Pre-Submission Review · Free
Houston, TX
Additions are where setback and height violations happen most often. Your existing house was built compliant — but adding square footage changes the math on lot coverage, FAR, and setbacks. What was legal before may not be legal after the addition. A second-story addition, for example, can trigger increased side setback requirements in many cities.
Additions are where setback and lot coverage violations happen most often. Your existing house was compliant when built — but adding square footage changes the math on lot coverage, FAR, setbacks, and parking. What was legal before may not be legal after an addition.
Critical checks for additions in Houston:
Enter your combined dimensions (existing + proposed) in the form above. We'll check the total project against Houston's current codes so you know where you stand before hiring an architect.
Fill in the form above with your lot size, setbacks, building height, and other dimensions — the same numbers on your architectural plans.
Your project is compared against Houston's specific zoning requirements — setbacks, height limits, lot coverage, parking ratios, and FAR limits for your zone.
Critical violations, warnings, and advisory items — ranked by what a Houston plan checker will flag first. Fix issues before you submit and save weeks of correction cycles.
| Zone | Front | Side | Rear | Height | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suburban Lot (5,000 sf min) | 25' | 5' | 15' | 35' | 65% |
| Urban Lot (within Loop 610) | 10' | 5' | 10' | 35' | 80% |
Houston requires a 25' front setback, 5' side setback, and 15' rear setback in the most common residential zone. Specific requirements vary by zone — enter your zone code above for exact numbers.
Initial plan review in Houston typically takes 4-8 weeks. If corrections are required, each resubmission adds another 2-4 weeks. Running a pre-check before submitting can eliminate the most common correction items and save one or more review cycles.
The most common residential zone in Houston allows a maximum height of 35 feet. Height measurement methods vary — some cities measure to the highest ridge, others to the midpoint of the roof. Check the specific zone requirements for your property.
Yes. Create a free account to run unlimited plan checks against Houston's building codes. The tool checks setbacks, height limits, lot coverage, parking requirements, and flags common issues that Houston plan reviewers look for.
The most frequently flagged items in Houston include: No traditional zoning — deed restrictions apply; Extensive FEMA flood zones; High property tax rate. Our tool checks for all of these automatically.