Building line requirement.
Houston Code of Ordinances § 42-150
in effectSec. 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)
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_SDAGEREBULI_S42-150BULIREFetched: 10/26/2026