The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.
Land Development Code
Council takes a step toward ending compatibility standards
City Council members on Thursday took their first major step toward making key changes to rules limiting the height of buildings near single-family homes on a citywide basis. Austin’s compatibility rules, which are among the strictest in the country, have…
Land Development Code • By Jo Clifton • Jun 9, 2023
Council OKs getting rid of some occupancy limits
As expected, City Council on Thursday moved forward with a resolution from District 9 Council Member Zo Qadri directing city management to eliminate occupancy limits related to familial status within the city’s Land Development Code. The final vote was 9-1,…
Housing • By Jo Clifton • Jun 2, 2023
City to ban unsafe fence designs
The city will soon prohibit unsafe fence designs, like those with spiked or widely spaced pickets, to reduce the risk of serious injury and death in humans and animals. On Tuesday, the Planning Commission unanimously recommended City Council approve the…
Land Development Code • By Jonathan Lee • May 26, 2023
Housing and Planning Committee grapples with how to prioritize code amendments
Members of City Council’s Housing and Planning Committee grappled during a Tuesday briefing with how to best approach moving forward on a set of amendments to the city’s Land Development Code. The discussion occurred at the committee’s May 23 special…
Land Development Code • By Nina Hernandez • May 25, 2023
Council approves code amendments to allow for future Butler Trail improvements
City Council passed a resolution last week to initiate a set of Land Development Code amendments that will allow for safety and mobility improvements to the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail. The item passed on the consent…
Land Development Code • By Nina Hernandez • May 22, 2023
Council votes to make it easier to build along highways
City Council voted Thursday to eliminate a section of the Land Development Code that governs development along highways, hoping the change will help add housing units in the city and “eliminate barriers to the creation of income-restricted units under established…
Land Development Code • By Jo Clifton • May 19, 2023
Subscribe to our newsletter
Neighborhood groups warn of bill to limit, kill city regulations
Members of two neighborhood coalitions have been contacting members of the Texas House to alert them to what they perceive as an especially dangerous bill, one that could strip cities throughout the state, as well as counties and special districts,…
Land Development Code • By Jo Clifton • May 10, 2023
City to calculate housing gains possible with new building height compatibility rules
City staff members are moving ahead with analyzing how a change to area building height compatibility requirements could disrupt the local housing market. The analysis, which was called for as part of a December resolution by City Council that was…
Land Development Code • By Chad Swiatecki • May 8, 2023
Council aims to make subdividing property easier
In a move aimed at increasing housing supply, City Council on Thursday passed a resolution to make it easier and cheaper to subdivide properties. Council Member Ryan Alter, the sponsor of the resolution, said that splitting land into multiple lots…
Land Development Code • By Jonathan Lee • May 8, 2023
Council votes to get rid of parking requirements
City Council on Thursday directed city staff to eliminate parking requirements from the city’s land use regulations outside the central business district. The city eliminated downtown parking requirements, except for spaces for those with disabilities, in 2013. Thursday’s resolution would…
Land Development Code • By Jo Clifton • May 5, 2023
City staffers provide ADU, "site plan lite" updates
City staffers updated the Planning Commission last week on efforts to make accessory dwelling units easier to build and to create a “site plan lite” to streamline permitting for small multifamily developments. City Council initiated the efforts through multiple resolutions…
Land Development Code • By Jonathan Lee • May 5, 2023
A one-bedroom apartment comes with 1.5 parking spots. Austin could change that.
City Council members will decide Thursday whether to stop requiring developers to build parking. With some exceptions, city rules require most residential and commercial developers to build a minimum amount of parking spots. The number depends on several factors, including…
