The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning. Terms not defined in this section shall have the meaning customarily assigned to them.
A building or structure, the activity or function of which is clearly integral to, or customarily incidental and subordinate to, the permitted use of the main or principal building/structure on the same lot, such as an air-conditioning and heating unit; cabana; carport; domestic quarters; a wall used as a front-yard fence; garage; greenhouse; guesthouse; sports court; swimming pool; tool shed; wood shed; workshop; and the like. This definition does not include propane tanks. (See also the definition of structure in this section).
Any change, addition or modification in construction, any change in the structural members of a building, such as walls or partitions, columns, beams or girders, the consummated act of which may be referred to herein as “altered” or “reconstructed.”
Having the approval of the city inspector as the result of an investigation and tests conducted by him or by reason of accepted principles or tests by national authorities, technical or scientific organizations; or having the approval of the appropriate enforcement official of the city as being in compliance with the standards and requirements of any code or ordinance of the city which applies specifically to the item in question; or other customary approvals reserved to the city by state law or city ordinance.
Any structure, either temporary or permanent, having a roof or other covering, and designed or used for the shelter or enclosure of any person, animal or property of any kind, including tents, awnings or vehicles situated on private property and used for purposes of a building.
A line formed by the face of the building, and for the purposes of this article, a front building line is the same as a front setback line.
Issued by the city to the contractor for successful completion of work proposed and submitted all necessary document as required by the city.
A certificate issued by the city inspector upon the satisfactory completion of operations authorized by the city’s building permit.
The city official, also referred to as the building inspector, appointed by the city council with the duty of processing all building permit applications, including inspections of construction, the duty of sanitary inspection in accordance with article 18.03, division 3, and such other duties as may be assigned.
Any building or structure used or designed to be used, in whole or in part, for retail or wholesale business, industrial, manufacturing, storage, religious, educational, amusement or entertainment, health, professional, scientific, office or other business purposes. Nonresidential buildings include “commercial buildings.”
The zoning and planning commission of the city.
Any clearing of land, excavation, or other action that would adversely affect the natural environment of the site but does not include uses in securing survey or geological data including necessary borings to ascertain subsurface conditions.
An architect, landscape architect or interior designer registered with the state.
To ruin the structure or condition of a thing; to demolish or injure beyond the possibility of its intended use or purpose.
Any building or any portion thereof which is not an “apartment house,” or “lodginghouse,” which contains one or more “dwelling units” or “guestrooms,” used, intended, or designed to be built, used, rented, leased, let, or hired out to be occupied, or which are occupied for living purposes.
A single unit providing complete, independent living facilities for one or more persons including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation.
A continuously joined structure which is constructed so as not to have any openings, holes or gaps larger than four inches in any dimension except for doors and gates, including but not limited to fences, walls, buildings, or similar constructions.
Professional engineer licensed with the state.
Built, constructed, altered, reconstructed, poured, laid, moved upon or any physical operations on the premises which are required for construction. Excavation, site clearance, land fill and the like shall be considered a part of erection.
The process by which the ground surface is worn away by the action of wind or water and material therefrom is carried, or is likely to be carried, across any property line in significant quantities.
Any breaking of ground, digging, scooping or other method of removing earth materials, except common household gardening and ground care.
An individual, or two or more persons related by blood, marriage, or adoption, or a group not to exceed three persons not all related by blood, marriage, or adoption, occupying the premises and living as a single, nonprofit housekeeping unit.
An artificially constructed barrier of any material or combination of materials erected to enclose, screen or separate areas. This term does not include retaining walls.
Any depositing or stockpiling of earth materials.
The sum of the horizontal areas of each story of the building measured from the exterior faces of the exterior structural walls for the purpose of computing the minimum allowable floor area in a structure. The floor area measurement is inclusive of outdoor areas covered by a roof projection attached to the main structure and is exclusive of areas of basements, unfinished attics, attached garages, breezeways and enclosed porches.
An accessory building for parking or storage of not more than that number of vehicles as may be required in connection with the permitted use of the principal building.
A ground elevation established for the purpose of regulating the number of stories and the height of the building. The ground grade shall be the level of the ground adjacent to the walls of the building if the natural grade is level. If the ground is not entirely level, the grade shall be finished ground grade as it existed after construction, excavation or grading.
Any act by which soil, rock, or mineral matter is cut into, dug, quarried, uncovered, removed, displaced or relocated and includes the removal of vegetative cover, excavation and land balancing.
Any room meeting the requirements of this article for sleeping, living, cooking or eating purposes, excluding such enclosed places as closets, pantries, bath or toilet rooms, connecting corridors, laundries, unfinished attics, foyers, storage spaces, cellars, utility rooms and similar spaces.
The vertical distance measured from the calculated average natural grade (see section 22.03.279) for any separate and distinct structure to the highest point on that structure, excluding any functional roof appurtenances (see section 22.03.279(e)).
Any improvement necessary for a site, besides the construction or erection buildings. Examples of horizontal infrastructure may involve, but are not limited to, roads, sidewalks, utilities, retaining walls over four (4) feet in length and drainage improvements.
Water at a temperature of not less than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
See section 1.01.003.
All territory over which the city now has, or shall hereafter acquire, jurisdiction for the exercise of its police, regulatory and other powers.
The presence, within or contiguous to a dwelling, dwelling unit, roominghouse, rooming unit, or premises, of insects, rodents, vermin, or other pests.
A room used or designed to be used for the preparation of food.
Any quantity of paper, metal, plastic, glass or miscellaneous solid waste which may be classified as trash, debris, rubbish, refuse, garbage or junk not placed in a solid waste container.
A parcel of land occupied, or intended to be occupied, by a main building or a group of such buildings and accessory buildings, or utilized for the principal use and uses accessory thereto, together with such open spaces as are required under the provisions of this article. A lot may or may not be specifically designated as such on public records. Prior to connection of utilities, an unplatted lot must be platted.
The total horizontal area within the lot lines of a lot.
That part or percent of the lot occupied by buildings, including accessory buildings, and other impervious cover.
The horizontal distance between the front and rear lot line measured along the median between the side lot lines.
A building in which is conducted the principal use of the lot upon which it is situated.
The percentage of lot area or tract area which must be maintained in living vegetation.
Is glass having a reflectivity factor of 20 percent or greater.
A structure designed or used for residential occupancy built upon or having a frame or chassis to which wheels may be attached by which it may be moved upon a highway, whether or not such structure actually has, at any given time, such wheels attached, or jacked up or skirted.
The elevation of the natural, existing and undisturbed surface of the ground as indicated on a field topographical survey showing one foot contour lines as determined by a surveyor or engineer registered in this state.
Any structure which does not conform to the provisions of this article but which was lawfully erected prior to December 9, 1992.
The following shall be defined as nuisances:
Any public nuisance known at common law or in equity.
Any attractive nuisance which may prove detrimental to children whether in a building, on the premises of a building or upon an occupied lot. This includes, but is not limited to, any abandoned wells, shafts, cellars, basements or excavations, abandoned refrigerators and motor vehicles, or lumber, trash, fences, debris, or vegetation which may prove a hazard for inquisitive minors.
Whatever is dangerous to human life or is detrimental to health.
Overcrowding or occupancy in violation of this article.
Insufficient ventilation or illumination.
Inadequate or unsanitary sewerage or plumbing facilities.
Uncleanliness.
Whatever renders air, food or drink unwholesome or detrimental to the health of human beings.
Divergence of runoff to other private or public property.
A facility other than for single-family dwellings providing vehicular parking spaces along with adequate drives and aisles, for maneuvering, so as to provide access for entrance and exit for the parking of more than three vehicles.
Any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, tenant in partnership, joint tenant or tenant by the entirety of the whole or a part of a structure, building or land.
An area of definite length and width; such area shall be exclusive of drives, aisles or entrances giving access thereto, and shall be fully accessible for the storage or parking of permitted vehicles.
The term as defined by Texas Local Government Code chapter 245, as may be amended.
An individual, proprietorship, partnership, joint venture, private or public corporation, association, firm, public service company, cooperative, political subdivision, municipal corporation, government agency, public utility district, or any other entity, public or private, however organized.
Every species of property, except real property as defined in this section.
A preconstructed or used building or other used structure is defined as a building 50 percent of the square feet of which, excluding porches, garages, or carport, consists of preexisting structural or used components.
Includes, but is not limited to, the following locations owned by persons: structures, yards, grounds, driveways, entranceways, passageways, parking areas, working areas, storage areas, vacant lots and recreation facilities.
Any swimming pool, wading pool or soaking-hot tub, situated on any premises as an appurtenance to a dwelling for the use of the residents or guests of the residents of such dwelling.
Real and personal property.
Any swimming or wading pool owned or operated by the city, county, state, United States, or any public agency; or
Any privately owned swimming pool, wading pool or soaking-hot tub serving a private club, motel, hotel, apartment building, duplex, or other similar structure or organization, the use of which is limited to members or residents and their guests.
Includes, but is not limited to, the following locations: structures, streets, street medians, roads, road medians, catchbasins, sidewalks, strips between streets and sidewalks, lanes, alleys, public rights-of-way, public parking lots, schoolgrounds, municipal vacant lots, and municipal waterways.
Lands, tenements and hereditaments.
The reconstruction, renovation or renewal of any part of an existing building for the purpose of its maintenance. Such term shall not apply to any change or construction, alteration, or additions to a building other than for the purpose of reconstruction, renovation or renewal.
That portion of a highway improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel. Roadway includes “street.”
All combustible and noncombustible waste, except garbage.
The distance required to obtain the front, side or rear yard open space provisions of this article or other ordinances.
See section 1.01.003.
Includes building location; building sizes; architectural character; parking plan; lighting plan; landscape plan; traffic flow plan; impervious cover; tree survey; signage; stormwater drainage; sedimentation and filtration plan; effluent disposal system; fire flow (in gallons per minute); and site disturbance.
Any city-approved metal, heavy-duty paper or plastic receptacles used for the disposal and storage of solid waste, including litter, rubbish and garbage.
Construction is deemed to have commenced once forms for the slab have been installed, per city-approved plans.
See section 22.03.046.
Anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires location on or in the ground or attachment to something having location on the ground.
No inspections have been completed and minimal progress has been made to reach the next inspection requirement, as determined by the building official, within 180 days from the last required inspection.
Any artificial structure or excavation, either indoors or outdoors, used or suitable to be used for bathing or swimming purposes, together with buildings, equipment and appurtenances used in connection therewith.
A container utilized for portable moving and self-storage, including containers commonly known as PODS®, U-PACK Moving®, Mobile Mini®, and Smart Box®. This term does not include roll-off containers.
A use or building permitted by the city to exist during periods of construction of the main building or for special events.
An analysis of the impact a proposed development may have on the adjacent roadway network. A traffic impact analysis will be required if the peak hour trips exceed 200 vehicles. City of Austin submittal requirements as outlined in section 2 of the Transportation Criteria Manual shall be followed.
Any vehicle designed, used or so constructed as to permit its being used as a conveyance upon the public streets or highways and duly licensable as such, and constructed in such a manner as will permit occupancy thereof as a dwelling or sleeping place for one or more persons.
A conductor of electrical energy or water or gas, or communication service and associated facilities including telephone transmission or distribution lines.
Any applicable state, national, or International Building Code to the extent adopted by the city.
A structure which has been previously used as a building at a different site.
A form of approval granted by the board of adjustment (BOA) or city council to modify the literal application of regulations, or waiving all or certain provisions of this code. It is an adjustment in the application of the specific regulations to a particular parcel of property which is necessary to prevent the property from being deprived of certain rights and privileges, because of special conditions or circumstances of hardship peculiar to the particular parcel.
A glazed opening, including glazed doors, which open upon a yard, court or recess from a court, or a vent shaft open and unobstructed to the sky.
Any representation of words, letters, or figures, whether by printing or otherwise.
The open space on the same lot with a main building, unoccupied and unobstructed by structures from the ground upward, except as otherwise provided in this article and as defined herein.
Front yard.
An open space extending the full width of the lot, the depth of which is the minimum horizontal distance between the front lot line and the nearest line of the main building.
Rear yard.
An open space extending the full width of the lot, the depth of which is the minimum horizontal distance between the rear lot line and the nearest line of the main building.
Side yard.
An open space between any building and the side lot line, extending from the front yard to the rear yard, the width of which is the horizontal distance from the nearest point of the main building.
(Ordinance 361 adopted 3/28/18; Ordinance 2020-005 adopted 5/13/20; Ordinance 2024-017 adopted 10/23/2024)