Calculations; deductions and credits.
Houston Code of Ordinances § 42-254
in effectSec. 42-254. - Calculations; deductions and credits.
(a) Initial calculations. The parks director shall determine the amount of land required to be dedicated or fees in lieu of dedication to be paid in accordance with sections 42-252 and 42-253 of this Code and as further provided in this section.
(1) The parks director shall first calculate the amount of park dedication required using the formula contained in subsection (b) of section 42-252 of this Code;
(2) If the owner of the subdivision or development elects to pay a fee in lieu of dedication, or the parks director requires the payment of a fee in lieu of dedication pursuant to section 42-253 of this Code, the parks director shall calculate the fee by multiplying the number of dwelling units in the subdivision or development by the then-current fee established pursuant to section 42-253 of this Code;
(3) If the owner of the subdivision or development elects to satisfy the requirements of this division by a combination of dedication of land and payment of a fee in lieu of dedication, the parks director shall:
a. First, calculate the total park dedication requirement;
b. Second, subtract from the total park dedication requirement the amount of land for parks to be dedicated;
c. Third, calculate a percentage as follows: (remaining park dedication requirement (total park dedication requirement) × 100; and
d. Fourth, apply the resulting percentage to the total fee in lieu of dedication to determine the amount of fee in lieu of dedication that has to be paid. This percentage shall be applied to the then-current fee in lieu of dedication per lot when payment of the fee in lieu of dedication is deferred pursuant to subsection (c) of section 52-252 of this Code to determine the fee per dwelling unit.
(b) Deductions and credits.
(1) The number of dwelling units shall be based on an incremental increase in dwelling units. The parks director shall deduct from the initial calculation pursuant to subsection (b) of section 42-252 of this Code the number of dwelling units that the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the parks director existed prior to the application for the subdivision plat or development plat generating the dedication requirement;
(2) The parks director shall reduce the dedication requirement of section 42-254(a)(1) or the fee in lieu of dedication of section 42-254(a)(2), as applicable, by one or more of the following credits:
a. Up to a maximum of 100 percent of the total requirement credit shall be given for each acre or portion thereof of private park land provided within the subdivision or development generating the dedication requirement that meets the requirement of this part. For example, if the total dedication requirement is 5 acres and the applicant proposes to include 2.1 acres of private park within the subdivision, 2.1 acres will be deducted from the total requirement. Private park land eligible for credit must be centrally located within the development, designed so that it cannot easily be joined into one or more adjacent lots with a fence, legally and practically accessible to all residents of the development, and of a size, shape and configuration so that it is likely to be used by residents of the development as determined in comparison to city park standards. Equipment in a private park shall comply with city standards applicable to the type of equipment. When private park land is also compensating open space, these requirements prevail over any contrary requirements of section 42-182 of this Code.
b. Up to a maximum of 100 percent of the total requirement credit shall be given for each acre or portion thereof of private park land provided within the subdivision generating the dedication requirement attributable to lots that are for the provision of low and moderate income single family housing as determined pursuant to section 47-319(2) of this Code. If credit is given on a subdivision plat for low and moderate income single family housing, the property owner shall certify prior to the issuance of a building permit for the house that the initial purchase price does not exceed the latest available 12-month listing for median price single family housing in the city as published by the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University. In the event the initial purchase price exceeds this amount, the property owner making the certification shall pay to the city the then-current fee in lieu of dedication for a single family dwelling unit. If publication of the median price for single family housing is discontinued by the Real Estate Center at the Texas A&M University, the mayor is authorized to select another publication that lists the median price of single family houses in the city.
c. Up to a maximum of 100 percent of the total requirement credit shall be given for each acre or portion thereof of park land provided as a greenbelt along a creek bed or around the perimeter of the subdivision or development generating the dedication requirement, including improvements to a hike or bike trail that meet city standards.
d. Up to a maximum of 100 percent of the total requirement credit shall be given for each acre or portion thereof of park land that links one or more parks.
(c) Credits are cumulative, but in no case other than as provided in subitems b and d above shall credits given under this section exceed 100 percent.
(Ord. No. 2013-343, § 3(Exh. A), 4-24-2013)
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_ARTIIIPLST_DIV7PAPRPA_S42-254CADECRFetched: 10/26/2026