SUBDIVISION ACCESS STREETS.
Austin City Code § 30-2-158
in effect§ 30-2-158 - SUBDIVISION ACCESS STREETS.
(A) In this section:
(1) ACCESS STREET means a street that provides access to a subdivision by connecting to an external street.
(2) EXTERNAL STREET means a street that is outside the boundaries of a subdivision, and that is:
(a) a publicly maintained street;
(b) a street that is offered for dedication and for which a construction performance bond is posted pending acceptance of the dedication; or
(c) a private street that complies with the requirements of this title and each applicable criteria manual.
(B) Except as otherwise provided in this section:
(1) a new subdivision must have at least two access streets; and
(2) each of the two access streets must connect to a different external street.
(C) A new subdivision may have one access street if the single office determines that:
(1) the access street:
(a) does not cross an area with a high wildland fire protection rating, as determined in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association Bulletin 299, "Protection of Life and Property from Wildfire", published in 1992;
(b) is not inundated by more than nine inches of water by a 100-year flood, as determined in accordance with the Drainage Criteria Manual; and
(c) has a paved width of at least 36 feet from the intersection of the access street with the external street for a distance of:
(i) 100 feet; or
(ii) 50 feet if the access street has curb and gutter; and
(2) the access street:
(a) is not more than 2,000 feet in length, and provides access to not more than 30 single-family residential dwellings; or
(b) is an arterial or collector street, and its intersection with the external street will function at a level of service of "C" or better during construction and after build-out of the subdivision, as determined by an intersection analysis that is:
(i) approved by the platting official; and
(ii) if the subdivision generates more than 1,000 vehicle trips a day, prepared by a registered professional engineer in accordance with the Transportation Criteria Manual or Transportation Research Board Special Report 209, "Highway Capacity Manual", published in 1994.
(D) A new subdivision may have one access street if the single office determines that providing more than one access street is undesirable, unnecessary, or impractical after considering:
(1) traffic circulation;
(2) traffic safety;
(3) flood and fire safety;
(4) topography;
(5) the density of the subdivision and surrounding developed property;
(6) whether later development of adjacent property is anticipated to provide additional access;
(7) whether traffic through the subdivision should be limited;
(8) the environmental effect of a cut or fill, waterway crossing, or other surface disturbance necessary to provide more than one access street;
(9) whether the access street is a divided street;
(10) whether adverse effects, if any, from permitting one access street are mitigated, including whether secondary pedestrian access is provided; and
(11) whether the subdivider:
(a) owns adjacent property through which access can be provided;
(b) has the right to provide a second access street across another person's property; or
(c) is able to develop the subdivision if more than one access street is required.
Source: City Code Section 25-4-157; County Code Section 82.202(c); Ord. 031211-11; Ord. 031211-42.
Source: City of Austin, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/austin/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT30AUTRCOSURE_CH30-2SURE_ART3PLRE_DIV2ST_S30-2-158SUACSTFetched: 10/27/2026