Parking for single-family residential uses.
Houston Code of Ordinances § 42-186
in effectSec. 42-186. - Parking for single-family residential uses.
(a) Each subdivision plat or development plat providing for a single-family residential use shall provide at least two off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit on each lot with the following exceptions:
(1) for a dwelling unit that is not more than 1500 square feet, only one space shall be required per dwelling unit; or
(2) for a dwelling unit that is less than or equal to 1000 square feet, no off-street parking is required when all of the following criteria are met:
a. the lot has less than 33 feet of public street frontage,
b. 100 percent of the unit has occupiable space fronting the street, and
c. driveway access from the public street is not permitted, and shall be reflected on the plat and building permit.
(b) If the first unit meets the off-street parking requirements:
(1) When a second dwelling unit of not more than 1000 gross square feet is provided, no additional off-street parking spaces shall be required.
(2) When a second dwelling unit is greater than 1000 square feet but less than or equal to 1500 square feet, only one additional off-street parking space shall be required.
(c) Each courtyard style development plat completed in accordance with section 42-194, providing for single-family residential use, shall provide one off-street parking space for every dwelling unit less than or equal to 1000 square feet and 2 off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit if the units are between 1001-1800 square feet.
(d) For lots within a courtyard style development in accordance with section 42-194 parking may be located in a reserve within the subdivision provided there is a shared access and maintenance agreement among lot owners.
(e) Each subdivision plat providing for a single-family residential use on property located within the city that includes a courtyard access drive, a shared driveway, or a type 2 permanent access easement with six or more dwelling units shall provide one additional parking space for every six dwelling units. Dwelling units on a lot that includes a parking space in excess of the parking requirements of subsection (a) of this section shall not be counted in determining the required number of additional parking spaces required by this subsection. Each additional parking space shall conform to the following requirements:
(1) The size and dimensions of the parking space shall be in conformance with the requirements of the Construction Code;
(2) The parking space shall be placed within the boundaries of the subdivision plat;
(3) For a subdivision plat where the lots abut a type 2 permanent access easement and take vehicular access only from a private alley, a parking space may be included within the type 2 permanent access easement;
(4) The parking space shall not be placed within a shared driveway or within a lot;
(5) The parking space shall not be placed where parking is prohibited by law, and the parking space shall be placed a minimum of 20 feet away from the right-of-way of a major thoroughfare, major collector, or existing protected bike lanes;
(6) The parking space shall be accessible to all residents of each dwelling unit of the subdivision plat via an internal path of either the shared driveway, type 2 permanent access easement or an improved walkway surface in an access easement within the subdivision meeting accessibility requirements in accordance with IDM standards with a minimum width of 3 feet in accordance with Chapter 40 sidewalk regulations.
(f) A variance granted by the commission to parking requirements contained in this chapter is also a variance to the same parking requirement in Chapter 26.
(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_S42-186PASIMIREUSFetched: 10/26/2026