IN GENERAL

Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 42, art. IV, div. 1

in effect

Houston Code of Ordinances § 42-601 Purpose and applicability.

Sec. 42-601. - Purpose and applicability. (a) This article applies to any person or entity seeking approval for a building permit, certificate of occupancy, or other construction permit or approval required by this Code along a walkable places street or transit-oriented development street when one or more of the following is filed: (1) A development plat; (2) A building permit subject to the code compliance review in section 10-2 of this Code; (3) A sidewalk plan required under article XXII of Chapter 40 of this Code; (4) A landscape plan required under section 33-122 of this Code; (5) A site plan required under section 26-473 of this Code; or (6) A driveway permit. (b) This article establishes standards to facilitate how people interact with the built environment and to implement successful context-sensitive, pedestrian- and bike-friendly development that also accommodates automobiles. (c) This article establishes standards to encourage the development of safe pedestrian and multi-modal transportation routes for new development and certain redevelopment or alterations to structures fronting on all transit-oriented development and walkable places streets. (d) These standards are to establish consistent public realm design and reinforce safe, pleasant walking experiences for pedestrians of all ages and abilities. At a minimum, these standards provide a pedestrian-scale buffer area from vertical surfaces or walls and allows people to interact with or enter/exit buildings with minimal interference with vehicular traffic. (Ord. No. 2020-684, § 2(Exh. A), 8-5-2020)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 42-602 Cumulative effect.

Sec. 42-602. - Cumulative effect. Except as expressly provided, the provisions of this article are cumulative of all other provisions of this Code, and other regulations of the city, including without limitation, the Construction Code, the Fire Code and the design manual, and all applicable state and federal laws and regulations. (Ord. No. 2020-684, § 2(Exh. A), 8-5-2020)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 42-603 Pedestrian realm plan.

Sec. 42-603. - Pedestrian realm plan. (a) An applicant shall submit a pedestrian realm plan to the department prior to obtaining a certificate of occupancy or a building permit, or in conjunction with a development plat required by chapter 42 of this Code. This plan shall: (1) Be accompanied by the non-refundable fee set forth for this provision in the city fee schedule when the plan is not submitted in conjunction with a development plat; (2) Be in the form prescribed by the planning official; and (3) Describe the proposed pedestrian realm, including the locations of existing and proposed sidewalks, pedestrian amenities and improvements, obstructions, utility lines (both above and below ground), roadways, street lights, required street trees, landscape elements, hardscape, softscape, construction details, and other information required by the planning official or the city engineer to determine compliance with this article. (b) Upon receipt of a complete pedestrian realm plan, the planning official shall review the plan to verify compliance with this article. The planning official shall deny in writing any plan that does not comply with the requirements of this article. (c) The building official shall not issue a building permit for the construction of a building or alteration to a building or tract within the city unless the planning official approves the pedestrian realm plan verifying compliance with this article. (Ord. No. 2020-684, § 2(Exh. A), 8-5-2020)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 42-604 Modification of standards, process.

Sec. 42-604. - Modification of standards, process. (a) The planning official, in collaboration with the city engineer, may approve a modification to the standards of section 42-621, 42-651, or 42-653 of this Code. (b) To request approval for a modification, an applicant shall: (1) File an application in the form prescribed by the planning official; (2) Pay the non-refundable fee set forth for this provision in the city fee schedule and all costs associated with the notice provisions of this section; and (3) Provide documentation to support the required findings in subsection (c) of this section. (c) In collaboration with the city engineer, the planning official shall approve the application, with or without conditions, if the following conditions exist: (1) Either: a. The characteristics of existing permitted development, land uses, or other physical conditions within the immediate vicinity of the pedestrian realm create unsafe conditions related to the practical use of the property; or b. The standard creates an impractical design or a development that is otherwise contrary to sound public policy. A modification to the standard would, in the sole professional judgement of the planning official and city engineer, create a more practical or technically feasible alternative. (2) The circumstances supporting the approval are not the result of hardship created or imposed by the applicant; and (3) Approval creates an alternative that furthers the intent and purposes of this article. (d) The planning official shall conduct their review and advise the applicant of a decision or request more information within 30 days from the date a complete application is submitted to the planning official. (Ord. No. 2020-684, § 2(Exh. A), 8-5-2020)

Source: City of Houston, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH42SUDEPL_ARTIVENPEREST_DIV1INGEFetched: 10/26/2026