Single-Family Development Regulations: FAQ

WHAT KINDS OF STRUCTURES ARE SUBJECT TO THESE NEW REGULATIONS?

These new standards apply to single-family and similar residential construction and additions, including bed and breakfast uses.

The regulations apply to the following residential structures
• Single-family
• Small-lot single-family
• Single-family attached
• Duplex
• Two-family
• Secondary apartment special use (neighborhood planning tool)
• Urban home special use (neighborhood planning tool)
• Cottage lot special use (neighborhood planning tool)

IS THERE A SQUARE FOOTAGE LIMIT UNDER THE NEW REGULATIONS?

Yes.

Square footage on a property is limited to the GREATER of

• 0.4 to 1 floor-to-area ratio (FAR); or
• 2,300 square feet.

If you are building or remodeling a two-family or secondary apartment structure, the size limitation is applied to the combined square footage of the principal structure and the structure containing the second dwelling unit. For a duplex, the size limitation applies to the combined square footage of both units.

HOW DOES THE CITY MEASURE SQUARE FOOTAGE?

Square footage (gross floor area) is measured as the total enclosed area of all floors in a building with a clear height of more than six feet, measured to the outside surface of the exterior walls, plus the square footage of any second and third story covered porches. Garages, parking facilities, atria airspace, unenclosed porches on the first floor, and basements under certain circumstances do not count in your square footage measurement under the interim regulations.

The new regulations ALSO prescribe other provisions that explain how square footage must be calculated for
• Second and third story covered porches (included in your square footage)
• Basements meeting certain criteria (excluded in your square footage)
• Garages and other parking areas (included after a certain amount)
• Areas with ceiling heights of greater than 15 feet (included by counting the square footage twice)
• Mezzanines and lofts (included)
• Habitable attic spaces meeting certain criteria (excluded)

Please refer to Subchapter F in Section 25-2, Land Development Code for more details.

WHAT IS FLOOR-TO-AREA RATIO (FAR)?

FAR measures the square footage of a building relative to the amount of land on which it sits .

The City of Austin defines FAR as the ratio of the gross floor area (total square footage of building) to the gross site area (total square footage of lot).

For example, if a home is 4,000 square feet in size and the size of the lot is 10,000 square feet, the FAR is 4,000 dived by 10,000, which is equal to 0.40.

To figure out what a FAR of 0.4 means for your lot, simply take your lot size and multiply by 0.4.

Other examples:

IS THERE ANY KIND OF WAIVER PROCESS FROM THE NEW REGULATIONS

The Council has appointed a new Residential Design & Compatibility Commission (RDCC), comprised of local citizens, including residential design professionals. This commission can grant certain modifications to the new regulations. For more information, please refer to the Land Development Code, Section 25-2, Subchapter F.

To apply for a modification(s), please contact the Residential Review Division of the Planning and Development Review Department (PDR), located on the 2nd floor of One Texas Center (505 Barton Springs Road), 974.2380.

WHO CAN I CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION?

If you have questions about the new regulations, existing site development standards, applying for a building permit, or applying for a modification from the new standards, please call the Residential Review division of the Planning and Development Review Department (PDR) at 974.2380. To visit with a residential reviewer on a first-come, first-serve basis, their walk-in hours are from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m.