Quincy City Zoning Code
HEIGHT REGULATIONS
§ 162.045 DEFINITIONS.
Terms relating to HEIGHT are defined as:
(A) A basement has less than one-half its height below grade; a cellar has more than one-half its height below grade. If a basement is subdivided and used for dwelling purposes it is counted as a story, a cellar is not;
(B) The height of a building is the vertical distance from the grade to:
(1) The highest point of a flat roof;
(2) The deck line of a mansard roof; or
(3) The mean height between eaves and ridge for gable, hip and gambrel roofs.
(C) Grade is the average level of the finished surface of the ground for buildings more than five feet from a street line. For buildings closer than five feet to a street, the grade is the sidewalk elevation at the center of the building. If there is more than one street, an average sidewalk elevation is to be used. If there is no sidewalk, the Director of Utilities and Engineering shall establish the sidewalk grade.
(1980 Code, § 29.301) (Ord. 8925, passed 11-5-2001)
§ 162.046 HEIGHT LIMITATIONS.
Except as provided in § 162.047, buildings (including any tower or towers located on the roof or top thereof) shall not exceed the following height limits:
(A) Forty feet above grade in C3 and M3 Districts, provided however, that one or more structures in the C3 District having a total maximum area on any floor not in excess 10% of the total area of the shopping center lot and which structures are located not less than 100 feet from all streets and property lines, may be erected to a height of not more than 120 feet; and provided further, that a sign, spire or tower that is used solely for ornamental or decorative purposes, the base area of which does not exceed 1% of the first floor area of the building to which it is attached, may be erected to any height;
(B) Thirty-five feet above grade in RU1, RE1, RS, R1A, R1B, R1C, R2, R3, C1A and C1B Districts;
(C) Forty-five feet above grade in the NR1, NR2 and C2 Districts;
(D) Sixty feet above grade in the M1 District; and
(E) One hundred feet above grade in the M2 District.
(1980 Code, § 29.302) (Ord. 8925, passed 11-5-2001; Ord. 9150, passed 7-27-2009) Penalty, see § 162.999
§ 162.047 EXCEPTIONS.
Above height limits may be exceeded in the following instances:
(B) Chimneys, church steeples, cooling towers, elevator bulkheads, fire towers, monuments, stacks, stage towers or scenery lofts, tanks, water towers, ornamental towers, spires, wireless towers, grain elevators or necessary mechanical appurtenances may be erected to a height of now or hereafter provided by ordinance;
(C) Storage buildings are exempt from the story limitation (but not the number of feet limitation);
(D) Single-family dwellings, two-family dwellings and multiple-dwellings may be increased in height by not more than ten feet when the side and rear yards are increased over the yard requirements of the district in which they are located by not less than ten feet, but they shall not exceed three stories in height; and
(E) Licensed ham radio operators’ antennas.
(1980 Code, § 29.303) (Ord. 9351, passed 10-1-2018)
Penalty, see § 162.999
§ 162.048 HEIGHT VIOLATIONS NOT TO BE RECONSTRUCTED.
Those parts of existing buildings that violate height regulations may be repaired and remodeled but may not be reconstructed or structurally altered.
(1980 Code, § 29.304) Penalty, see § 162.999