Montgomery, AL Zoning

13 districts. 3 overlays.
This profile is an earlier edition — some fields may be incomplete. An updated profile is in progress.

Overview

Worth knowing
  • Dual zoning system: legacy 1985 Ordinance 45-85 coexists with Jan 2025 SmartCode transect-based system
  • SmartCode adopted only 10 weeks before research date; implementation status uncertain
  • PDF data barrier: SmartCode dimensional tables embedded in non-extractable PDF format

+ 5 more in Quirks & notes

Districts

res_sf 3com 2ind 2ag 2cbd 2res_mf 1mu 1
CodeNameCategory Min lotHeight CoverageFAR Du/acParking Setbacks F/S/R
R-1Single-Family Residential (Legacy)res_sf20 / /
R-2Two-Family Residential (Legacy)res_sf / /
R-30Multi-Family Residential (Legacy)res_mf / /
C-1Neighborhood Commercial (Legacy)com / /
C-2General Commercial (Legacy)com / /
I-1Light Industrial (Legacy)ind / /
I-2Heavy Industrial (Legacy)ind / /
T1Natural (SmartCode)ag / /
T2Rural (SmartCode)ag / /
T3Sub-Urban (SmartCode)res_sf / /
T4General Urban (SmartCode)mu / /
T5Urban Center (SmartCode)cbd / /
T6Urban Core (SmartCode)cbd / /

Confidence: confirmed partial under review not found

Overlays

SFHA
Floodplain SFHA
FP
§47-2020

FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area designation

effectElevation and floodproofing requirements per NFIP
CHD
Cloverdale Historic District
HP

NRHP-listed district (1985); Certificate of Appropriateness required

effectExterior review, demolition controls, design standards
designationNRHP 1985
CHHD
Cottage Hill Historic District
HP

Historic district designation (1974)

effectExterior review and preservation controls
designation1974

Adopted building codes

Statewide

2021
2021
2020
2021
IECC (Residential)
2015
IECC (Commercial)
2015

Click a code label to open its state-by-state adoption atlas.

Quirks & notes

  • Dual zoning system: legacy 1985 Ordinance 45-85 coexists with Jan 2025 SmartCode transect-based system
  • SmartCode adopted only 10 weeks before research date; implementation status uncertain
  • PDF data barrier: SmartCode dimensional tables embedded in non-extractable PDF format
  • Historic overlay precedence: Cloverdale and Cottage Hill districts override base zoning for exterior changes
  • Infill setback ambiguity: unclear whether legacy or SmartCode governs in overlap areas
  • Parking wall conflict: SmartCode requires 3-5 ft parking walls; legacy code silent on screening
  • Zero-setback downtown: T6 Urban Core allows build-to-line at property boundary
  • Industrial transition: I-1 and I-2 legacy districts may be reclassified under SmartCode adoption

Formulas

Definitions

height
Varies by system; legacy code uses ft, SmartCode uses stories
lot_coverage
far
du_ac
impervious_cover
setback_front
Front yard depth from property line; legacy code confirmed for R-1
setback_side
setback_rear
Outbuilding rear setback 12 ft confirmed in SmartCode
parking
Parking wall height 3-5 ft confirmed in SmartCode

Capacity calculations

max_footprint_sf
lot_area_sf * lot_coverage
max_gfa_sf
lot_area_sf * far
max_units_from_density
lot_area_sf * du_ac / 43560
buildable_width_ft
lot_width_ft - setback_side_ft * 2
buildable_depth_ft
lot_depth_ft - setback_front_ft - setback_rear_ft
buildable_envelope_sf
buildable_width_ft * buildable_depth_ft
max_stories_approx
max_height_ft / 10
max_gfa_from_envelope
min(buildable_envelope_sf * max_stories_approx, max_gfa_sf)
parking_required
units * parking

Massing explorer

Interactive 3D comparison across every district. Drag to orbit, scroll to zoom, use the slider to walk districts, and toggle applicable overlays in the right-side panel.

Sort by
LOW
HIGH
drag to orbit · scroll to zoom
Max height
ft
Floor area ratio
Lot coverage
%
Setbacks (F / S / R)
ft
Parking
/unit
Max density
du/ac
Min lot size
sf
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District Category Height FAR Coverage Setbacks Parking Density Min lot Overlays

Research status

Data quality

25%completeness60 confirmed40 partial15 inferred
Documented gaps
  • SmartCode T1-T6 dimensional standards (PDF barrier)
  • Legacy R-2/R-30 lot and height standards
  • Commercial district standards
  • Industrial district dimensional data
  • SmartCode-legacy overlap resolution rules

Known issues

schema:v1-legacypriority:lowdata:gaps-present

Other cities in this state

Nearest-alphabetical profiles. Click through to compare zoning patterns side-by-side.