Old West Austin: Elevation Caps and Mapped Height Limits

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

Old West Austin’s original tract-zoning ordinance uses both ordinary height limits and absolute mean-sea-level elevation caps. Confusing the two can produce a materially wrong building envelope. The plan’s descriptions of corridor growth do not replace those adopted provisions or later parcel amendments.

Applies to: Ordinance 020926-26 tract table and Exhibits A–C; apply the conditions only to the identified tract after checking its zoning history.

Restrictions traced to adopted documents

Some limits are elevation caps, not height above the ground

Part 6(2) gives absolute mean-sea-level caps for Tracts 10, 12–18: for example, 518.6 feet MSL on Tract 10 and 512.5 feet MSL on Tract 18. A survey elevation is needed to translate those figures into an allowable structure height; 518.6 feet is not a permitted building height.

020926-26, Part 6(2) (PDF p. 5).

Tract 27 has a mapped, divided envelope

Part 6(3) and Exhibit C identify portions of Tract 27 with 40-, 50- and 55-foot height limits. The dividing lines are described by measured points on the tract. One number for the entire site would omit a real restriction.

020926-26, Part 6(3); Exhibit C (PDF p. 5).

Plan documents

Reading plans, amendments and PDF page references

Apply the ordinance to the parcel

Ordinance 020926-26 tract table and Exhibits A–C; apply the conditions only to the identified tract after checking its zoning history. See how this review handles original ordinances, amendments and HOME.

Send us an address and we will tell you what we find

We do this research ourselves on every project we take on — zoning, floodplain, watershed, trees, whether it is a legal lot. Send us an address and we will run it and tell you what we find. It works the same whether you own a vacant lot, a house you are thinking of adding a unit to, or a house you are thinking of replacing. No charge and no strings, and if it is a bad lot we will say so.

Send us an address

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.