General Requirements for Building Lines

Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 42, art. III, div. 3, subpt. A

in effect

Houston Code of Ordinances § 42-150 Building line requirement.

Sec. 42-150. - Building line requirement. (a) An improvement that requires a building permit shall not be constructed within the building line requirement established by this chapter. Each subdivision plat and development plat shall show all applicable building lines and the following note: "Unless otherwise indicated, the building lines [b.l.], whether one or more, shown on this subdivision plat are established to evidence compliance with the applicable provisions of Chapter 42, Code of Ordinances, City of Houston, Texas, in effect at the time this plat was approved, which may be amended from time to time." (b) The building line requirements established by this chapter are minimum standards. Where deed restrictions provide for a greater building line or setback, the deed restrictions shall control over the provisions of this chapter. (c) A special minimum building line requirement established pursuant to subdivision B of this division shall control over all other provisions of this chapter relating to building line requirements. (d) The following chart is a summary of certain building line requirements of this chapter and is intended for illustrative purposes only. In case of any conflict between the chart and the text of this chapter, the text shall control. Summary of Minimum Building Line Requirements Type of Street or Private Roadway | Tract Description | Minimum Building Line Requirement All Public Streets | Within the central business district | No requirement Major Thoroughfares | In general | 25 feet Single-family residential backing on a major thoroughfare | 10 feet, if the lot meets the standards of section 42-152(b) Not single-family residential and abutting a major thoroughfare with a planned right-of-way width of 80 feet or less | 15 feet, if the reserve meets the standards of section 42-153(a) Retail commercial center abutting a major thoroughfare with a planned right-of-way width of 80 feet or less | 5 feet, if the reserve meets the standards of section 42-154(a) zero feet, if the reserve meets the standards of section 42-154(b) Single-family residential lots with vehicular access from a flag staff, shared driveway, alley, permanent access easement or courtyard access drive abutting a major thoroughfare with a planned right-of-way width of 80 feet or less | 15 feet, if the development meets the standards of section 42-153(b) Multi-unit residential use abutting a major thoroughfare with a planned right-of-way width of 80 feet or less. | 15 feet, if the multi-unit residential use meets the standards of section 42-237 and 52-153(c) Primary Streets | All tracts | Zero feet and subject to the standards of section 42-164 Secondary Streets | All tracts | See applicable public street classification Zero feet, if the lot or reserve meets the standards of section 42-164 Collector Streets | Not single-family residential and across the street from a single-family residential lot with a platted building line of 10 feet or more | Lesser of 25 feet or the greatest building line on the single-family residential lots Single-family residential | 25 feet, if the lot meets the standards of section 42-156(a) 10 feet, if the lot meets the standards of section 42-157(b) 5 feet, if the lot meets the standards of section 42-157(c) zero feet, if the lot meets the standards of section 42-157(d) Single-family residential lots within a courtyard style development | 5 feet, if the courtyard style development meets the standards of section 42-194 Multi-unit residential reserves | 5 feet, if the multi-unit residential use meets the standards of section 42-237 All others | 10 feet Local streets | Not single-family residential and across the street from a single-family residential lot with a platted building line of 10 feet or more | Lesser of 25 feet or the greatest platted building line on the single-family residential Single-family residential | 20 feet, if the lot meets the standards of section 42-156(b) 10 feet, if the lot meets the standards of section 42-156(b) or section 42-157(b) 5 feet, if the lot meets the standards of section 42-157(c) zero feet, if the lot meets the standards of section 42-157(d) Single-family residential lots within courtyard style development | 5 feet, if the courtyard style development meets the standards of section 42-194 Multi-unit residential reserve | 5 feet, if the multi-unit residential use meets the standards of section 42-237 All others | 10 feet Private Streets | All tracts | 5 feet for habitable structures Type 2 Permanent Access Easements | All tracts | 5 feet Shared Driveways | All tracts | 3 feet, if the lot meets the standards of section 42-159(a) zero feet, if the lot meets the standards of section 42-159(b) (Ord. No. 2013-343, § 3(Exh. A), 4-24-2013; Ord. No. 2015-639, § 21, 6-24-2015, eff. 7-24-2015; Ord. No. 2020-684, § 2(Exh. A), 8-5-2020; Ord. No. 2023-801, § 3(Exh. A), 9-27-2023, eff. 11-27-2023)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 42-151 Exceptions to building line requirement.

Sec. 42-151. - Exceptions to building line requirement. (a) A tract within the central business district shall not be subject to a building line requirement. (b) For a building line requirement of ten feet or greater established by this article, an encroachment shall be permitted as follows: (1) An encroachment of up to 30 inches into the building line requirement shall be permitted for eaves, bay windows, balconies, fireplace chimneys, decorative features, and habitable area if: a. The encroachment is cantilevered into the building line requirement and is not supported by other means; b. The lowest point of the encroachment is at least nine feet higher than the highest point of the building foundation; c. The encroachment for habitable living area for each floor does not have an area greater than 50 percent of the total area of the building façade for that floor; and (2) An encroachment of up to five feet into the building line requirement shall be permitted for open stairways and wheelchair ramps. (c) For a building line requirement less than ten feet established by this article along a collector or local street, an encroachment of up to 30 inches shall be permitted for eaves, bay windows, balconies, fireplace chimneys, decorative features, and habitable living area if: (1) The encroachment is cantilevered into the building line requirement and is not supported by other means; (2) The lowest point of the encroachment is at least nine feet higher than the highest point of the building foundation; (3) The encroachment for habitable living area for each floor does not have an area greater than 50 percent of the total area of the building façade for that floor; and (4) The encroachment is not within ten feet of aboveground utility lines except those individual service lines used to connect the building to the utility lines, as measured horizontally from the point of the encroachment closest to the utility lines. (d) For single family residential lots, lots within courtyard style development in accordance with section 42-194 or MUR tracts in accordance with section 42-237 with a building line requirement of five feet or greater established by this article, an encroachment of the entry feature in accordance with section 42-165 shall be permitted within the building line provided; (1) The vehicular access is via alley, flag staff, shared driveway, permanent access easement, courtyard access drive or private drive. (2) The entry feature encroaches no more than 4 feet into the building line on the first floor if there is adequate room for sidewalks and all utilities with no structures above the entry feature and; (3) The encroachment is not within ten feet of aboveground utility lines except those individual service lines used to connect the building to the utility lines, as measured horizontally from the point of the encroachment closest to the utility lines. [image omitted; see the official code] [image omitted; see the official code] (e) An encroachment of up to 30 inches into the building line requirement along a type 2 permanent access easement established by this article shall be permitted if: (1) The encroachment is cantilevered into the building line requirement and is not supported by other means; and (2) The lowest point of the encroachment is at least nine feet higher than the highest point of the building foundation. (f) Encroachments into the building line requirement along a shared driveway established by this article shall be permitted if: (1) The encroachment is cantilevered into the building line requirement and is not supported by other means; and (2) The lowest point of the encroachment is at least 12 feet higher than the highest point of the shared driveway paving. (g) An encroachment into the building line requirement as provided by this article shall be permitted for any building that has received a certificate of appropriateness issued pursuant to article VII, chapter 33, of this Code, relating to historic preservation, evidencing approval of the encroachment into the building line requirement. (h) An existing building may encroach into the building line requirement established by this article if: (1) The existing building was constructed in accordance with the building line requirement that was in effect at the time the building was constructed; (2) Additional construction on the portion of the existing building that encroaches into the building line requirement does not expand the size, footprint, or any dimension of the encroachment; (3) The portion of the existing building that encroaches into the building line requirement is not reconstructed in a way that replaces the structural elements of the encroachment; or (4) A subdivision plat filed with the department after July 24, 2015, that includes a tract containing the existing building depicts the encroachment as a dual building line and contains a plat notation that requires compliance with the terms of this section. (Ord. No. 2013-343, § 3(Exh. A), 4-24-2013; Ord. No. 2015-639, § 22, 6-24-2015, eff. 7-24-2015; Ord. No. 2023-801, § 3(Exh. A), 9-27-2023, eff. 11-27-2023)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 42-152 Building line requirement along major thoroughfares.

Sec. 42-152. - Building line requirement along major thoroughfares. (a) The portion of a lot or tract that is adjacent to a major thoroughfare shall have a building line requirement of 25 feet unless otherwise authorized by this chapter. (b) A building line requirement of ten feet is authorized for that portion of a single-family residential lot that backs onto a major thoroughfare, provided that the subdivision plat contains a notation that: (1) The area 15 feet behind the building line along the major thoroughfare is restricted to use as a one-story, uninhabited garage; and (2) Vehicular access cannot be taken from the major thoroughfare. [image omitted; see the official code] (Ord. No. 2013-343, § 3(Exhs. A, B), 4-24-2013)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 42-153 Optional performance standards for a major thoroughfare within the city with a planned right-of-way of 80 feet or less—in general

Sec. 42-153. - Optional performance standards for a major thoroughfare within the city with a planned right-of-way of 80 feet or less—in general Except for along a walkable places street or transit-oriented development street, a building line requirement of 15 feet is authorized for a tract in the city that has frontage on a major thoroughfare with a planned right-of-way of 80 feet or less if the applicant submits a subdivision plat that includes plat notations that require compliance with the following performance standards or a development plat that demonstrates compliance with each of the following performance standards, as applicable: [image omitted; see the official code] (a) Uses other than single-family or multi-unit residential, adjacent to a major thoroughfare, may build to a fifteen-foot building line, provided: (1) Any private street or private drive crossing the building line is substantially perpendicular to the adjacent major thoroughfare and the building line; (2) The area within the building line is not used for parking, driveways, or any other auto-related uses such as access to a drive-through window; (3) A clearly defined pedestrian walkway that is separate from any private street or private drive is established providing a connection from the public sidewalk along the major thoroughfare to an entrance to a building or the development; (4) The sidewalk and safety buffer standards of article XXII of chapter 40 of this Code; (5) The height of any building within 15 feet behind the building line is restricted to not more than 75 feet, as measured in accordance with the Building Code; (6) Trees that are within 25 feet of the property line adjacent to the major thoroughfare are protected as corridor trees pursuant to article V of chapter 33 of this Code; (7) The building line conforms to the visibility triangle required by section 42-161 of this Code at the intersection of a major thoroughfare and any other street; (8) For any property used for nonresidential purposes, the maximum height of any fence, wall, berm, or combination thereof within the building line is 36 inches in height measured from mean grade; (9) For multi-family residential uses, any fence, wall, berm, or combination thereof within the building line that is more than 36 inches high, but less than eight feet high, measured from mean grade is at least two feet from the property line adjacent to the major thoroughfare and the space created thereby is used and maintained for landscape plantings; and (10) For purposes of section 33-127(b) of this Code, the number of required shrubs shall be equal to the number of required street trees multiplied by five, which required shrubs shall be distributed along the street frontage of the property in the landscape strip. (b) A single-family residential lot that takes vehicular access via an alley, flag staff, shared driveway, permanent access easement or courtyard access drive per section 42-194 may build to a fifteen-foot building line, provided; (1) The units along the major thoroughfare front the street with an entry feature per section 42-165; (2) Any flag staff, shared driveway, permanent access easement or courtyard access drive crossing the building line is substantially perpendicular to the adjacent major thoroughfare and the building line; (3) The area within the building line along the major thoroughfare is not used for parking; (4) A decorative non-opaque fence may be provided along the major thoroughfare; (5) All parking is located 20 feet away from the ROW; (6) A development shall not provide gated vehicular access to the flag staff, shared driveway or permanent access easement unless the gate is set back 25 feet or more from the right-of-way of the major thoroughfare; (7) A clearly defined pedestrian walkway is established providing a connection from the public sidewalk along the major thoroughfare to an entrance to the development; and (8) The sidewalk and safety buffer standards of article XXII of chapter 40 are met. [image omitted; see the official code] (c) Multi-unit residential tracts developed in accordance with section 42-237, and taking vehicular access from a public street, through an alley, or a private drive, may build to a fifteen-foot building line, provided: (1) The structures along the major thoroughfare front the street with an entry feature in accordance with section 42-165 (2) Any private drive crossing the building line is substantially perpendicular to the adjacent major thoroughfare and the building line; (3) The area within the building line along the major thoroughfare is not used for parking or any other auto-related uses; (4) Parking is located at the rear or on the side of the property; (5) A clearly defined pedestrian walkway is established providing a connection from the public sidewalk along the major thoroughfare to an entrance to the development; (6) The sidewalk and safety buffer standards of article XXII of chapter 40 are met; and (7) Trees that are within 25 feet of the property line adjacent to the major thoroughfare are protected as corridor trees pursuant to article V of chapter 33 of this Code. (Ord. No. 2013-343, § 3(Exhs. A, B), 4-24-2013; Ord. No. 2020-684, § 2(Exh. A), 8-5-2020; Ord. No. 2023-801, § 3(Exh. A), 9-27-2023, eff. 11-27-2023)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 42-154 Optional performance standards for a major thoroughfare within the city with a planned right-of-way of 80 feet or less—Retail commercial center.

Sec. 42-154. - Optional performance standards for a major thoroughfare within the city with a planned right-of-way of 80 feet or less—Retail commercial center. (a) Except for along a walkable places street, transit-oriented development street, or as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a building line requirement of five feet is authorized for a tract in the city used for a retail commercial center with frontage on a major thoroughfare with a planned right-of-way of 80 feet or less if an applicant submits a subdivision plat that includes plat notations that require compliance with the following performance standards or a development plat that demonstrates compliance with each of the following performance standards: (1) The subdivision plat or development plat incorporates a five-foot area within the building line that the applicant will improve with a sidewalk or landscaping if the sidewalk is provided in the right-of-way; (2) All off-street parking is provided to the rear or side of any improvements on the property; (3) If any driveway is provided from the major thoroughfare to the side of any improvements on the property, the driveway shall meet one of the following standards: a. Not more than one driveway with two bays of parking comprising a maximum of 62 feet in width is placed to the side of any improvements, provided that the combination of parking and driveway does not exceed ⅓ of the total frontage of the retail commercial center; or [image omitted; see the official code] b. Not more than one two-way driveway of not more than 24 feet in width is provided from the major thoroughfare to parking at the rear of the improvements; or [image omitted; see the official code] c. Not more than two one-way driveways of 15 feet each is provided from the major thoroughfare to parking at the rear of the improvements; [image omitted; see the official code] (4) The sidewalk and safety buffer standards of article XXII of chapter 40 of this Code; (5) The improvement that will be located along the reduced building line contains 90 percent of the gross floor area of all improvements located on the parcel; (6) Trees that are within 25 feet of the property line adjacent to the major thoroughfare are protected as corridor trees pursuant to article V of chapter 33 of this Code; and (7) For purposes of section 33-127(b) of this Code, the number of required shrubs shall be equal to the number of required street trees multiplied by five, which required shrubs shall be distributed along the street frontage of the property in the landscape strip. (b) Except for along a walkable places street, transit-oriented development street, or as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a building line requirement of zero feet is authorized for a tract in the city used for a retail commercial center with frontage on a major thoroughfare with a planned right-of-way of 80 feet or less if an applicant submits a subdivision plat that includes plat notations that require compliance with the following performance standards or a development plat that demonstrates compliance with each of the following performance standards: (1) The subdivision plat or development plat provides for an arcade or colonnade at least six feet wide along the full face of the retail commercial center parallel to the major thoroughfare; (2) All off-street parking is to the rear or side of any improvements on the property; (3) Any driveway from the major thoroughfare to the side of any improvements on the property shall meet one of the following standards: a. Not more than one driveway with two bays of parking comprising a maximum of 62 feet in width is placed to the side of any improvements, provided that the combination of parking and driveway does not exceed ⅓ of the total frontage of the retail commercial center; [image omitted; see the official code] b. Not more than one two-way driveway of not more than 24 feet in width is provided from the major thoroughfare to parking at the rear of the improvements; or [image omitted; see the official code] c. Not more than two one-way driveways of 15 feet each is provided from the major thoroughfare to parking at the rear of the improvements; [image omitted; see the official code] (4) The sidewalk and safety buffer standards of article XXII of chapter 40 of this Code; (5) The improvement that will be located along the reduced building line contains 90 percent of the gross floor area of all improvements located on the parcel; and [image omitted; see the official code] (6) Trees that are within 25 feet of the property line adjacent to the major thoroughfare are protected as corridor trees pursuant to article V of chapter 33 of this Code. (c) Subsections (a) and (b) of this section do not apply to any retail commercial center that is located on a tract that has been created from a larger parcel or reserve, either by subdivision or lease agreement, if the remaining portion of the original tract or reserve is used for nonresidential purposes. [image omitted; see the official code] (Ord. No. 2013-343, § 3(Exhs. A, B), 4-24-2013; Ord. No. 2018-11, § 49, 1-10-2018; Ord. No. 2020-684, § 2(Exh. A), 8-5-2020)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 42-155 Collector and local streets—Uses other than single-family residential.

Sec. 42-155. - Collector and local streets—Uses other than single-family residential. (a) The building line requirement for a tract used or to be used for other than single-family residential purposes adjacent to a street that is a collector street or local street that is not an alley shall be ten feet unless otherwise required or authorized by this chapter. (b) The building line requirement for property used or intended for to be used for other than single-family residential purposes adjacent to a street that is a collector street or local street and that is not an alley and across which street are located single-family residential lots having platted building lines greater than ten feet shall be the lesser of 25 feet or the greatest building line on the single-family residential lots directly across the street from the property. (c) The building line requirement for tracts used for multi-unit residential purposes adjacent to a collector street or local street that is not an alley shall be as identified in section 42-237 unless otherwise required or authorized by this chapter. (Ord. No. 2013-343, § 3(Exh. A), 4-24-2013; Ord. No. 2023-801, § 3(Exh. A), 9-27-2023, eff. 11-27-2023)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 42-156 Collector and local streets—Single-family residential.

Sec. 42-156. - Collector and local streets—Single-family residential. (a) Except as otherwise required or authorized by this chapter, the building line requirement for a lot restricted to single-family residential use shall be 25 feet along the front of a lot and ten feet along the back and sides of a lot adjacent to a collector street that is not an alley. (b) Except as otherwise required or authorized by this chapter, the building line requirement for a lot restricted to single-family residential use along a local street that is not an alley shall be: (1) 20 feet along the front of a lot and ten feet along the back and side of a lot adjacent to a local street; or (2) 10 feet if the subdivision plat contains a typical lot layout and the subdivision plat contains plat notations that reflect the requirements of this section. (c) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, the building line requirement for a lot restricted to single-family residential use shall be 20 feet for a garage or carport facing the street, except as provided in subsection (b) of section 42-157 of this Code. [image omitted; see the official code] (d) When the plat contains a typical lot layout and notes that restrict vehicular access to an approved public alley, then no front building setback line shall be required, except for corner lots as provided herein. [image omitted; see the official code] (Ord. No. 2013-343, § 3(Exhs. A, B), 4-24-2013)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 42-157 Optional performance standards for collector streets and local streets—Single-family residential.

Sec. 42-157. - Optional performance standards for collector streets and local streets—Single-family residential. (a) The performance standards for building lines in the city are intended to: (1) Foster a design framework applicable to the city; and (2) Assure that pedestrian use of sidewalks is not impeded by vehicles blocking the sidewalks. (b) The building line requirement for a subdivision or development in the city restricted to single-family residential use adjacent to a collector street or a local street that is not an alley shall be: (1) Ten feet for the principal structure; (2) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, 19 feet for a garage or carport facing the street. An occupiable space above the garage or carport may overhang the building line up to nine feet; and [image omitted; see the official code] (3) For lots with the garage facing the street, at least ⅓ of the structure along the street must be occupiable space with the front door facing the street. This ⅓ of the structure can be located within the 9 feet ahead of the garage building line or no more than 4 feet behind the garage building line. For narrow lots, if not able to meet the ⅓ requirement, then functional balconies must be provided on the second floor. In lieu of a balcony, there may be a minimum of 36 square feet of windows facing the street, with at least one or more windows being a minimum of 3 feet by 5 feet. [image omitted; see the official code] (c) A front building line requirement of five feet is authorized for all or a portion of the lots in a subdivision or development in the city that is restricted to single-family residential use adjacent to a collector street or a local street that meets one of the following performance standards: (1) Vehicular access to a driveway, garage or carport is available only from the rear or side of each lot through an alley, flag staff, permanent access easement or courtyard access drive, and each dwelling unit on a lot that is adjacent to a public street has a front door with an entry feature per Sec. 42-165; or (2) Vehicular access to each lot is provided by a shared driveway and: a. The shared driveway meets the requirements of division 2 of article III of this chapter relating to shared driveways; b. Each dwelling unit on a lot that is adjacent to a public street has front door with an entry feature per section 42-165; and c. All electrical service installations for the development are installed according to the energy provider's service standards for the underground installations including the dedication of any easements required for the underground installation. (d) A front building line requirement of zero feet is authorized for all or a portion of the lots in a subdivision plat in the city that is restricted to single-family residential use adjacent to a collector street or local street that meets the following performance standards: (1) The subdivision is solely a replat of a lot on a corner at the intersection of two public streets; (2) Each lot in the replat provides for one or more shared driveways so that every dwelling unit will share a shared driveway with at least one other dwelling unit; (3) Each dwelling unit on a lot that is adjacent to a public street has a front door with an entry feature per section 42-165; (4) All electrical service installations for the development are installed according to the electrical service provider's standards for the underground installations including the dedication of any easements required for the underground installation; and (5) There is adequate room for required sidewalks and utilities within the right-of-way. [image omitted; see the official code] (Ord. No. 2013-343, § 3(Exh. A), 4-24-2013; Ord. No. 2015-639, § 23, 6-24-2015, eff. 7-24-2015; Ord. No. 2023-801, § 3(Exh. A), 9-27-2023, eff. 11-27-2023)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 42-158 Private streets; type 2 permanent access easement.

Sec. 42-158. - Private streets; type 2 permanent access easement. The building line requirement for habitable structures along the right-of-way of a private street or type 2 permanent access easement shall be five feet. (Ord. No. 2013-343, § 3(Exhs. A, B), 4-24-2013)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 42-159 Building line requirement along a shared driveway.

Sec. 42-159. - Building line requirement along a shared driveway. (a) A shared driveway that is 18 feet or greater in width shall have a building line of three feet along each side of the shared driveway. (b) A shared driveway that is less than 18 feet in width shall have a building line of four feet for a garage or carport along each side of the shared driveway. (Ord. No. 2013-343, § 3(Exh. A), 4-24-2013)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 42-160 Pipelines.

Sec. 42-160. - Pipelines. (a) The building line requirement for property adjacent to an undefined easement for a pipeline that carries flammable material under pressure through or over properties within a subdivision or development shall be 15 feet from the centerline of the pipeline. (b) A subdivision plat may contain a notation that the building line established pursuant to this section will no longer be applicable upon the abandonment or termination of the respective easement or right-of-way. (Ord. No. 2013-343, § 3(Exh. A), 4-24-2013)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 42-161 Visibility triangles.

Sec. 42-161. - Visibility triangles. The building line for property adjacent to two intersecting streets shall not encroach into any visibility triangle, the triangular area adjacent to the intersection of any street established by measuring a distance of 15 feet from the point of intersection of two streets along the right-of-way of each of the intersecting streets and connecting the ends of each measured distance, to assure adequate visibility sight lines for vehicular traffic approaching the intersection. The maximum height of the visibility triangle shall be 20 feet as measured vertically from the ground. For lots and multi-unit residential sites located on collector or local streets that take rear or side access in accordance with section 42-188 and qualify for a reduced building line of 5 feet, an encroachment into the visibility triangle is allowed above 10 feet as measured vertically from the ground. [image omitted; see the official code] (Ord. No. 2013-343, § 3(Exhs. A, B), 4-24-2013; Ord. No. 2015-639, § 24, 6-24-2015, eff. 7-24-2015; Ord. No. 2023-801, § 3(Exh. A), 9-27-2023, eff. 11-27-2023)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 42-162 Reconstruction after casualty.

Sec. 42-162. - Reconstruction after casualty. (a) Reconstruction of a building after fire, damage or other casualty not intentionally caused by the owner of the building or the owner's agent shall comply with the requirements of this division if the estimated cost to rebuild the damaged portion of the building exceeds 75 percent of the estimated replacement cost of the entire building, exclusive of the replacement cost of the building foundation. (b) Reconstruction of a building after fire, damage or other casualty not intentionally caused by the owner of the building or the owner's agent shall not require compliance with the provisions of this division if: (1) The estimated cost to rebuild is 75 percent or less of the estimated replacement cost of the entire building, after subtracting the estimated replacement cost of the building foundation; and (2) The reconstruction would not result in an increase in the floor area of the building or a change in the use of the property. (c) For purposes of this section, the determination of the estimated cost to rebuild and the estimated replacement cost of a building shall be based on a certified cost estimate provided by an architect or contractor and approved by the building official. (Ord. No. 2013-343, § 3(Exh. A), 4-24-2013)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 42-163 Stub street.

Sec. 42-163. - Stub street. The building line adjacent to the end of a stub street that is not required to be extended pursuant to subsection (a) of section 42-134 of this Code shall be ten feet from the end of the stub street and ten feet on either side of a ten foot projection of the stub street into the adjacent property. [image omitted; see the official code] (Ord. No. 2013-343, § 3(Exhs. A, B), 4-24-2013; Ord. No. 2015-639, § 19, 6-24-2015)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 42-164 Transit-oriented development streets and walkable places streets

Sec. 42-164. - Transit-oriented development streets and walkable places streets (a) This section shall apply to any improvement requiring a building permit or development within a lot on a walkable places street or transit-oriented development street. (b) The portion of a lot or development that is adjacent to a primary street shall have a building line requirement of zero feet and the lot or development must comply with the requirements of article IV of this chapter. (c) A building line of zero feet is authorized for the portion of a lot or development that is adjacent to a secondary street if the lot or development complies with the requirements of article IV of this chapter. Any lot or development that does not meet the standards of this subsection must be in compliance with the standard building line requirement otherwise required by this article for the corresponding type of street and tract description. (d) Except when a special minimum building line requirement is applicable, this section shall prevail over the building line requirement otherwise required or authorized by this chapter. (Ord. No. 2020-684, § 2(Exh. A), 8-5-2020; Ord. No. 2023-801, § 3(Exh. A), 9-27-2023, eff. 11-27-2023)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 42-165 Entry feature performance standards for units fronting the street

Sec. 42-165. - Entry feature performance standards for units fronting the street A reduced building line within the city boundary will be allowed for single family and multi unit residential developments having rear or side access to the units, if units fronting the street meet the following entry feature criteria: 1. Each structure with frontage on a street, not including an alley, must provide at least one entry feature; 2. To be considered street-facing, an entry feature must face the street it is intended to serve. An entrance directly accessed from a porch, stoop or recessed entry on the street-facing side, counts as a street-facing entrance, regardless of if it faces the street; 3. The required entrance must provide both pedestrian ingress and egress to the first story of a building; 4. The required entrance must provide access to occupiable space within the first story of a building; 5. The required entrance must have a separate pedestrian access gate if a fence is provided, and a minimum 3-foot wide pedestrian connection to the nearest public sidewalk or public street; 6. The required entrance must include a porch, a stoop, or a recessed entry. A porch or stoop may encroach up to 4 feet into a required building line, provided there is adequate room for required sidewalks and all utilities; and 7. A porch or stoop may encroach up to 4 feet into the required building line, but may not have occupiable space above the first floor. [image omitted; see the official code] (Ord. No. 2023-801, § 3(Exh. A), 9-27-2023, eff. 11-27-2023)

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_DIV3BULI_SDAGEREBULIFetched: 10/26/2026