Density Bonus Creative Spaces Districts.

Austin City Code tit. 25, ch. 25-2, subch. B, art. 2, div. 7

in effect

Austin City Code § 25-2-451 DEFINITIONS.

§ 25-2-451 - DEFINITIONS. In this division, (1) COCKTAIL LOUNGE means a cocktail lounge use described in Chapter 25-2 (Zoning) and established on or before October 31, 2024. (2) CREATIVE SPACE means a use described in Chapter 25-2 (Zoning) that allows one or more of the following occupancies: (a) art gallery; (b) art workshop; (c) cocktail lounge; (d) cultural services: (e) performance venue; (f) personal improvement services; or (g) theater. (3) CREATIVE SPACES DISTRICT means an area designated and zoned as density bonus creative spaces (DBCS) combining district. Source: Ord. No. 20241010-034, Pt. 3, 10-21-24.

Austin City Code § 25-2-452 APPLICATIONS AND CRITERIA FOR DISTRICT DESIGNATION.

§ 25-2-452 - APPLICATIONS AND CRITERIA FOR DISTRICT DESIGNATION. (A) Application Requirements. (1) The Land Use Commission may consider no more than a total of three applications per month to designate a creative spaces district and to apply density bonus creative spaces (DBCS) combining district zoning to the property within the creative spaces district. (2) An application to designate a creative spaces district must demonstrate that the area satisfies the criteria for designation and include the information required by the director of the Economic Development Department. (3) An applicant must submit proposed supplemental standards as described in Section 25-2-454 (District Designation Ordinance and Designation on Zoning Map) as part of an application to designate an area a creative spaces district. (4) The director of the Economic Development Department is authorized to adopt rules under Chapter 1-2 (Administrative Rules) that requires an applicant to provide certain information as part of an application to designate an area a creative spaces district. (B) Except as provided in Subsection (E), the council may designate an area a creative spaces district if: (1) the area is at least three acres; (2) the base zoning for each site within the area is a commercial or less restrictive base zoning district; (3) at least 25 percent of the primary uses within the proposed district are existing creative spaces or are proposed to be used as creative spaces; and (4) at least 50 percent of the existing uses are non-residential. (C) The council may enlarge an existing creative spaces district if the site to be included contains uses that qualify as existing creative spaces or is proposed to contain new creative spaces and the creative spaces add or will add value to the district. (D) Except as provided in Subsection (E), the council may reduce the boundary of an existing creative spaces district if the site to be excluded: (1) does not contribute to the preservation or creation of creative space, including affordable creative space; (2) does not include a creative space; and (3) has not utilized the benefits of the density bonus program. (E) Limitations. (1) A site within a creative spaces district is not eligible to be combined with any other density bonus combining district. (2) If a site's base zoning is combined with the planned development area (PDA) combining district, the site is not eligible to be included in a creative spaces district. Source: Ord. No. 20241010-034, Pt. 3, 10-21-24.

Austin City Code § 25-2-453 LAND USE COMMISSION REVIEW.

§ 25-2-453 - LAND USE COMMISSION REVIEW. (A) Before an application can be reviewed by the Land Use Commission, the director of the Planning Department must obtain recommendations from the directors of the following departments: (1) Economic Development Department; and (2) Housing Department. (B) The Land Use Commission shall consider the criteria established in Section 25-2-452 (Applications and Criteria for District Designation) when reviewing an application to designate a creative spaces district. Source: Ord. No. 20241010-034, Pt. 3, 10-21-24.

Austin City Code § 25-2-454 DISTRICT DESIGNATION ORDINANCE AND DESIGNATION ON ZONING MAP.

§ 25-2-454 - DISTRICT DESIGNATION ORDINANCE AND DESIGNATION ON ZONING MAP. (A) An ordinance designating an area as a creative spaces district and zoning or rezoning property to include density bonus creative spaces (DBCS) combining district must: (1) describe the existing creative spaces to be preserved throughout the creative spaces district; (2) adopt supplemental standards that will apply to the creative spaces district; and (3) identify one or more creative spaces that will be permitted uses on each property within the creative spaces district. (B) Supplemental standards apply to the creative spaces district and must assist with preserving creative spaces, creating creative spaces, and furthering the purpose of the combining district by: (1) modifying regulations relating to building setbacks, building height, compatibility, landscaping, parking design, and signs; and (2) prescribing regulations relating to design, scale, or placement for public facilities, including street lighting, street furniture, signs, landscaping, utility facilities, sidewalks, and streets. Source: Ord. No. 20241010-034, Pt. 3, 10-21-24.

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=TIT25LADE_CH25-2ZO_SUBCHAPTER_BZOPRSPRECEDI_ART2SPRECEDI_DIV7DEBOCRSPDIFetched: 10/27/2026