Medina residential height rules
Medina residential building height, overlays, and site constraints
Medina height is not one citywide number. The parcel's zoning and overlays control, and the Medina Heights Overlay uses a stricter 20-foot limit. Shoreline and other site rules can add another layer.
Reviewed against official Medina sources · August 2026Confirm the base zone and every overlay
Medina directs homeowners to start with the zoning map and Title 16 Unified Development Code. The city's planning page specifically notes the 20-foot Medina Heights Overlay and the shoreline overlay extending 200 feet landward or upward from ordinary high water.
Do not separate height from grade
A reliable height study needs the city's measurement definition, existing grade, proposed grading, and roof form. Sloped lots and daylight basements need sections through the critical points, not just a front elevation.
Private restrictions can be stricter
Recorded covenants, architectural-control documents, or easements may impose a lower height or design restriction than the city. City permit approval does not remove those private obligations.
Our take
Use Medina's pre-application process when a lot is in an overlay, near the shoreline, or shaped by unusual grade. Confirm the measurement method before paying for a finished design.
Action plan
What to do next
- 1
Confirm the zoning district and Medina Heights or shoreline overlay.
- 2
Order a boundary and topographic survey.
- 3
Review title for covenants and easements.
- 4
Show height calculations and critical building sections.
- 5
Ask Development Services to confirm the parcel-specific path.
Official resources