Zoning & entitlements
Height limit
The maximum building height a district allows, in feet or stories — a constraint that interacts with construction type and density-bonus waivers.
Definition
Height limits cap buildings in feet, stories, or both — sometimes through bulk planes and daylight controls — set in the zoning ordinance and frequently tightened by overlays and view corridors.
Height is where zoning meets construction economics: the jump from three-story walk-up to five-over-one podium changes structure type and cost per foot. For bonus projects, a height limit that physically precludes the awarded units is waivable — no variance required — under § 65915(e).
Why it matters in an underwrite
One added story spreads land, podium and elevator costs across more units, which is why height relief is the most common § 65915(e) waiver ask — and among the easiest to prove with a massing study. Check every layer that regulates height (base district, overlays, airport surfaces), because the waiver reaches local development standards, and verify the extra story keeps the building inside an economical construction type.
Sources & related guides
See also
See the term in the law itself
Read the controlling text in the Code Library, or ask the AI how it applies to your project.
Last reviewed 2026-07-29. General information, not legal advice.