All accessory buildings shall be constructed to be architecturally consistent with the main building. A building permit is required for all accessory structures and buildings.
(Ordinance 2022-07-18-03 adopted 7/18/22)
(a)
General standards.
(2)
No fences of any type shall be placed on any lot which by reason of high walls, excessive height, etc., will unreasonably obscure the view from a dwelling located or reasonably likely to be located upon an abutting lot. (For this purpose, "abutting lot" includes a lot separated only by a street from an adjacent lot.)
(4)
Wood fences are prohibited on lots abutting a golf course where the wood fence would be visible from the golf course.
(5)
All fences shall be constructed so that all fence runs are finished on both sides of the fence. Stringers shall have pickets on both sides. Fence posts that are placed on the inside of a fence that encloses a yard do not have to be matched on the outside of the fence.
(6)
Masonry supporting structures shall be constructed of rock, brick or stucco and shall be a minimum of fourteen (14) inches by fourteen (14) inches and shall be at least as high as the approved fence height, but will not exceed the approved fence height by more than six (6) inches.
(7)
Masonry supporting structures shall be placed on steel reinforced concrete footings. Such footing shall be placed into virgin soil or solid bearing and shall be at least two (2) inches larger on all sides of the masonry structure and a minimum of eight [(8) inches in depth.]
(8)
Fences located over dedicated utility/drainage easements may have to be removed should access to such easements be required by any authorized utility company or be required to provide adequate drainage from areas of higher elevation. Replacement of fences shall be at the owner's expense.
(9)
For those fenced developments or projects which have keyed or coded access through a gate, the developer or owner shall provide keys or codes to the city police department and a key switch for the Travis County ESD #6 Fire Department.
(10)
Lattice materials may be used for privacy screening (such as the screening of a hot tub, patio or porch) provided they extend no more than twelve (12) feet in length, are no more than eight (8) feet in height. Lattice fences must use panels with a minimum thickness of 3/8 inches. Each lattice panel shall be framed.
(11)
Plans for masonry walls, or any portion thereof, four (4) feet or greater in height shall be signed and sealed by a registered professional engineer or architect. Masonry walls are measured from the base of the footing to the top of the wall. Dry stack walls are measured from the grade under the lowest layer to the top of the wall.
(12)
All fences shall be maintained in good condition.
(13)
All fences, including wood, wrought-iron, and ornamental fencing, shall be continuous flat-topped without spikes or sharp points.
(b)
Subdivision perimeter fencing.
(1)
Subdivision perimeter fencing is fencing that is installed with the development of a subdivision with the intent to provide a uniform border around the perimeter of the subdivision.
(2)
Subdivision perimeter fencing up to six feet in height may be approved administratively. Subdivision perimeter fencing up to eight feet in height may be approved by the code official as a waiver.
(c)
Yard fences.
(1)
Yard fences are those which enclose a yard to provide security and/or to provide privacy.
(2)
Yard fences shall be constructed of wood, wrought iron, masonry or pre-cast concrete.
(3)
Yard fences up to six (6) feet in height may be approved administratively. Yard fences up to eight (8) feet in height may be approved by the code official or authorized designee.
(4)
At least one end of a yard fence shall terminate at the residential unit with which it is associated.
(5)
Yard fences should be located on property lines whenever possible. Yard fences shall not encroach in the street side setbacks. Exceptions:
(6)
Yard fences constructed of wood shall have masonry supporting structures, or supporting structures of an architecturally superior design as approved by the code official, spaced at least every twelve (12) feet along those portions of the fence facing the street or lake beginning with one column at the fence end on the side lot line.
(7)
Areas used for the storage of materials or equipment in nonresidential areas shall be screened from view from the street and all adjoining properties through the use of wood, masonry or pre-cast concrete yard fences.
(8)
Masonry or pre-cast concrete yard fences may be required in nonresidential areas to abate noise.
(d)
Safety railings.
(1)
Exterior wood, rock, or concrete walkways, driveways, retaining walls, pool aprons, or other accessible areas which exceed thirty (30) inches but less than six (6) feet above grade shall have safety railings or plants substantial in size and density to serve the same purpose. Continuing steps or walkways with slopes exceeding fifteen (15) percent shall be provided with safety railing. Safety railing installed within the floodplain must be metal and may have to be removed during flooding situations. This type of safety railing is a rail or obstruction no more than forty-two (42) inches high with one horizontal member located approximately thirty-six (36) inches above grade. Safety railing will not take the place of required handrails or guardrails.
(2)
Exterior wood, rock, or concrete walkways, driveways, retaining walls, pool aprons, or other accessible areas which exceed six (6) feet above grade shall have safety railings which meet the requirements of a guardrail. This type of safety railing shall be a minimum of thirty-six (36) inches in height, with vertical pickets spaced less than four (4) inches, and meet all other code requirements.
(3)
Stormwater detention and water quality ponds holding a water level of twenty-three (23) inches or more shall be protected with a fence for public safety. This fence shall be a minimum of forty-eight (48) inches in height with vertical pickets spaced less than four (4) inches apart and shall be constructed of solid wood, masonry, stone or wrought iron. All fences shall have at least one gate for maintenance access and shall be equipped to accommodate a locking device that will remain locked at all times.
(e)
Guardrails.
(1)
Porches, balconies or raised floor surfaces located more than thirty (30) inches above the floor or grade below shall have guardrails not less than thirty-six (36) inches in height.
(2)
Required guardrails shall be constructed of wrought iron, wood (finished and identical on both sides), steel, or a pre-cast concrete railing system. Materials not approved for guardrails include welded fabric, hog or chicken wire, or similar products. Guardrails shall be constructed in accordance with current code requirements.
(3)
Guardrails do not meet the requirement for pool enclosures.
(Ordinance 2019-08-26-02 adopted 8/26/19; Ordinance 2024-04-15-05 adopted 4/15/2024; Ordinance 2024-05-20-01 adopted 5/20/2024; Ordinance 2024-10-21-03 adopted 10/21/2024; Ordinance 2025-06-16-02 adopted 6/16/2025)
(a)
Generally.
Decks exceeding 200 square feet in area, not attached to the main home or constructed more than 30-inches above the natural grade require a permit.
(b)
Screening of open area beneath decks.
(1)
The open area beneath decks (two (2) feet or more) shall be screened from view. To be consistent with defensible space requirements and house hardening to manage wildfire risk, non-combustible screening with a maximum of 1/8" gaps is recommended, either as the sole screening or in conjunction with fire-resistant vegetative screening or decorative screening such as lattice.
(2)
Exceptions: If a deck is a second-story deck.
(c)
Concrete patios and decks.
The exterior face (2' or more) of a concrete deck or patio shall be architecturally consistent with the main structure, using the same exterior materials (if applicable).
(Ordinance 2019-08-26-02 adopted 8/26/19; Ordinance 2025-07-21-01 adopted 7/21/2025)
(a)
Location.
(1)
Gazebos, playhouses, trampolines and playscapes may not be located within any building setback, public utility easement or drainage easement and must be located at least ten (10) feet from any property line.
(2)
Basketball goals must be located at least twenty-five (25) feet from the hard surface of the street and at least fifteen (15) feet from the nearest structure on an adjoining property.
(Ordinance 2019-08-26-02 adopted 8/26/19)
(a)
Permit required.
A permit is required to construct, reconstruct, replace, or install a boat dock within the city. (In this case, “boat dock” includes swim docks.) In approving a permit, the code official or authorized designee shall consider the level of boating traffic in the area, the impact on the rights and privileges of adjacent property owners, possible interference with the ingress and egress of adjacent properties, and the health and safety of the general public.
(b)
Location.
(1)
Anchors, docks and ramps must be located within the area formed by extending the side property lines into the lake, or, where property ownership extends into the water, the boat dock must be located over the boat dock owner’s property only.
(2)
Boat docks shall be positioned so that marine vehicle access to the slips can be gained without intruding in front of the adjoining lots.
(3)
Reasonable ingress and egress shall be provided between all docks sufficient to preserve each private property owner’s rights of ingress and egress to enter or exit the lake.
(4)
Exception: Whenever the mean sea level elevation of Lake Travis is less than 670 feet, the requirements in subsections (1), (2), and (3) above are suspended. Boat docks may be repositioned within the same cove as permitted, as long as permission is obtained from the person owning the property over which the dock is to be located. This does not grant permission to anyone to place a dock over or attached to the property of any other owner without permission. In addition, the repositioned dock may not block access to another dock nor may it adversely affect the health, safety, welfare, or property of others.
(c)
Identification.
(1)
All boat docks shall be identified by the house address number, which will be placed on the dock so that it is visible from the lake. The numbers shall be at least four inches (4") in height and shall be reflective.
(2)
Upon completion, the permit holder shall provide the city with a photograph, taken from the water, of the new dock.
(d)
Additional requirements.
(1)
All covered docks shall have a fire extinguisher attached thereto and be readily accessible. This fire extinguisher shall be separate from extinguishers in boats.
(2)
All docks shall be constructed and maintained as structurally sound and pose no threats to life or property.
(3)
Flexibility of the wiring system shall be maintained between floating structures and the supply conductors. All wiring shall be so installed that motion of the water surface and changes in the water level will not result in unsafe conditions. Connections to electrical service shall be located one (1) foot above the floodplain.
(4)
Encased flotation material shall be used on all new or renovated boat docks. Flotation material shall be kept free of vegetation.
(5)
Boat docks which may pose a hazard to navigation shall install safety lighting. Safety lighting shall adequately define the presence of all structures located on or over the water surface. The dock shall be continuously lighted from sunset to sunrise and during periods of restricted visibility. Lighting shall be located and configured or shielded so as not to present a hazard to navigation.
(6)
Boat docks exceeding 1,499 square feet are required to have additional permits from the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA).
(7)
Boat docks not located on the main channel of the lake shall be no larger than 1,000 square feet.
(Ordinance 2019-08-26-02 adopted 8/26/19)
(a)
Permit required.
A permit is required to construct, reconstruct, or replace an accessory building within the city. In approving a permit, the code official or authorized designee shall ensure the accessory building, such as a casita, guest house, garage apartment, or the like, is wholly incidental to the main structure.
(b)
Location.
In a single-family or multifamily district, an accessory building is a subordinate or incidental building detached from the main building, not used for commercial purposes and not rented. Accessory buildings shall follow the setback requirements of the main structure.
(Ordinance 2022-07-18-03 adopted 7/18/22)
(a)
Accessory structures are not permitted without a main structure.
(b)
Accessory structures may be permitted in residential zoning districts and, except for hangars, shall not exceed the height or half the footprint area of the main structure.
(c)
Accessory buildings may include a combination of living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation but shall not include both a full cooking area and a full bathroom.
(d)
Accessory dwelling units are not permitted.
(e)
Accessory buildings, except for hangars on residential lots, shall not be rented or leased.
(Ordinance 2022-07-18-03 adopted 7/18/22)