Single-family residential lot size.
Houston Code of Ordinances § 42-181
in effectSec. 42-181. - Single-family residential lot size.
(a) The minimum lot size for a single-family residential lot with wastewater collection service shall be as shown below, except for lots within courtyard style development meeting the requirements of section 42-194:
(1) 5,000 square feet for a lot within the extraterritorial jurisdiction; or
(2) 3,500 square feet for a lot within the city.
(b) The lot size for a single-family residential lot with wastewater collection service may be less than the minimum lot size provided by subsection (a) if the subdivision plat meets the performance standards of either:
(1) The compensating open space performance standards of section 42-182 of this Code; or
(2) For a subdivision plat within the city, the performance standards of section 42-184 of this Code.
(c) A subdivision plat shall not include a lot that is less than 1,400 square feet unless the plat meets the following performance standards:
(1) The property to be platted is located within the city and all lots within the subdivision take vehicular access from the shared driveway or permanent access easement;
(2) The average lot size within the subdivision plat is greater than or equal to 1,400 square feet. A lot that is larger than 3,500 square feet shall be counted as 3,500 square feet for purposes of the average lot size calculation of this subsection;
(3) For the purposes of this subsection, blockface has the meaning in 42-1 and shall include the distances measured from and to shared driveways, intersecting or terminating with shared driveways.
(4) If the subdivision plat contains one or more blockfaces in their entirety, the average lot size of each blockface within the subdivision plat is greater than or equal to 1,400 square feet; and
(5) If a subdivision plat includes a lot with a lot size less than 3,500 square feet, any subsequent replat of a lot within the subdivision plat shall maintain an average lot size that is greater than or equal to 1,400 square feet. The average lot size for each subsequent replat shall be based on all lots within the original subdivision plat containing a lot with a lot size less than 3,500 feet. The subdivision plat and all subsequent replats of lots within the subdivision plat shall contain a plat notation stating the requirements of this item.
(d) The minimum lot size for lots without wastewater collection service shall be in accordance with the requirements of subsection (b) of section 42-180 of this Code;
(e) A special minimum lot size requirement established pursuant to subdivision B of this division shall control over all other provisions of this section.
(Ord. No. 2013-343, § 3(Exh. A), 4-24-2013; 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_DIV4LORE_SDAGERELORE_S42-181SIMIRELOSIFetched: 10/26/2026