North Loop: Adopted Garage Rules, FAR and Tract Setbacks

Last reviewed September 17, 2026 · City of Austin planning documents · Kimbrough Gray · KiliGray Homes

North Loop has both a 2002 tract-zoning ordinance and a separately adopted 2012 residential design ordinance. The former includes use-specific FAR limits and access restrictions; the latter adopts actual porch, yard and garage provisions. The plan’s voluntary secondary-apartment design illustrations do not add another unit-size limit.

Applies to: Use Ordinance 020523-31 for the identified tracts and Ordinance 20120823-089 for its residential design-tool adoption, together with current use-specific Code rules.

Restrictions traced to adopted documents

The 2012 design-tool ordinance is the operative source

Ordinance 20120823-089 applies front-porch setbacks, front-yard impervious-cover/parking placement and garage placement under §§25-2-1602–1604 to the existing legal lots and residential uses it identifies. HOME three-unit garage placement follows the City’s separate use-specific interpretation.

20120823-089, Part 2 (PDF p. 1).

Tract 88b: FAR depends on the proposed business

Part 8(18) limits FAR to 1:1 for the specified retail and financial-services uses, 0.45:1 for restaurants, and 0.38:1 for food sales. It also prohibits vehicular access to 53rd Street. Those commercial-use ratios are not residential HOME FAR limits.

020523-31, Part 8(18) (PDF p. 10).

Tract 101: height, setback and cover

Part 8(19) imposes a 40-foot height limit, 25-foot minimum front yard, 55% building coverage and 65% impervious cover. Match the tract before applying these figures to a North Loop address.

020523-31, Part 8(19) (PDF p. 10).

The proposed housing use matters

Which garage rule applies to single-family, two-unit and three-unit projects?

Plan, map and amendment records

Apply the ordinance to the parcel

Use Ordinance 020523-31 for the identified tracts and Ordinance 20120823-089 for its residential design-tool adoption, together with current use-specific Code rules. See how this review handles original ordinances, amendments and HOME.

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We are homebuilders, not the City of Austin. This page explains how we read the code in practice — it is not legal advice and it is not an official determination. Always confirm with Austin Development Services before you rely on it for a project. The authoritative text is the Austin Land Development Code; permitting questions go to Austin Development Services Department.