Mobile Zoning & Land Use Guide
Notable local initiatives in Mobile
Named ordinances, statutes, and reforms specific to Mobile — each linked to an official source you can verify directly.
Map for Mobile (Comprehensive Plan)
Map for Mobile is the City's adopted comprehensive plan, providing the policy direction for future land use, transportation, and community character. It is the foundation document that the Unified Development Code was written to implement.
Source · buildmobile.orgUnified Development Code (UDC) — Ordinance 64-26(2022)
On July 12, 2022 the City Council unanimously adopted the new Unified Development Code, replacing land use regulations dating to the 1960s. The UDC is a hybrid that combines form-based and conventional zoning, organized by zoning districts, development standards, and procedures, and is codified as Chapter 64 of the Code of Ordinances.
Source · cityofmobile.govDowntown Development District (DDD) — Transect Sub-Districts
Within the UDC, the Downtown Development District (Appendix A) regulates downtown using transect sub-districts including T-6 (high-intensity mixed use), T-5 (medium-intensity mixed use), and T-3 (low-density residential), governed by a regulating plan on the official zoning map.
Source · buildmobile.orgDDD Amendment Process (2026)(2026)
On April 16, 2026 the Mobile Planning Commission recommended approval of amendments to the Downtown Development District code (Appendix A of the UDC). The City Council was scheduled to consider the amendments at a public hearing on June 2, 2026 — an example of the city's continuing iteration on the post-2022 UDC.
Source · mapformobile.orgFlood Resilience — base NFIP standards
Mobile is a hurricane-prone Gulf Coast city, but as of current published guidance the city does not add a local freeboard above the FEMA Base Flood Elevation; properties in Special Flood Hazard Areas must meet the National Flood Insurance Program minimum. The city's Resilience office publishes flood and elevation requirements.
Source · cityofmobile.gov
Key Zoning Facts
Regulatory Layers That Apply in Mobile
Your property is subject to ALL of these regulatory layers. Each one can impose additional requirements beyond the others.
Federal
- FEMA flood mapping: check parcel-specific flood-zone status
- View FEMA Flood Map
County — Mobile County
- Role: Property records, tax assessment, unincorporated area planning
City / Municipal
The municipality's zoning ordinance, building-code enforcement, and local permits form the primary local layer of land-use regulation for your property.
Overlay Districts
No overlay districts identified.
Private Restrictions
- Private covenants, deed restrictions, condominium rules, or association rules can impose requirements beyond zoning.
- Check HOA CC&Rs for additional restrictions.
Primary Zoning Districts
- Min Lot
- 9,000 sq ft
- Max Height
- 35 ft
- Front Setback
- 25 ft
- Side Setback
- 7 ft
- Rear Setback
- 20 ft
- Min Lot
- 6,000 sq ft
- Max Height
- 45 ft
- Front Setback
- 25 ft
- Side Setback
- 8 ft
- Rear Setback
- 20 ft
- Min Lot
- None
- Max Height
- 45 ft
- Front Setback
- 10 ft
- Side Setback
- 0 ft
- Rear Setback
- 10 ft
ADU Rules in Mobile
- Max Size
- 750 sq ft
- Max Height
- 25 ft
- Rear Setback
- 5 ft
- Side Setback
- 5 ft
- Parking
- 1 off-street space required
- Owner Occupancy
- Required
- Permit Timeline
- 30-60 days
Permit Costs & Timelines
Check Current Permit Fees & Timelines
Permit fees and review times can vary by project type, scope, valuation, and required approvals. Check the current schedule with the local permitting authority before filing.
Check current Mobile permit information →Official Sources
City-specific