ADU Design in Morgan's Point Resort, TX

ADU Design in Texas: what governs your project

Texas has no statewide ADU statute in force; accessory dwellings are governed by each city's development code. Austin's local reforms allow ADUs broadly, but most Texas cities set their own standards and several still restrict them.

Energy code

Permitting varies by jurisdiction: typical local rules cap ADU size and height, require standard building permits, and address utility tap fees and impact fees by city. Houston's lack of conventional zoning makes its ADU process different from Dallas or San Antonio's.

Permitting & plan check

Plan review is handled by the local authority having jurisdiction — city building departments in incorporated areas, with counties covering unincorporated areas on a limited basis. Because Texas has no mandatory statewide building code, the adopted code edition varies by city, so confirming the local amendments is the first step on any project.

Good to know

• Texas has no mandatory statewide building code; each city adopts its own edition of the IBC.
• Houston is the largest U.S. city with no zoning ordinance, though deed restrictions and development codes still shape projects.
• The February 2021 winter storm (Uri) caused widespread freeze damage and pushed freeze-protection upgrades into standard practice.

Every discipline, one team