Medina residential height rules
How Medina measures residential building height
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.
On this page4 sections
Official starting point: Medina planning and zoning. Verify the current code and parcel-specific rules before fixing a design.
Confirm 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