The development process in the City of Austin is guided by a collection of separate controlling sources including the Land Development Code, Site and/ or Area-Specific Zoning regulations, Building and Technical Codes, and Technical Criteria Manuals.
Austin City Code
City of Austin Code of Ordinances
Building Technical Codes
The City of Austin's Building Technical Codes (Chapter 25-12) contains regulations to ensure the safety and functionality of the structure for its future occupants. These codes include the International Building Code, International Residential Code, National Electric Code, Uniform Mechanical Code, Uniform Plumbing Code, International Fire Code, International Wildland-Urban Interface Code, International Energy Conservation Code, and the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code.
Code Interpretation Library
The Code Interpretation Library provides useful information on how the City interprets and applies certain regulations in the Land Development Code (Title 25 of the City Code), including site development and subdivision regulations, as well as technical (construction) codes.
Common Code Violations
Learn about common Austin Code violations and how City of Austin codes and ordinances protect our health and safety.
Fire Building Code
The City of Austin adopted the 2021 edition of the International Fire Code with local amendments.
HOME Amendments
On Dec. 7, 2023, the Austin City Council passed new code amendments for the first phase of the “Home Options for Middle-Income Empowerment” (HOME) Initiative. This webpage serves as a hub for information related to the HOME Initiative and will be updated as more information is available.
Land Development Code (Title 25)
Chapters 25-1 thru 25-11 contain development regulations within the City's planning and zoning jurisdiction. Chapter 25-12 contains the Building Technical Codes.
Land Development Code (Title 30)
Title 30 contains Austin/Travis County Subdivision Regulations. These regulations apply to the subdivision of land in the portion of the City of Austin's extraterritorial jurisdiction that is within Travis County, including the areas that the city has annexed for limited purposes.
Land Development Rule Postings and Technical Criteria Manuals
Technical Criteria Manuals were created to interpret and specify the requirements established in the Land Development Code (Titles 25 and 30 of the City's Code of Ordinances). The City of Austin’s Technical Criteria Manuals includes:
- Building Criteria Manual
- Drainage Criteria Manual
- Environmental Criteria Manual
- Fire Protection Criteria Manual
- Standards Specification Manual
- Standards Manual
- Transportation Criteria Manual
- Utilities Criteria Manual
Residential Design & Compatibility Standards
The Residential Design and Compatibility or "McMansion" regulations were designed to minimize the impact of new construction, remodels, and additions to existing buildings on surrounding properties in residential neighborhoods by defining an acceptable building area for each lot within which new development may occur.
Specific Area Regulations
This page contains links to regulations that replace zoning in small portions of the City where compact, walkable, and mixed-use development is desired, such as neighborhood plans, neighborhood conservation combining districts, conditional overlays, planned unit development regulations, and residential design and compatibility standards.