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Since there seems to be a lot of confusion about land-use regulation and planning in Houston, here’s a quick explainer on what Houston does regulate, doesn’t regulate, and how private covenants shape the city. 1. What Houston Doesn’t Do. Houston doesn’t mandate single-use zoning.
Aug 17, 2020 · Houston Land Use Regulation in Context. Houston famously does not enforce traditional zoning laws, which broadly restrict densities and segregate land uses. In fact, it is the only major American city without zoning, which was heavily promoted by the US Department of Commerce beginning in the 1920s. Houston voters rejected the policy in three ...
Land deals in Houston were once negotiated between politicians and landowners in the Rice Hotel. Open government laws have long since ended that practice, but the development community continues to influence city regulations. As for the development code itself, Houston does have one, perhaps contrary to popular belief.
Nov 25, 2020 · Despite Houston’s repudiation of traditional zoning, Gray and Millsap explain that it nonetheless employs a system of land-use controls that operate like zoning regulation. Private deed restrictions, for example, are agreements that stipulate how a property may or may not be used and that allow individual property owners to dictate everything from land use to architectural design.
Jul 11, 2022 · In a new book, M. Nolan Gray cites Houston as a model for rethinking zoning. Rising amid the rain-soaked coastal plains of Southeast Texas, Houston wouldn’t seem real if it didn’t, in fact ...
Sep 14, 2023 · Houston does not have a traditional zoning code and instead regulates local land use through a system of citywide ordinances. In 1998, policymakers approved an ordinance to allow building on smaller lots, reducing the minimum lot size in the urban core from 5,000 square feet to 3,500 square feet—or to 1,400 square feet for parcels meeting certain standards for open space.
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Sep 11, 2017 · Houston is recognized nationally for its unique approach to land-use regulation and lack of formal zoning. The city possesses a number of tools that are or can be used to regulate and shape development in lieu of zoning. The tools that exist in Houston are similar to those found in peer cities such as Dallas and Los Angeles.
