Pre-Submission Review · Free
Houston, TX
ADUs are one of the fastest-growing housing types in the country — but every city has different rules for setbacks, size limits, and parking. State laws increasingly require cities to approve compliant ADUs ministerially, but you still need to meet local zoning requirements for the primary structure and overall site. A single code miss can delay your permit by weeks.
Texas has no statewide ADU law — ADU rules are set entirely at the city level. Houston's local zoning code determines whether ADUs are permitted, and under what conditions (lot size minimums, owner occupancy requirements, size limits, and parking). Some Texas cities have progressive ADU policies, while others effectively prohibit them.
Common issues that delay ADU permits in Houston:
Use the form above to check your ADU project against Houston's building codes. We verify setbacks, height, lot coverage, and parking requirements before you submit.
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.