Transit Supportive Code Amendments (Including HOME Phase 2 Amendments)
Transit Supportive Code Amendments (Including HOME Phase 2 Amendments)
The Austin City Council has adopted several changes to the land development code with the goal of making our city more walkable, transit-supportive, and environmentally friendly for all residents.
Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (ETOD), updated compatibility standards, and a smaller minimum lot size for a house unlock opportunities for more housing, including affordable housing, throughout the city, especially along our busiest transit corridors. Regulations for where we put electric vehicle charging sites help make this green mobility option more available while making sure we do so in a way that works for all of Austin.
The adopted code amendments will help our city achieve our adopted mobility, affordability, and climate goals. They will also help make us more competitive when applying for federal funding for the Project Connect Light Rail Transit program. That's because the new housing will support higher ridership for our voter-approved Austin Light Rail service, and economic development along the corridors will also bring community benefits. These changes to the code have been informed by years of community conversation and were adopted after careful deliberation by City Council.
Summary of Adopted Changes
HOME Phase 2, Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (ETOD Overlay), Citywide Compatibility, and Electric Vehicle Charging code amendments were approved by City Council at the May 16th, 2024 meeting. See below for a summary of the adopted changes and the adopted ordinances.
HOME Phase 2
Lower the minimum lot size for small lot single-family from 5,750 sq ft to 1,800 sq ft for properties zoned SF-1, SF-2, and SF-3
Adjust development standards for small lots on properties zoned SF-1, SF-2, and SF-3:
Set maximum unit size for small lots within the "McMansion" area
Reduce the minimum lot width to 15 ft
Create design standards for driveways, front yards, and garage placement
Remove Residential Design and Compatibility (i.e., McMansion or Subchapter F) standards for small lots
Allow for attached and detached units on small lots and remove setbacks between new small lots
Maintain current impervious cover limits
Adjust flag lot regulations, including minimum width requirements, to facilitate easier subdivision for properties with between one and three dwelling units
Click to view the HOME Phase 2 adopted ordinance.
Click to view the HOME Phase 2 project webpage.
Click to view the Development Services Department's HOME Amendments webpage.
Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (ETOD) Overlay
Create two combining districts:
ETOD Overlay combining district (ETOD) restricts certain non-transit supportive uses
ETOD Density Bonus District (DBETOD) creates an optional density bonus program that includes development-related incentives and community benefit requirements, including affordable housing and protections for certain residents and businesses
Rezone certain lots with ½ mile of the Phase 1 Austin Light Rail alignment and priority extensions to ETOD and DBETOD
DBETOD Density Bonus District adopted changes include:
Establish requirements for developments to provide income-restricted affordable housing or a fee-in-lieu, with different tiers of affordability requirements based on the total height (i.e., 60', 90', or 120' tall) of the new building.
Require ground-floor commercial space or civic spaces and set design standards
Allow buildings 120’ tall within a ¼ mile of the future light rail line, and buildings 90’ tall between ¼ and ½-mile of the light rail line
Allow less restrictive compatibility height limits and modify/supersede other site development standards that limit housing capacity
Require the replacement of existing market-rate and income-restricted affordable housing and certain kinds of commercial space
Allow residential units in all base zones
Click to view the ETOD Overlay info sheet.
Click to view the ETOD Overlay adopted ordinance.
Click to view the ETOD Overlay project webpage.
Citywide Compatibility
End compatibility at 75' of distance from a single-family home compared to the previous 540’ of distance
Allow more height and flexibility within 75' of a single-family home
Limit which properties trigger compatibility to those zoned single-family (SF-5 and more restrictive) with 1-3 homes
Exempt lower-intensity multifamily zones from compatibility
Require a landscape buffer between single-family homes and larger buildings
Exempt lower-intensity commercial and office zones from the landscape buffer requirement
Require additional screening for certain objects, including mechanical equipment
Click to view the Compatibility info sheet.
Click to view the Compatibility adopted ordinance.
Click to view the Compatibility project webpage.
Electric Vehicle Charging
Create an Electric Vehicle Charging (EV Charging) use so that an entire property can be used for EV charging
Allow EV Charging use in higher-intensity commercial and industrial zones along certain types of roadways or on sites with existing gas stations
Require a conditional use permit for EV Charging on larger properties abutting core and future core transit corridors and urban roadways to prevent concentrations within activated areas
Click to view the Electric Vehicle Charging info sheet.
Click to view the Electric Vehicle Charging project webpage.
Click to view the Electric Vehicle Charging adopted ordinance.