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McMansion Austin TX
~Reliable made Affordable~
New site development regulations for single-family, duplexes, and
other non-multi-family residential
development (the McMansion Ordinance and
changes to the City’s duplex
regulations) went into effect on October
1, 2006.
WHERE DO THE NEW REGULATIONS APPLY?
The McMansion Ordinance does not apply
to every property within the City. It
applies only within
specific boundaries
(generally, greater central Austin). The
Mueller Planned Unit Development is
exempt from the regulations. Properties
zoned SF-4A are also exempt unless they
are adjacent to properties zoned SF-2
and SF-3.
However, the changes to the City’s
duplex regulations apply throughout the
entire city and are not limited to a
specific area.
WHAT RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES ARE SUBJECT
TO THE McMANSION ORDINANCE?
• Single-family
• Small-lot single-family
• Single-family attached
• Duplex
• Two-family (a main residence and a
secondary dwelling unit)
• Secondary apartment (neighborhood
planning tool)
• Urban home (neighborhood planning
tool)
• Cottage lot (neighborhood planning
tool)
• Bed and breakfast (group 1)
residential
• Bed and breakfast (group 2)
residential
WHAT DOES THE McMANSION ORDINANCE DO?
The McMansion Ordinance
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Limits the size of new and remodeled
structures to
the greater of
• 2,300 square feet or
• 0.4 to 1 Floor-to-Area-Ratio (FAR)
(the limit applies to the combined
square footage of all residential units
on a lot)
To figure out what an 0.4 FAR means for
your property, simply multiply your
total lot size by 0.4. For example, an
0.4 FAR applied to a 10,000 square foot
lot would yield an allowable 4,000
square feet of gross floor area)
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Adds new provisions to the City’s
definition of gross floor area that
explain how square footage must be
calculated
for
• Second and third story covered porches
(included in your square footage)
• Basements meeting certain criteria
(excluded in your square footage)
• Garages and other parking areas
(included after a certain amount)
• Areas with ceiling heights of greater
than 15 feet (included by counting the
square footage twice)
• Mezzanines and lofts (included)
• Habitable attic spaces meeting certain
criteria (excluded)
Otherwise, gross floor area means the
total enclosed area of all floors in a
building with a clear height of more
than six feet, measured to the outside
surface of the exterior walls. The term
includes loading docks and excludes
atria airspace, parking facilities,
driveways, and enclosed loading berths
and off-street maneuvering areas.
[Land Development Code Section 25-1-21]
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Adds a building envelope requirement,
created by side and rear setback planes,
so that all structures on a site must
fit within this envelope (there is an
allowance for remodels; some building
features are allowed to protrude through
the setback planes)
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Adds a side wall articulation
requirement,
though the the side wall articulation
requirement does not apply to new
construction that is less than 2,000
square feet in gross floor area and less
than 32 feet in height
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Changes how height is measured
for uses
subject to the McMansion ordinance so
that it is measured from the lower of
natural or finished grade
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Changes the maximum height
• From 35 feet to 32 feet for
single-family, small-lot single-family,
single-family attached, bed and
breakfast (group 1 and group 2)
residential structures
• From 30 feet to 32 feet for duplexes
• From 30 feet to 32 feet for two-family
residential structures
• (The 35 foot height limit stays in
effect for urban home and cottage lot
special uses.)
• (The 30 foot height limit stays in
effect for secondary apartment special
uses.)
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Decreases the minimum rear yard setback
from 10 feet to 5 feet for a secondary
dwelling unit if the lot abuts an alley
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Establishes minimum front yard setbacks
that are slightly different than the
setbacks prescribed previously in the
City’s Land Development Code
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Allows neighborhoods within the
‘McMansion boundary’ modify the
McMansion Ordinance
Other changes approved
with the McMansion Ordinance that also
went into effect on October 1, 2006
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Require that the two units of a duplex
share a common roof and a common wall
for at least 50% of the maximum depth of
the building, and prohibit the
separation of the two units by a
breezeway, carport, or other open
building element; instead of a shared
common wall, the two units can share a
common floor and ceiling (applies
citywide to all duplexes, not just those
within the "McMansion boundary")
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Amend how noncomplying structures may be
modified
(applies citywide to all uses, not just
residential uses)
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Amend when and how a damaged or
destroyed noncomplying structure may be
restored
(applies citywide to all uses, not just
residential uses).
** The above list is meant only to
summarize the highlights of the October
1 regulations. ** PLEASE READ THE
APPROVED ORDINANCE
FOR EXACT DETAILS.
There is also a new
Residential Design and Compatibility
Commission (RDCC)
made up of residential design
professionals and other citizens
appointed by the Council who have the
ability to review projects and grant
requested modifications to certain
elements of the McMansion Ordinance.
OFFICE PHONE 512.350.0839
OUR EMAIL
contact@512deVeloping.com
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