Building height in Albania is strictly regulated by municipal urban plans. Each city sets its own maximum limits depending on the zone, infrastructure, and proximity to protected areas. These limits are measured in either meters or number of floors and are directly tied to local development policies.
Tirana
In the central areas of Tirana, high-rise construction is permitted, but only within pre-approved zones. In designated high-density corridors, buildings can reach up to 24–35 floors, depending on the project type and plot size. Outside the center, most neighborhoods are limited to 5–8 floors, with strict conditions for facade, parking, and green space.
Height restrictions are especially tight near historical zones and older residential blocks. Projects in these areas rarely receive permits above 3–4 floors.
Durrës
In central Durrës, building heights are capped at around 8–10 floors for standard residential and mixed-use buildings. Coastal zones allow higher structures in areas designated for tourism, often up to 12 floors with approval. However, beachfront zones have tighter environmental controls and are more likely to approve 3–5 floor projects.
The city center has limited vertical space due to road layout and historical constraints.
Vlora
In Vlora, construction limits vary between city center, beach area, and the hill zones. Along the coastal promenade, buildings typically range from 5 to 8 floors, with some strategic plots allowing up to 12 floors under tourism or investment incentives.
The old town and residential neighborhoods closer to the hills are generally restricted to 3–4 floors, especially where infrastructure is not adapted to higher density.
Other cities
Smaller cities like Shkodra, Elbasan, and Gjirokastër maintain even stricter limits. In most cases, residential buildings are capped at 4–6 floors, unless located in a newly zoned urban expansion area. Protected towns like Berat and Gjirokastër also have heritage regulations that limit height to preserve architectural character.
The maximum building height in Albania depends entirely on the local zoning plan. Every project must go through an official urban compliance check before being approved.