A Survey of Texas Zoning Reform

Ahead of a discussion on zoning in the Dallas city council, an article by Leah Waters in the Dallas Morning News outlines current and historic zoning reforms taking place in cities across Texas.

In Houston, the reduction of the minimum lot size to 3,500 square feet from 5,000 square feet in 1998 “spurred housing development dramatically,” leading to the construction of over 34,000 townhomes between 2007 and 2020.

Austin loosened zoning rules last December to allow denser development, but neighborhoods can opt out by forming homeowners’ associations.

At the state level, the Texas legislature passed a bill last fall that streamlines the permitting process, but failed to pass another bill that would have limited cities’ control over minimum lot sizes. “A bill that would have allowed by-right development of accessory dwelling units in backyards of single-family homes failed to pass by one vote in the Texas House.”