Texas Senate Advances Bill to Reduce Minimum Residential Lot Sizes in Large Cities

Collin County News

March 19, 2025 Maverick Tax Guardians

A Texas Senate committee has advanced Senate Bill 15 (SB 15), aiming to enhance housing affordability by permitting smaller residential lot sizes in major cities. The bill, authored by Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston), allows property owners in cities with populations exceeding 90,000—located in counties with at least 300,000 residents—to build single-family homes on lots as small as 1,400 square feet without local approval.

This legislation is inspired by Houston’s 1998 policy change, which reduced minimum lot sizes from 5,000 to 1,400 square feet, aiming to increase housing availability and affordability. Senator Bettencourt highlighted that the rising average age of homebuyers, now at 56, underscores the need for more affordable housing options.

The bill stipulates that for lots smaller than 4,000 square feet, local governments cannot enforce zoning restrictions related to height, parking spaces, or setbacks. To preserve existing neighborhood characteristics, these provisions apply only to undeveloped land parcels larger than five acres that have not been mapped or platted by September 1

While proponents argue that SB 15 could revitalize the concept of starter homes and make homeownership more attainable, some local officials express concerns. Georgetown Mayor Josh Schroeder fears that increased population density could strain infrastructure, leading to significant costs for water, wastewater, and road systems.

The Senate Local Government Committee unanimously approved SB 15, moving it to the full Senate for consideration. If enacted, the bill would supersede local regulations, such as Austin’s current minimum lot size requirement of 1,800 square feet for single-family homes.

This legislative effort reflects a broader trend in Texas to address housing shortages and affordability by revisiting zoning laws and land-use policies.

source
This news article is based on information from:
Community Impact – “Texas Senate panel moves to cut minimum residential lot sizes in large cities” (March 17, 2025). Retrieved from: https://communityimpact.com/austin/south-central-austin/texas-legislature/2025/03/13/texas-senate-panel-moves-to-cut-minimum-residential-lot-sizes-in-large-cities/