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Preliminary Plans.

Austin City Code tit. 30, ch. 30-2, art. 2, div. 2
in effect

Austin City Code § 30-2-51 PRELIMINARY PLAN REQUIREMENT.

§ 30-2-51 - PRELIMINARY PLAN REQUIREMENT. (A) A preliminary plan must be approved before a plat may be approved, except as provided in Subsection (B). (B) A plat may be approved without a preliminary plan if each lot abuts an existing dedicated public street and the single office determines that: (1) a new street or an extension of a street is not necessary to provide adequate traffic circulation; (2) the applicant has dedicated additional right of way necessary to provide adequate street width for an existing street abutting a lot; and (3) drainage facilities are not necessary to prevent flooding, or if necessary, the applicant has arranged for the construction of drainage facilities. Source: City Code Section 25-4-51; County Code Sections 82.201(b)(2)—(8) and 82.203(a); Ord. 031211-11; Ord. 031211-42.

Austin City Code § 30-2-52 MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN.

§ 30-2-52 - MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN. (A) If a preliminary plan is part of an applicant's plan for a larger development, the applicant shall file a master development plan with the single office when the first application for preliminary plan approval is filed. (B) A master development plan may be in schematic form, must include the applicant's entire development, and must provide for the safe, healthful, and orderly extension of roads, utilities, drainage, and other public facilities. Source: City Code Section 25-4-52; County Code Section 82.201(b)(9); Ord. 031211-11; Ord. 031211-42.

Austin City Code § 30-2-54 PREVIOUSLY APPROVED PRELIMINARY PLAN.

§ 30-2-54 - PREVIOUSLY APPROVED PRELIMINARY PLAN. (A) Approval of a preliminary plan supersedes a previously approved preliminary plan for the same land. (B) An applicant may not include land from a previously approved preliminary plan in a subsequent application for approval of a preliminary plan unless all the land, except land contained in an approved plat, is included in the application. (C) The single office may waive the requirement of Subsection (B) if the single office determines that including only a portion of the previously approved preliminary plan does not substantially impair the orderly planning of roads, utilities, drainage, or other public facilities. (D) An interested party may appeal the single office decision under Subsection (C) to the land use commission. Source: City Code Section 25-4-54; Ord. 031211-11; Ord. 031211-42.

Austin City Code § 30-2-56 STAFF REVIEW OF APPLICATION FOR PRELIMINARY PLAN APPROVAL.

§ 30-2-56 - STAFF REVIEW OF APPLICATION FOR PRELIMINARY PLAN APPROVAL. (A) The single office shall promptly deliver a copy of an application for preliminary plan approval to each reviewing department or agency after the application is filed. (B) A reviewing department or agency shall prepare and deliver to the single office a written report of comments and recommendations regarding an application for preliminary plan approval before the expiration of the staff review period described in this section. (C) Staff review period for an application for preliminary plan approval is established by the director by administrative rule. (D) An applicant may file with the single office an update to an application for preliminary plan approval before expiration of the application. (E) The staff review period of an update to an application for preliminary plan approval is established by the director by administrative rule. Source: City Code Section 25-4-56; Ord. 031211-11; Ord. 031211-42; Ord. 20050929-079; Ord. No. 20160421-039, Pt. 19, 4-21-16; Ord. No. 20190822-117, § 53, 9-1-19; Ord. No. 20230831-142, Pt. 20, 9-1-23.

Austin City Code § 30-2-57 ACTION ON PRELIMINARY PLAN.

§ 30-2-57 - ACTION ON PRELIMINARY PLAN. The single office shall approve an application for preliminary plan approval that complies with the requirements of this title. Source: City Code Section 25-4-57; Ord. 031211-11; Ord. 031211-42; Ord. No. 20190822-117, § 54, 9-1-19; Ord. No. 20230831-142, Pt. 21, 9-1-23.

Austin City Code § 30-2-59 EFFECT OF PRELIMINARY PLAN APPROVAL.

§ 30-2-59 - EFFECT OF PRELIMINARY PLAN APPROVAL. Approval of a preliminary plan establishes a mutual commitment on behalf of the city or county and the applicant to: (1) the subdivision layout for plat approval, including the location and width of proposed streets, lots, blocks, and easements shown on the preliminary plan; and (2) the availability of utilities to serve the subdivided land to the extent shown on the preliminary plan. Source: City Code Section 25-4-59; Ord. 031211-11; Ord. 031211-42.

Austin City Code § 30-2-60 EXPIRATION OF APPROVED PRELIMINARY PLAN.

§ 30-2-60 - EXPIRATION OF APPROVED PRELIMINARY PLAN. (A) Except as provided in Subsection (B), an approved preliminary plan expires: (1) in the drinking water protection zone, four years after the date of its approval; or (2) in the desired development zone, ten years after the date of its approval. (B) The appropriate official may extend the expiration date of an approved preliminary plan: (1) twice for periods of not more than two years each, if the appropriate official determines that, since the date of the plan's approval, the plan has not significantly changed, and the applicable regulations have not significantly changed; or (2) for a period determined by the appropriate official if the applicant agrees with the appropriate official to complete the subdivision infrastructure in increments or phases that correspond to the increments or phases of the development. (Ord. No. 20240718-103, Pt. 6, 7-29-24)

Austin City Code § 30-2-61 CHANGES TO AN APPROVED PRELIMINARY PLAN.

§ 30-2-61 - CHANGES TO AN APPROVED PRELIMINARY PLAN. (A) An applicant can request a change to an approved preliminary plan, on a form provided by the single office, if: (1) the land affected by the change has not received final plat; and (2) all the owners of the land affected by the change support the request. (B) The single office may approve a minor deviation from an approved preliminary plan if the single office determines that the minor deviation complies with the requirements of this subsection. An applicant shall identify the proposed minor deviation on a copy of the preliminary plan submitted to the single office. A formal application is not required. (1) A minor deviation may not: (a) remove a property restriction or subdivision note; (b) modify a waiver or variance; (c) change an easement, except with the director's approval; (d) increase impervious cover; (e) modify a conservation easement, common area, green space, or other open space shown on the preliminary plan; (f) affect property outside the proposed plat; (g) increase the number of lots; (h) change the use of a lot; or (i) change the basic street layout. (2) A minor deviation may: (a) change lot size or configuration; (b) change street width or alignment; or (c) change a utility or access easement. (C) If the requested change does not qualify as a minor deviation, the applicant may submit a separate application to the single office requesting the change. The single office may approve the change if the single office determines that the requested change complies with the requirements of this title. Source: City Code Section 25-4-61; Ord. 031211-11; Ord. 031211-42; Ord. No. 20230831-142, Pt. 22, 9-1-23; Ord. No. 20240718-103, Pt. 5, 7-29-24.

Austin City Code § 30-2-62 APPEAL OF DISAPPROVAL OF A PRELIMINARY PLAN.

§ 30-2-62 - APPEAL OF DISAPPROVAL OF A PRELIMINARY PLAN. (A) An applicant may appeal the director's disapproval of a preliminary plan application to the land use commission or council. (B) An applicant may appeal the county executive's disapproval of a plat application to the commissioners court. (C) The single office shall give notice under Section 30-1-153(A) (Notice of Public Hearing) of the land use commission's, council's, or commissioners court's consideration of an appeal. (D) An applicant must receive approval from both the city and county in accordance with Section 30-1-91(A) (Final Approval). Source: Ord. No. 20230831-142, Pt. 23, 9-1-23; Ord. No. 20240718-103, Pt. 7, 7-29-24.
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_ART2SUPR_DIV2PRPLFetched: 10/27/2026

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