1. Zoning
  2. Austin, TX
  3. SF-3

Austin, TX · zoning record

SF-3 zoning in Austin, TX: height, setbacks and lot size

The dimensional standards that govern what you can build in the SF-3 district, straight from Austin's ordinance, with every figure quoting its source. Check a specific address to see how these rules apply to a real lot.

Free · Every figure cited · Read from the current code (2026-07-18)

In Austin's SF-3 district single-family, duplex, two-unit residential and three-unit residential are allowed by right, with up to 3 dwelling units per lot (Austin code § 25-2-491(C), read 2026-07-18; § 25-2-492(D), read 2026-07-18).

In Austin's SF-3 district the maximum height is 35 ft (Austin code § 25-2-492(D), read 2026-07-18).

In Austin's SF-3 district the minimum lot size is 5,750 sq ft (Austin code § 25-2-492(D), read 2026-07-18).

In Austin's SF-3 district the minimum front setback is 25 ft (Austin code § 25-2-492(D), read 2026-07-18).

In Austin's SF-3 district the minimum interior side setback is 5 ft (Austin code § 25-2-492(D), read 2026-07-18).

In Austin's SF-3 district the minimum rear setback is 10 ft (Austin code § 25-2-492(D), read 2026-07-18).

In Austin's SF-3 district building coverage may not exceed 40% (Austin code § 25-2-492(D), read 2026-07-18).

In Austin's SF-3 district impervious cover may not exceed 45% (Austin code § 25-2-492(D), read 2026-07-18).

SF-3 dimensional standards.

These are the letter-of-the-law limits for the base SF-3 district. Overlays (historic, neighborhood plan, and similar) can tighten them; a specific address check resolves the overlays that actually apply.

Maximum height

35 ft

How tall the building may be.

Row as published“MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 35 35 35 35 35 4 5 35 35 40 40 or 3 stories 40 60 60 90 — 35 or 2 stories 40 or 3 stories 60 40 40 or 3 stories 60 200 350 120 25 or 1 story 11 60 60 12 60 120 60 45 35 15 60 17”
§ 25-2-492(D) · Austin code · read 2026-07-18

Dwelling units per lot

3 units

How many homes the lot may hold.

Row as published“MAXIMUM DWELLING UNITS PER LOT: 1 1 3 3 3 4 5 — — 6 7 8 9 9 — — 1 15 — 17”
§ 25-2-492(D) · Austin code · read 2026-07-18

Minimum lot size

5,750 sf

Smallest conforming lot.

Row as published“MINIMUM LOT SIZE (square feet): 43,560 43,560 10,000 5,750 5,750 4 5 5,750 5,750 8,000 8,000 8,000 8,000 8,000 8,000 — 5,750 5,750 5,750 20,000 5,750 5,750 5,750 — — 43,560 11 5,750 5,750 20,000 43,560 50 acres 5,750 14 10 acres 15 10 acres 17”
§ 25-2-492(D) · Austin code · read 2026-07-18

Front setback

25 ft

Required space from the front line.

Row as published“FRONT YARD: 40 40 25 25 25 4 5 25 25 25 25 25 15 15 15 — 25 25 15 50 25 10 10 — — 25 10 10 50 25 — — 75 25 15 100 17”
§ 25-2-492(D) · Austin code · read 2026-07-18

Interior side setback

5 ft

Required space from a side line.

Row as published“INTERIOR SIDE YARD: 10 10 5 5 5 4 10 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 — 5 5 5 20 — — — — — 5 — — 25 13 13 13 14 10 15 100 17”
§ 25-2-492(D) · Austin code · read 2026-07-18

Rear setback

10 ft

Required space from the rear line.

Row as published“REAR YARD: 20 20 10 10 10 4 5 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 — 5 5 5 20 — — — — — 25 — — 25 13 13 13 14 10 15 100 17”
§ 25-2-492(D) · Austin code · read 2026-07-18

Maximum building coverage

40 %

Share of the lot the building footprint may cover.

Row as published“MAXIMUM BUILDING COVERAGE: — 20% 35% 40% 40% 4 40% 40% 40% 45% 50% 55% 60% 60% 70% — 35% 50% 60% 25% 50% 75% 50% 100% 100% — 95% 95% 85% 50% 75% 75% 40% 12,000 15 — 17”
§ 25-2-492(D) · Austin code · read 2026-07-18

Maximum impervious cover

45 %

Share of the lot that may be hard surface.

Row as published“MAXIMUM IMPERVIOUS COVER: 1 25% 40% 45% 45% * 60% 55% 55% 55% 60% 65% 70% 70% 80% — 60% 70% 80% 60% 80% 90% 50% 100% 100% 70% 95% 95% 85% 80% 80% 80% 14 15,000 15 — 17”
§ 25-2-492(D) · Austin code · read 2026-07-18

Uses in SF-3

  • single-familyAllowed by right
  • duplexAllowed by right
  • two-unit residentialAllowed by right
  • three-unit residentialAllowed by right
“Single-Family Residential P P P P P — — P P P P P P P P — — — — — — — — P P — — — — — — — 1 P — C 3 4 · Duplex Residential — — P P P — — P P P P P P P P — — — — — — — — P P — — — — — — — — — — — — — · Two-Unit Residential — — P P P — — P…”§ 25-2-491(C) · Austin code · read 2026-07-18

What the record can't settle

  • Subchapter F (Residential Design and Compatibility Standards) may cap floor area (McMansion FAR) within its mapped boundary — the boundary is not checked here; verify with the city
  • Two-unit and three-unit residential uses carry their own site standards under § 25-2-773 (15 ft front yard, 40% building coverage, 45% impervious cover) that supersede the base table for those uses

Sources

Every figure above is quoted verbatim from the current ordinance. We never substitute a typical-for-zone default: a field absent from the record shows nothing, not a guess.

Informational only — not a permit, appraisal, or professional engineering opinion. Verify with your local planning department before acting on it. See Terms and data sources.

Other Austin districts on record.

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Check a real Austin lot against SF-3.

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