Division 2.5: Measurements and Allowances

§ 39.02.023 Measurements.

Table 39.02.023-1, Measurements, below, provides the method of measurement for the developmental standards in this UDC. Standards related to each type of measurement in this Section are established in the tables in Division 2.2, Zoning Districts and Standards.

Table 39.02.023-1 Measurements
Measurement	Methodology	Illustration
Minimum Common Open Space	The minimum common open space required by each district is calculated by dividing the total amount of common open space on the parcel proposed for development (A) by the total gross area of the entire parcel proposed for development (B) as depicted on a Preliminary Plat. To be counted toward the minimum open space requirements, subject land shall conform to applicable standards in Section 39.04.015, Open Space Standards and Dedication
Lot Coverage	The area of a parcel occupied by permanently anchored primary and/or accessory buildings.
Floor Area Ratio	The gross floor area of all buildings on a lot, divided by the lot area.
Gross Density	The number of dwelling units divided by gross acres, with gross acres being the site area minus the area of open space.
Gross Floor Area	The total area of all the floors of a building, including intermediately floored tiers, mezzanines, etc., as measured from the exterior surfaces of the outside walls of the building.
Height	Buildings: The vertical distance from the grade level of that portion of a parcel covered by the building to the highest point of the coping of a flat roof, or the deck line of a mansard roof, or to the average height between eaves and the ridge of a gable, hip or gambrel roof.

	Walls or Fences: The vertical distance from the grade level of that portion of a parcel immediately abutting a wall or fence to the highest point of the wall or fence.
Lot Area	The total horizontal area included within property lines.
Lot Width	For an interior parcel, the horizontal distance between the side property lines, measured at the required front setback line. For a cul-de-sac parcel, the horizontal distance between the side property lines measured at the front setback line.
Setback	The horizontal distance of a required private op en area at grade between the outer wall (or exterior finish) of a building or structure and the adjoining property lines, or, in the case of an abutting private street, the back-of-curb, unoccupied and unobstructed by any portion of a structure from the ground upward. The front and side setback lines span the entire width of the property. The interior side and side street setback lines extend from the required front setback line to the required rear setback line.
Visibility Triangle	A triangular area that includes that portion of public right-of-way and any private property within a triangle formed by a diagonal line extending through points on the two property lines 25 feet from the street corner intersection of the property lines in all districts except for the MU districts. In the MU districts, the lines extend 10 feet from the back of curb. The vertical dimensions of this triangle are a minimum of 12 feet vehicular traveled ways, including alleys, streets and easements, and a minimum of eight feet above sidewalks as established in Section 36.01.005, Maintenance of Sidewalks, Parkways, Alleys, etc. — By Abutting Owner, of the City of Lubbock Code of Ordinances. Objects including, but not limited to, vegetation, driveways, new structures, or signs shall not encroach into the visibility triangle except as specifically allowed in this UDC. Shrubs and fences may encroach when their overall height does not exceed 3 feet.
Frontage Buildout	The minimum percentage of the lot width which must be occupied by building facade within the Build-To-Zone. For example, a property which is 100 feet wide with a Frontage Buildout of 60% would require that at least 60 feet of facade length be maintained in the Build-to-Zone. Any additional length of front facade would be allowed to step back further from the Build-to-Zone, if desired. The intent of this requirement is to encourage developments to maximize their front facade exposure along the Street.
Block Perimeter	The sum of the lengths of the lot lines bordering the public right-of-way, not including the alley.

(Ordinance 2023-O0054 adopted 5/9/2023; Ordinance 2024-O0110 adopted 8/27/2024; Ordinance 2025-O0095 adopted 8/18/2025)

§ 39.02.024 Specific allowances.

Generally.

The provisions of this Section set forth any special cases that warrant flexibility in the developmental standards in this UDC.

Height requirements.

Exemptions. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the height regulations in this UDC do not apply to penthouse or roof structures for the housing of elevators, stairways, tanks, ventilating fans, or similar equipment required to operate and maintain the building, and fire or parapet walls, skylights, towers attached to a building, steeples, flagpoles attached to a building, chimneys, smokestacks, water tanks, silos, grain elevators, or similar structures.

Floor space calculation. No penthouse, roof structure, or any space above the height limit shall be allowed for the purpose of providing additional floor space.

Setback plane. As depicted in Figure 39.02.024-1, Setback Plane, the building height may be increased beyond the maximum permitted if the setbacks from all property lines (with the exception of the front lot line), which abut residentially zoned property, are increased one foot for each one foot of height above the maximum permitted height (Letter "C" in Figure 39.02.024-1).

Figure 39.02.024-1 Setback Plane

Yard requirements.

The yard requirements in this UDC do not apply to the following projections into required yards:

Fire escapes, stairs, and balconies. Unenclosed fire escapes, stairways, and/or balconies, covered or uncovered, shall extend not more than four feet into the required front or rear yard.

Architectural features. Cornices, eaves, canopies, sunshades, gutters, chimneys, flues, belt courses, headers, sills, pilasters, lintels, ornamental features, box windows, or other similar architectural features that do not bear on the foundation shall project not more than two feet into any required yard.

Bay windows and chimneys. Within any residential district, bay windows (with a gross floor area of less than or equal to 12 square feet) shall extend not more than two feet into any required yard.

Garages. Front- and rear-loaded garages shall have a minimum setback of 20 feet, regardless of the required minimum setback for the remainder of the building being less than 20 feet.

Infill compatibility.

Applicability. These infill compatibility standards shall apply to any new development or substantial renovation of an existing use that meets the following requirements:

Not a part of a Planned Development District (PDD) under the previous Zoning Ordinance repealed on the effective date of this UDC;

Meets the applicability standards of this Article;

Is proposed on a lot that is located on a block face where more than 50 percent of the lots are occupied by an existing structure; and

Is served by existing streets.

Contextual front building setbacks.

Notwithstanding the minimum front setback requirements of Division 2.2, Zoning Districts and Standards. the applicant may use a contextual front setback when existing front setbacks differ from the front setback required by the base zoning district. In such circumstances, a contextual front setback may be at a point between the required front setback (as depicted with the letter "A" in Figure 39.02.024-2, Contextual Front Setback, below) and the front setback that exists on the closest developed lots that are adjacent (to the left and right of the subject property) and oriented to the same street as the subject lot (as depicted with the letter "B" in Figure 39.02.024-2). If the subject lot is a corner lot, then the setback may fall at a point between the required setback and front setback that exists on the lot that is adjacent and oriented to the same street as the subject lot.

For example, if a zoning district requires a front setback of 20 feet, but the houses on either side of the infill lot have front setbacks of 10 and 20 feet, then the infill house shall have a front setback between 10 and 20 feet. Conversely, if a zoning district requires a front setback of 20 feet, but the houses on either side of the infill lot have a front setback of 20 and 40 feet, then the infill house shall have a front setback between 20 and 40 feet.

The contextual front setback provisions shall not be used to reduce the setback of a residential garage which is 20 feet on a typical street frontage, including cul-de-sacs.

Figure 39.02.024-2 Contextual Front Setback

Contextual rear setbacks.

Notwithstanding the minimum rear setback requirements of Division 2.2, Zoning Districts and Standards. the applicant may apply a contextual rear setback to the primary structure, when existing rear setbacks differ from the rear setback required by the base zoning district. In such circumstances, a contextual rear setback may be at a point between the required rear setback and the rear setback that exists on the closest developed lots that are adjacent (to the left and right of the subject property) and oriented to the same alley right-of-way or rear facing lot or tract lines (where an alley right-of-way is not present) as the subject lot.

For example, if a zoning district requires a rear setback of 20 feet for the primary structure, but the primary structures on either side of the infill lot have rear setbacks of 10 and 20 feet, then the infill house may have a rear setback between 10 and 20 feet.

The contextual rear setback provisions shall not be used to reduce the required setback of a residential garage which is 20 feet from a typical right-of-way, access easement, or private drive that it fronts with an overhead door or similar oversized opening.

Appearance. Infill development shall be constructed to be generally compatible in appearance with other existing structures on the block that comply with this UDC. This provision shall be satisfied by constructing the proposed building(s) so that at least three of the following features are substantially similar to the majority of other buildings on the same and facing block:

Roof pitch and overhang;

Shape, size, and alignment of windows and doors;

Front porches or porticos;

Exterior building color; or

Location and style of garage or carport.

Decision. Approval of a contextual setback(s) meeting the requirements of this Section shall be at the discretion of the Director of Planning. Refer to Section 39.07.039, Appeal of Administrative Decision.

Lots.

Regardless of the lot area or width, all lots in the SF-2 and MDR districts that existed prior to June 26, 1975, are deemed "conforming" with respect to lot area and lot width if they contain an existing, permanent, permitted residential dwelling. The lot width and area requirements of Section 39.02.004, Base Residential Districts, apply only in the event of a replatting of the property.

(Ordinance 2023-O0054 adopted 5/9/2023; Ordinance 2024-O0110 adopted 8/27/2024; Ordinance 2025-O0095 adopted 8/18/2025)