Huntsville City Zoning Code
ARTICLE 17.
RESIDENCE 2-C DISTRICT REGULATIONS
Purpose. The purpose of the Residence 2-C District is to provide a zoning district tailored to protect, preserve, and continue the distinctive configuration, scale, and appearance of Huntsville's mill villages as they were constructed during the early decades of the 20th century. The intent is to minimize nonconformities while encouraging the preservation and continuity of these neighborhoods which document a significant phase of Huntsville's history and which provide a scale and type of housing that is vital to the city's future ability to adequately house all its residents. It is not the intent that these regulations should be applied to new subdivisions.
Within a Residence 2-C District as shown on the official Zoning Maps of the City of Huntsville, Alabama, the following regulations shall apply:
17.1.- Uses permitted.
Land and buildings shall be used only for the following uses:
Single-family dwellings.
Two-family dwellings.
Multiple-family dwellings on lots currently or previously occupied by multiple-family dwellings.
Agricultural uses, provided no sales are made on the premises; and gardens customary to residential occupancy and buildings incidental thereto, but not including commercial animal or poultry farms or kennels.
Municipal, county, state or federal uses; including publicly owned or operated schools, libraries, museums, and art galleries.
Signs shall be permitted in accordance with the provisions of article 72—Sign control regulations.
Accessory structures.
Permitted uses as special exceptions as defined and regulated by subsection 92.5.3 hereof.
(Ord. No. 06-640, § 1, 8-24-2006; Ord. No. 09-1053, § 1, 12-17-2009; (Ord. No. 21-46, § 1(Exh. A, § B.2.), 2-25-2021)
17.2. - Density controls in Lincoln Village South of Oakwood.
The following yard, density, and height requirements shall be observed:
17.2.1 For Single-Family and Two-Family Dwellings—except as provided for in Article 73 hereof.
(1)
Minimum required lot area shall be as platted in Lincoln Park Second Addition (Plat Book v. 1, Page 299) and the minimum required lot area for newly created lots shall be 4,800 square feet.
(2)
Minimum required lot width: 35 feet.
(3)
Minimum required lot frontage: 20 feet.
(4)
Required depth of front yard shall match the front line setback of the existing structures on the block. If there are no existing dwellings on the block, the front setback shall be no less than ten feet nor more than 20 feet. (See Section 73.7.4)
(5)
Minimum required depth of rear yard: Five feet.
(6)
A minimum separation of six feet two inches shall be maintained between the side walls of dwellings on adjoining lots.
Minimum required depth of side yard to street: Three feet.
Minimum required depth of side yard to alley: One foot.
(7)
Maximum stories: One.
(8)
Maximum height: 15 feet.
(9)
Maximum width of single-family dwellings: 35 feet.
(10)
Maximum width of each unit in a two-family dwelling: 18 feet.
17.2.2. For multiple-family dwellings.
(1)
Multiple-family dwellings shall be permitted on Lots 19, 24, 31, 32, 33, 34, 43, 56, 57 & 58 as platted in Lincoln Park Second Addition (Plat Book v. 1, Page 299). Buildings having three or more residential units shall be configured as an unbroken line of housing.
(2)
Minimum required lot width: 100 feet.
(3)
Minimum required lot frontage: 20 feet
(4)
Required depth of front yard shall match the front line setback of the existing structures on the block. If there are no existing dwellings on the block, the front setback shall be no less than ten feet nor more than 20 feet. (See Section 73.7.4)
(5)
Minimum required depth of rear yard: Ten feet.
(6)
A minimum separation of six feet two inches shall be maintained between the side walls of dwellings on adjoining lots.
Minimum required depth of side yard to street: Five feet.
Minimum required depth of side yard to alley: Three feet.
(7)
Maximum stories: One.
(8)
Maximum height: 15 feet.
17.2.3. For nonresidential buildings.
(1)
Nonresidential buildings shall be permitted only on lots that are occupied, at the time of this amendment, by nonresidential uses permitted in the district; provided, however, no nonresidential buildings shall be permitted on lots previously or currently used for residences.
(2)
Minimum required lot width: 100 feet.
(3)
Minimum required lot frontage: 20 feet.
(4)
Minimum required depth of front yard: 30 feet.
(5)
Minimum required depth of rear yard: Ten feet.
(6)
Minimum required depth of side yards: 25 feet.
(7)
Maximum stories: Two and one-half.
(8)
Maximum height: 30 feet.
17.2.4. Parking requirements.
(1)
Residential parking shall be permitted only in rear yards and on street. Detached garages are permitted in the rear yard if access is from an alley. No parking, garages, or garage access shall be permitted in any front or side yard.
(2)
Nonresidential parking shall not be allowed in any required yard. Five visitor parking spaces may be located in front of a building but not in the required front yard.
17.2.5. Design requirements for dwellings.
(1)
In order to maintain the unique building character of the residential structures in Lincoln Park Second Addition and to preserve the identity and sense of place of this historic mill village, the following design requirements shall apply to existing residential structures:
(a)
Where a two-family dwelling is combined to form a single-family dwelling, the original facade of the two-family dwelling shall be maintained as that of a two-family dwelling with the doors, windows and porches remaining in their original configuration.
(b)
Where two dwelling units of a multiple-family dwelling are combined to form one dwelling unit, the original facade of the multiple-family dwelling shall be maintained with the doors, windows and porches remaining in their original configuration. The facade of the multiple-family dwelling shall maintain the appearance of having dwelling units with a maximum width of 18 feet per dwelling unit.
(c)
All dwellings shall have their primary entrance facing the street and each unit shall have a separate entry porch.
(2)
In order to maintain the unique building character of the residential structures in Lincoln Park Second Addition and to preserve the identity and sense of place of this historic mill village, the following design requirements shall apply to newly constructed residential structures:
(a)
New construction shall follow the size, style and placement of the doors and windows and maintain the rhythm of the porch orientation of the existing historic residential dwellings.
(b)
The exterior of newly constructed multiple-family dwellings shall maintain the appearance of having a maximum width of 18 feet per dwelling unit with the doors, windows and porches having the same configuration and orientation of the existing historic multiple-family dwellings.
(c)
All dwellings shall have their primary entrance facing the street and each unit shall have a separate entry porch.
(Ord. No. 06-640, § 1, 8-24-2006)
17.3. - Conditions on uses.
No primary or accessory non-residential building or structure with a footprint in excess of one thousand (1000) square feet shall be allowed to use aluminum, steel, or other metal siding or cladding as an exterior finish, except as a special exception in accordance with section 92.5.3(37). This requirement shall not include window framework, doors, roofs and walkway covers.
(Ord. No. 08-429, § 8, 6-26-2008; Ord. No. 15-758, § 8, 11-19-2015; Ord. No. 25-157, § 8, 4-24-2025)