Zoning Report
Montgomery, AL Zoning
Montgomery, Alabama regulates land use through its municipal zoning ordinance, SmartCode, subdivision regulations, and separate floodplain/flood mitigation materials maintained by the city. The city is in the middle of a broader zoning modernization effort: the city website links both to the current ordinance and to an August 2023 public draft of an updated zoning ordinance, which appears to be a proposal rather than adopted law. Public hearings on rezonings, plats, and development plans go through the Planning Commission, while variances and special exceptions go to the Board of Adjustment.
Last researched June 2026
Zoning Districts in Montgomery, AL
AGR: Agriculture
Agricultural district in the 2023 draft ordinance intended for agricultural land and very low-intensity development.
Allowed uses: Agricultural uses
AGR-RES: Agriculture Residential
Agriculture-residential district in the 2023 draft ordinance intended for a mix of rural residential and agricultural patterns.
Allowed uses: Agricultural uses, Residential uses
RSF-20: Residential Single Family-20
Single-family residential district in the 2023 draft ordinance.
Allowed uses: Single-family residential uses
RSF-12: Residential Single Family-12
Single-family residential district in the 2023 draft ordinance.
Allowed uses: Single-family residential uses
RSF-8.4: Residential Single Family-8.4
Single-family residential district in the 2023 draft ordinance.
Allowed uses: Single-family residential uses
RSF-6: Residential Single Family-6
Single-family residential district in the 2023 draft ordinance.
Allowed uses: Single-family residential uses
RME-8.4
Residential mixed district named in the 2023 draft ordinance.
Allowed uses: Residential uses
RMF-7.2
Residential multifamily district named in the 2023 draft ordinance.
Allowed uses: Multifamily residential uses
RMH-S
Residential manufactured housing district named in the 2023 draft ordinance.
Allowed uses: Manufactured housing residential uses
RMH-P
Residential manufactured housing district named in the 2023 draft ordinance.
Allowed uses: Manufactured housing residential uses
INST-PK-O
Institutional/park/open district named in the 2023 draft ordinance.
Allowed uses: Institutional uses, Park or open space uses
INST-G
Institutional district named in the 2023 draft ordinance.
Allowed uses: Institutional uses
INST-U
Institutional district named in the 2023 draft ordinance.
Allowed uses: Institutional uses
CN
Commercial district named in the 2023 draft ordinance.
Allowed uses: Commercial uses
Qualified Districts
A category of qualified districts appears in the 2023 draft ordinance, with separate standards and conditions.
Allowed uses: As specified by the underlying and qualified district standards
SmartCode Districts
Form-based or SmartCode districts are maintained separately by the city and referenced on the zoning ordinance page.
Allowed uses: As allowed by the SmartCode
PD: Planned Development
Planned development district in the 2023 draft ordinance intended for customized development standards.
Allowed uses: As approved through planned development standards
Recent Zoning Changes
Montgomery's code platform states that the Code of Ordinances is codified through Ordinance No. 62-2025, enacted December 16, 2025, and updated online March 17, 2026. Separate 2026 uncodified ordinances shown in the code materials relate to technical and fire code amendments, not clearly to zoning. The city is also working on a new zoning ordinance and subdivision regulation rewrite; the August 2023 document is labeled a public draft, so it should be treated as proposed/under review rather than current adopted zoning law based on the supplied materials.
Overlay Districts in Montgomery, AL
Floodplain / 100 Year Flood District
The city participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and regulates development in flood-prone areas through a floodplain development ordinance and floodplain development permit process.
Qualified Districts
The August 2023 draft ordinance includes a category called Qualified Districts with separate applicable standards and conditions.
SmartCode Districts
The city maintains separate SmartCode regulations, which function as a distinct zoning framework for areas rezoned into SmartCode districts.
Montgomery, AL Zoning FAQ
What zoning districts are in Montgomery, AL?
Montgomery, AL includes districts such as AGR: Agriculture, AGR-RES: Agriculture Residential, RSF-20: Residential Single Family-20, RSF-12: Residential Single Family-12, RSF-8.4: Residential Single Family-8.4, RSF-6: Residential Single Family-6, RME-8.4, RMF-7.2.
Are there flood zones or overlay districts in Montgomery, AL?
Floodplain regulation is the clearest environmental development constraint identified in the supplied Montgomery sources. The draft ordinance also indicates riparian buffer standards and flood damage prevention standards, but the detailed operative rules were not included in the source excerpt.
Have there been recent zoning changes in Montgomery, AL?
Montgomery's code platform states that the Code of Ordinances is codified through Ordinance No. 62-2025, enacted December 16, 2025, and updated online March 17, 2026. Separate 2026 uncodified ordinances shown in the code materials relate to technical and fire code amendments, not clearly to zoning.
Common questions about Montgomery, AL zoning
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Deal-fit, approval path & risk flags for Montgomery, AL
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- Montgomery, AL Updated Zoning Ordinance - Public Draft August 2023 — Provided the clearest list of proposed district types, review bodies, and article structure for use, dimensional, parking, site development, flood, and nonconformity topics; treated as draft/under review, not adopted law.
- Zoning Ordinance, SmartCode, & Subdivision Regulations | City of Montgomery, AL — Confirmed the city maintains current zoning ordinance, SmartCode, subdivision regulations, and is actively reconstructing the zoning ordinance and subdivision regulations.
- Code of Ordinances | Montgomery, AL | Municode Library — Confirmed code codification date, online update timing, and adopted but uncodified 2026 ordinances; useful for freshness and recent changes context.
- Planning Commission | City of Montgomery, AL — Provided official Planning Commission role, hearing subjects, and meeting schedule.
- Board of Adjustment | City of Montgomery, AL — Provided official Board of Adjustment role and hearing schedule for variances and special exceptions.
- Flood Mitigation and Determination | City of Montgomery, AL — Provided official city floodplain program information, NFIP participation, floodplain permit links, and updated floodplain development ordinance reference.
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center | Welcome! — Confirmed FEMA MSC as the official source for determining flood hazard mapping applicability.
This summary is AI-generated from public municipal sources and is not legal, engineering, or land-use advice. Always verify zoning with Montgomery, AL officials before making decisions.