34). Uses the ordinance designates as regulated uses also need City Commission approval. A use not listed in the district layout is not permitted (§ 1.13).
The B2 family of districts allows broad retail plus dwellings: multiple-family, and one- and two-family with conditions. Live/work units, hotels, and theaters (with use-specific standards) are also allowed. Auto sales agencies are a permitted commercial use in this district (§ 2.33), unlike B2, where they need a special land use permit.
Special land uses include on-premise alcohol, auto laundries, drive-ins, gas stations, and funeral homes (§ 2.33); the City Commission decides those after Planning Board review (§§ 7.33-7.34). Uses the ordinance designates as regulated uses also need City Commission approval. A use not listed in the district layout is not permitted (§ 1.13).
B2C is established in the ordinance, but the city GIS map currently shows no B2C areas. Confirm any B2C designation with the city.
B3 is Birmingham's office-residential district, mixing office uses with dwellings. The district layout in Article 2 lists which uses are permitted, which are accessory, and which need a special land use permit from the City Commission (§§ 7.33-7.34). A use not listed in the layout is not permitted (§ 1.13). Check the layout in the ordinance for your specific use.
B4 is Birmingham's business-residential district, mixing commercial uses with dwellings. The district layout in Article 2 lists which uses are permitted, which are accessory, and which need a special land use permit from the City Commission (§§ 7.33-7.34). A use not listed in the layout is not permitted (§ 1.13).
Parts of the business districts sit inside the Downtown Birmingham Overlay (§ 1.12), which sets its own height zones through a Regulating Plan (§§ 3.02-3.04). See the citywide height rule for the overlay standards.
MX covers the Eton Road corridor. It allows live/work units, residential combined with nonresidential uses, artisan uses, and auto conversion uses. MX is the only district in Birmingham where residential units in accessory structures are permitted (§ 4.07 AS-06).
Any permitted principal use with a total floor area greater than 6,000 square feet needs a special land use permit (§ 2.39). Special land uses go to the City Commission after Planning Board review (§§ 7.33-7.34). A use not listed in the district layout is not permitted (§ 1.13).
TZ1 is a transitional zone that buffers residential areas from more intense districts. The district layout in Article 2 lists which uses are permitted, which are accessory, and which need a special land use permit from the City Commission (§§ 7.33-7.34). A use not listed in the layout is not permitted (§ 1.13).
TZ2 is a transitional zone. Any permitted commercial use with more than 3,000 square feet of interior floor area per tenant needs a special land use permit (§ 2.43), which the City Commission decides after Planning Board review (§§ 7.33-7.34). Non-residential uses other than offices may operate only between 7 am and 9 pm unless the Planning Board extends the hours (§ 5.15). A use not listed in the district layout is not permitted (§ 1.13).
TZ2 is regulated by §§ 2.43-2.44 but does not appear in the district-establishing list in § 1.10, and the city GIS map shows no TZ2 areas. Confirm the district's status and boundaries with the city before relying on it.
TZ3 is a transitional zone allowing a limited mix of uses between residential and commercial areas. The district layout in Article 2 lists which uses are permitted, which are accessory, and which need a special land use permit from the City Commission (§§ 7.33-7.34). Any permitted commercial use with more than 4,000 square feet of interior floor area per tenant needs a special land use permit (§ 2.45). Non-residential uses other than offices may operate only between 7 am and 9 pm unless the Planning Board extends the hours (§ 5.15). A use not listed in the layout is not permitted (§ 1.13).
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