ZoningVerdict

Building height in Sterling Heights, MI

What the Sterling Heights zoning ordinance says about building height, district by district. Section numbers link to the official ordinance.

R-100 — One Family Residential (R-100)

Maximum 2 stories and 30 feet (Section 3.04.A.5). The Zoning Board of Appeals may modify height limits for spires, chimneys, flagpoles, antennas, and similar appurtenances (Section 28.05).

R-90 — One Family Residential (R-90)

Maximum 2 stories and 30 feet (Section 3.04.A.5).

R-80 — One Family Residential (R-80)

Maximum 2 stories and 30 feet (Section 3.04.A.5).

R-70 — One Family Residential (R-70)

Maximum 2 stories and 30 feet (Section 3.04.A.5).

R-60 — One Family Residential (R-60)

Maximum 2 stories and 30 feet (Section 3.04.A.5).

R-2 — Two Family Residential (R-2)

Maximum 2 stories and 25 feet (Section 4.04.A.3). Note this is 5 feet lower than the 30 foot limit in the one family districts.

MHP — Mobile Home Park

A clubhouse may not exceed 25 feet or two stories; storage and service buildings may not exceed 15 feet or one story and may not sit next to land zoned or developed for single family use (Section 5.02.E).

RM-1 — Multiple Family Low Rise (RM-1)

Maximum 2 stories and 30 feet (Section 6.04.C.1).

RM-2 — Multiple Family Low Rise (RM-2)

Maximum 2 stories and 30 feet by right (Section 6.04.C.1). In RM-2 only, the Planning Commission may approve 3 stories up to 34 feet as a special approval land use; no such building may stand within 150 feet of a one family or R-2 district (Section 6.02.A).

RM-3 — Multiple Family Mid and High Rise (RM-3)

No maximum height in stories or feet (Section 7.04.C.1). Height is controlled indirectly: every project yard must be at least as deep as the building is tall (Section 7.04.D).

O-1 — Business and Professional Office (O-1)

Maximum 1 story and 25 feet (Section 8.04.B).

O-2 — Planned Office (O-2)

Maximum 2 stories and 30 feet (Section 9.04.B).

O-3 — High Rise Office Commercial Service (O-3)

O-3 sets a minimum height instead of a maximum: buildings other than restaurants and utility buildings must be at least 3 stories and 35 feet, and there is no maximum height (Section 10.04.B-C). Setbacks grow with height under Section 10.04.D-F.

C-1 — Local Convenience Business (C-1)

Maximum 1 story and 25 feet (Section 11.04.B).

C-2 — Planned Comparison Business (C-2)

Maximum 2 stories and 30 feet (Section 12.04.B). Regional shopping centers over 1,000,000 square feet may exceed the height limit as a special approval land use if side and rear setbacks equal the building height (Section 12.02.H).

C-3 — General Business (C-3)

Maximum 2 stories and 30 feet (Section 13.04.B). On sites fronting a major thoroughfare (120 foot right-of-way), taller buildings are allowed with height-scaled front, side, and rear setbacks, a 35 percent site coverage cap, and at least 15 percent landscaped area (Section 13.04.D).

P-1 — Vehicular Parking (P-1)

Maximum 2 stories and 25 feet for any structure (Section 15.04.A).

O-R — Office Research (O-R)

Maximum 2 stories and 30 feet; height may exceed 30 feet if front, rear, and side setbacks each grow 3 feet for every extra foot of height (Section 17.04.B).

TRO — Technical Research Office (TRO)

Maximum 3 stories and 30 feet (Section 18.04.B).

M-1 — Light Industrial (M-1)

Maximum 35 feet, with no story cap. Height may exceed 35 feet if yard setbacks to the taller portion grow 2 feet for every extra foot of height (Section 19.04.B).

M-2 — Heavy Industrial (M-2)

Maximum 50 feet, with no story cap. Height may exceed 50 feet if yard setbacks to the taller portion grow 2 feet for every extra foot of height (Section 20.04.B).

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