In a letter to members on Thursday afternoon, Lions chairman Angus Johnson said Roos had been in touch to confirm the news.
"He contacted me midway through last week and informed me that, due to family reasons, he would be unable to relocate to Brisbane and was therefore ruled out as a candidate," Johnson said in the letter.
While the sought-after Roos had consistently said he wasn't interested in replacing the sacked Michael Voss at the Lions, the former Swans coach had left the door ajar to coaching again in 2014.
Struggling Melbourne have also shown interest in Roos, who continues to work in the media and for the Sydney Swans Academy.
Johnson's position is under pressure with fellow directors Paul Williams and Mick Power leading a rival board ticket, featuring Leigh Matthews, in the aftermath of Voss's controversial axing two weeks ago.
Johnson aimed to clarify again that the entire Lions board was behind the decision not to renew Voss's contract while also welcoming the input of Matthews in the search for a new coach.
Matthews is one of six people on the sub-committee to appoint Voss' replacement.
Johnson stressed he'd tried in the past to have Matthews, who coached the Lions to three premierships, take up a seat on the board.
But he warned that it would now be dangerous to dismantle the current board - cutting adrift himself, Peter McGregor, Cameron Milner and Linda Nash - in favour of the rival ticket.
"I've also had an open invitation for two-and-a-half years to Leigh for him to join the Board given the football expertise and presence he would bring," Johnson said.
"In 2012, the board went as far as amending our club's constitution, in order to facilitate Leigh's appointment as a director.
"However, our club simply can't afford to sacrifice four of the six directors.
"Not when you're a $45 million business and are required to make the tough but right decisions, and not just the popular ones."
