A.
Residential dimensional standards
Agriculture AG | Estate Residential R-1 | Suburban Residential R-2 | Transition Residential R-3 | Urban Residential R-4 | Multifamily & Amenity R-5 | Hill Country Overlay | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Residential Uses | |||||||
Minimum Front Setback (ft) | 603 | 503 | 253 | 203 | 03/ | 03/ | 403 |
Maximum Front Setback (ft) | NA | NA | NA | NA | 254 | 254 | NA |
Side Yard (Interior Setback; Corner Setback) | 10% lot width max 20; 20 | 10% lot width max 25; 25 | 6; 15 | 10; 15 | 0; 10 | 0; 10 | 20; 25 |
Maximum Side Setback (ft) | NA | NA | NA | NA | 254 | 154 | NA |
Minimum Rear Yard Setback (ft) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 10 | 20 | 25 | 25 |
Minimum Lot Area (sq ft) | 87,120/(2 acres) | 43,560 | 20,000 | 6,900 | 4,5002 | 10,000 | 20,000 |
Maximum Dwelling Units Per Acre (Density), Net (for R-4 and R-5, see Section 3.4.4.E.4) | NA | 1 DUA | 2 DUA | 5 DUA5 | 9 DUA5 | 13 DUA5 | Per district |
Minimum Lot Frontage (ft) | 100 | 75 | 50 | 35 | 35 | 100 | 75 |
Minimum Lot Width (Interior/Corner) (ft) | 200/205 | 100/105 | 65/70 | 35/40 | 35/40 | 100/105 | 100/105 |
Minimum Lot Depth (ft) | 250 | 200 | 110 | 100 | 90 | 90 | 200 |
Maximum Height (primary/accessory) (ft) | 35/451 | 35/25 | 35/25 | 35/25 | 356 | 356 | 35/25 |
Maximum Building Footprint (per building) | 25,000 sf7 8 | ||||||
Maximum Impervious Cover (see Section 7.3.2.C.4 [7.3.2.C.3]) | |||||||
1. | Structures used for agricultural purposes may built to 45 feet, provided they are no closer than one hundred feet (100') from any residential structure on the premises, and they are set back at least one hundred feet (100') or three (3) times their height (whichever is greater) from any residential structure on adjacent property. |
2. | Applicable to townhome development with units on individual lots |
3. | Except as may be subject to the 75' landscape buffer setback required along all major roadways (SH-71, RR 620, Bee Cave Rd, Bee Cave Pkwy, Hamilton Pool Road). |
4. | No more than 30% of the building frontage shall exceed the maximum setback. |
5. | See Section 3.4.4.E, Density Bonus Options for incentives related to maximum density. |
6. | Structures proposing heights in this district that are higher than the Maximum Height may seek to do so by applying for an SUP. See Section 3.5.6. |
7. | Structures proposing footprints larger than the Maximum Building Footprint may seek to do so by applying for an SUP. See Section 3.5.6. |
8. | No amenity use may be larger than 2,500 sf without an SUP under footnote 7 above. |
B.
Non-residential and mixed-use dimensional standards.
Neighborhood Mixed-Use (MU-N) | Community Mixed-Use (MU-C) | Town Center Mixed-Use (MU-TC) | Regional Commercial (C-3) | Medium Commercial (C-2) | Neighborhood Commercial (C-1) | Public (P) | Hill Country Overlay | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Non-Residential Uses | ||||||||
Minimum Front Setback/Maximum Front Setback (ft) | 101,3/NA | 101,3/NA | NA3/52 | 253/NA | 253/NA | 503/NA | Same as most restrictive abutting non-residential district along the same street frontage | 503/NA |
Side Yard (Interior Setback; Corner Setback)/Maximum Side Setback) (ft) | 10; 10/NA | 10; 10/NA | 10; NA/0 | 25; 25/NA | 25; 25/NA | 25; 50/NA | 25; 50/NA | |
Rear Yard Setback (ft) | 10 | 10 | NA | 25 | 25 | 25 | Per Zoning | |
Minimum Lot Area (sq ft) or Maximum Dwelling Units Per Acre (Density), Net | 10,000/13 DUA | 10,000/20 DUA4 | NA/24 DUA4 | 10,000/NA | 10,000/NA | 10,000/NA | 10,000/NA | Per Zoning |
Minimum Lot Frontage | 355 | 705 | NA | 705 | 705 | 705 | 705 | Per Zoning |
Minimum Lot Width (Interior/Corner) (ft) | 35/40 | 80/85 | NA | 80/85 | 80/85 | 80/85 | 80/85 | 80/85 |
Minimum Lot Depth (ft) | 45 | 80 | NA | 110 | 110 | 110 | 110 | 110 |
Maximum Height (ft) | 306 | 306 | 256 | 306 | 306 | 256 | 40 | 35 |
Maximum Building Footprint (per building) | 35,0007 | 35,0007 | 35,0007 | 50,0007 | 35,0007 | 15,0007 | NA | 15,000 |
Maximum Impervious Cover (see Section 7.3.2.C.4 [7.3.2.C.3]) | ||||||||
1. | Buildings adjacent to R-1 — R-4 districts with units fronting on the same street shall match the minimum front setback of the adjacent district. |
2. | A maximum of 30% of the building frontage may exceed the maximum setback. |
3. | Except as may be subject to the 75' landscape buffer setback required along all major roadways (SH-71, RR 620, Bee Cave Rd, Bee Cave Pkwy, Hamilton Pool Road). |
4. | See Section 3.4.4.E, Density Bonus Options for incentives related to maximum density. |
5. | 150 feet is required on State controlled highway. May be reduced to 75 feet with cross access easement to adjacent properties. |
6. | Structures proposing heights in this district that are higher than the Maximum Height may seek to do so by applying for an SUP. See Section 3.5.6. |
7. | Structures proposing footprints larger than the Maximum Building Footprint may seek to do so by applying for an SUP. See Section 3.5.6. |
C.
Minimum requirements.
1.
All uses established and all structures erected hereafter shall be located on a lot that conforms to the minimum lot area and width required for the district in which the use or structure is located.
2.
Where a tract of land has been partitioned or divided into a separate tract, either through recorded deeds prior to the effective date of this UDC or through a recorded subdivision, and such tract does not conform to the minimum lot width or area requirements of this chapter, such tract may be used for any use permitted in the zoning district, provided that all other requirements are met and that a recorded subdivision is filed for the tract.
D.
Required setbacks and yards.
3.
If the right-of-way width is increased, the yards abutting the right-of-way may be reduced by the same depth and the property owner is not required to comply with the requirements of this subsection unless the property is subsequently replatted.
4.
Where a lot, or portion of a lot is used for a permitted use without a structure (e. g. farmer's market, dog park, playground), the required yards shall be provided and maintained as if the use were conducted within a structure.
E.
Separation of structures. When more than one building is located on the property (e.g., townhomes, accessory structures, accessory dwelling units), the minimum separation between noncontiguous, adjacent structures shall have a separation of at least ten feet (10'), or as required by Fire Code, whichever is greater.
F.
Illustrations of dimensional regulations. See Definitions.
G.
Rules for interpreting dimensional standards.
1.
Side yard on a corner lot.
(ii)
Every part of a required side yard shall be open and unobstructed except for those listed in Section 3.4.1.I.
(iii)
Where a future public right-of-way line has been established for future widening or opening of a street or thoroughfare, upon which a lot abuts, then the front, side, or rear yard shall be measured from the future right-of-way line.
2.
Calculation of height.
(i)
Grade. The lowest horizontal elevation of the finished surface of the ground, paving, or sidewalk abutting the building.
(ii)
Height. The height of the building shall be measured from the midpoint of the highest and lowest grade adjacent to the building, to the highest point of the coping of a flat roof, deck line of a mansard roof, or the height of the highest gable on a pitched or hipped roof.
3.
Special height regulations.
(i)
Cooling towers may extend for an additional height not to exceed fifty feet (50') above the average Grade of the building as determined by dividing the difference between the highest and lowest grade at the intersection of the building envelope by two (2).
(ii)
Mechanical or artificial features such as flagpoles, water stand pipes and tanks, elevator shafts or penthouses, steeples, domes, spires; school buildings, and institutional buildings may be erected to exceed the height limit, as specified in the particular zoning district, provided that one of the following compensating measures are instituted:
(1)
One (1) additional foot is added to the setbacks of the mechanical or artificial feature for each foot of height the feature exceeds the maximum height of the district; or
(2)
One (1) additional foot is added to the width and depth of front, side, and rear yards for each foot that such structures exceed the district height limit.
H.
Exceptions, adjustments and alternative compliance.
1.
Adjustments for zero lot line residential formats.
(i)
Patio homes (aka garden homes).
(1)
Patio Homes allow for detached residential homes with small yards and minimal setbacks, providing ease of property maintenance without shared walls.
(2)
In patio home developments, the interior side yard setback regulations in subsection 3.4.1.A do not apply to both side yards of the associated residential lots within it; rather, the patio homes must maintain the required side yard setback on one side only and may reduce the opposing side to as few as zero feet.
(3)
The setback exemption may not be applied if the lot adjacent to the zero foot setback side of the patio home lot is not also a patio home lot.
(4)
Separation between buildings shall be no less than ten (10) feet.
(5)
The wall of the dwelling located on the lot line shall have doors.
(6)
All lots adjacent to the zero foot setback side of a patio home lot must provide a five (5) foot wide maintenance and drainage easement to the benefit of the adjacent lot. In order for a patio home lot to be developed it must be the grantee of the easement described in this subsection 3.4.1.H.1(i).
(ii)
Townhomes on separate lots.
(1)
This section addresses townhomes where multiple units are adjoined across property lines. This section does not apply to multiple townhomes located within a single lot.
(3)
Minimum lot frontage shall be twenty (20) feet for interior lots and thirty (30) feet for corner lots when garages and parking are accessed from an alley rather than the street on which the property fronts.
(4)
Individual townhomes constructed on a single lot within a condominium development are subject to the same setbacks as the underlying district.
(5)
These setbacks shall be applied to the lot as measured from the property line to any building and to each building (or row) of townhomes as measured outward from the outward most projection of each exterior building face.
2.
Adjustments due to insufficient minimum buildable space.
(i)
The Planning Director may reduce setback limits required by subsection 3.4.1.A and buffer zones required in Article 5 for any lot of two (2) acres or less zoned CR or MU that was platted or described by metes and bounds prior to August 29, 2000, or the recombination of lots platted or described by metes and bounds prior to August 29, 2000 that results in a new lot of two (2) acres or less.
(ii)
To qualify for a reduction, the resulting setbacks or buffer area for the lot or tract must be so onerous that they reduce the buildable area of the lot or tract of land to less than the percentage of impervious cover that is that is permissible pursuant to Article 7 of this UDC, or the total area of the applicable setbacks and buffers is great than fifty percent (50%) of the total area of the lor or tract of land.
(iii)
In determining the amount of adjustment, the Planning Director shall adjust rear setbacks first unless the lot adjoins a residential zoning district, then side yard setbacks shall be adjusted unless adjoining a residential zoning district, then front yard and buffer zones shall be adjusted.
(iv)
Setbacks adjoining residential zoning districts shall be adjusted only if adjustments to other setbacks do not provide the lot or tract with the minimum buildable area.
I.
Permitted setback encroachments
1.
The following obstructions are permitted in any required setback except within a Sight Distance Zone (see Section 6.4):
(i)
Awnings and canopies attached to a principal building located at least eight (8) feet above the walkway or driveway.
(ii)
Flagpoles, fountains, sculptures, plant boxes, and other similar ornamental objects may encroach up to five feet (5').
(iii)
Air-conditioning compressors and similar equipment are permitted in the side yard.
(iv)
Air-conditioning window units that do not project more than eighteen (18) inches.
(v)
Architectural entrance structure or monument sign on a lot not less than one (1) acre in area or at an entrance roadway into a Subdivision containing fifty (50) or more lots.
(vi)
Bay windows, projecting not more than three (3) feet, but not within five (5) feet of a side lot line.
(vii)
Attached chimneys that project no more than twenty-four (24) inches from the principal structure.
(viii)
Eaves or gutters projecting 18 inches or less.
(ix)
Open entrances, stoops, porches, when not covered, may project not more than ten feet from a principal building, but not more than eighteen (18) inches above grade.
(x)
Ornamental light standards.
(xii)
Sills, belt courses, cornices, and ornamental features of a principal building, projecting not more than twelve (12) inches.
(xiii)
Steps, four (4) feet or less above grade, that are necessary for access to a permitted building or for access to a lot from a street or sidewalk. Stairs are permitted in side or rear setbacks.
(xiv)
In a required side or rear setback in the AG, R-1, R-2 and R-3 zoning districts, a permanent swimming pool, spa or hot tub, and comparable flatwork and occupiable below ground structures provided they are located at least five (5) feet from the rear property line. The required side and rear setbacks apply to any accompany [accompanying] structures, such as trellises or other shade structures. The required side and rear setbacks apply to permanent swimming pools, spas or hot tubs, and comparable flatwork and occupiable below ground structures in any other zoning districts.
2.
Except on corner lots, in any required side or rear yard, the following additional obstructions are permitted, subject to the same restrictions as to Sight Distance Zone (see Section 6.4):
(i)
Central air-conditioning units, heat pumps, rainwater collection equipment & storage, but not more than four (4) feet from the principal structure, and provided the unit is properly screened.
(ii)
Balconies, but not projecting more than forty-two (42) inches.
(iii)
Open off-street parking spaces and loading spaces.
(iv)
Arbors, trellises, and playground equipment in residential districts only.
(v)
One-story detached garages for single-family residences, non-commercial workshops, sheds and storage buildings for garden equipment and household items accessory to a principal dwelling or dwelling units, and structures customarily incidental to the pursuit of agriculture, provided they are more than ten (10) feet from a principal structure but not closer than three feet to any lot line.
(vi)
Satellite dishes.
(Ordinance 475 adopted 6/28/22; Ordinance 540 adopted 8/27/2024)

















































