article 5. zoning district regulations - City of Wilmington

Land Development Code
City of Wilmington
(11) Building Height Areas.
Area 1: From the river's edge to the eastern boundary of the CBD and from the
southern line of Market Street to the southern end of the CBD zoning district.
• A maximum height of thirty-five (35) feet above the existing ground elevation (as
defined at the time of the adoption of this ordinance) within seventy-five (75) feet
from the river's edge, to a maximum height of fifty (50) feet above the highest
adjacent sidewalk elevation. Development between Ann and Nun Streets along South
Water Street shall have a maximum height limitation of thirty-five (35) feet.
Area 2: From the river's edge to the eastern boundary of the CBD and from the
northern line of Market Street to the southern line of Red Cross Street
• A maximum height of thirty-five (35) feet above the existing ground elevation
within seventy-five (75) feet from the river's edge to a maximum height of one
hundred (100) feet above the highest adjacent sidewalk elevation.
Area 3: From the river's edge on the west and from the northern line of Red Cross
Street on the south to the end of the CBD zoning district.
• A maximum height of thirty-five (35) feet above the existing ground elevation
within seventy-five (75) feet from the river's edge, to a maximum height of one
hundred fifty (150) feet above the highest adjacent sidewalk elevation.
In all zones:
• The maximum height of a building lying on a plane established as thirty-five (35)
feet above the existing ground elevation at the time of the adoption of this ordinance
at the river's edge and one hundred twenty (120) feet above that same elevation at
three hundred (300) feet from the river's edge, shall be determined by measuring the
site's distance from the river's edge. Regulations relating to building heights at the
river's edge shall be defined as applying to buildings lying within seventy-five (75)
feet landward of normal water level. All structures built within seventy-five (75) feet
of the river's edge have a thirty-five (35) foot height limitation above the existing
ground elevation. All other sites shall have heights established by determining the
linear distance of the closest building elevation to the river's edge and applying the
following equation. The distance per foot from the river's edge shall be multiplied by
0.285 and then add thirty-five (35) to that sum (distance × 0.285 = H, then H + 35 =
maximum building height). In no case however, shall a building exceed the height of
the established plane (120 feet at three hundred (300) feet from the river's edge) or the
maximum allowed height in the area.
• For waterfront development with an undulating river line, define a building's
distance from the river's edge as the average obtained by measuring from the river's
edge (as defined above) to each corner of the building elevation that is parallel to the
river.
• The height will be measured from the existing ground elevation at the time of the
adoption of this ordinance, to the highest pitch of the roof. Any uninhabitable spaces
on top of the roof, such as bell towers, finials, cupolas, etc. are permitted as long as
they do not exceed twenty (20) percent of the length of the roof line along the street.
ARTICLE 5. ZONING DISTRICT REGULATIONS Page 94