What are Bellaire setbacks and lot coverage rules?

Short answer: How far your house must sit from the street, side lines and alley depends on your zoning district, and Table 24-531-1 holds the numbers for single-family districts. In the R-1 district the table shows a 14,400 square foot minimum lot, a 1,600 square foot minimum floor area, building height of 2.5 stories, and lot coverage of the greater of 4,200 square feet or 55 percent of lot area. Confirm your district and your numbers with Development Services before you add a room, garage, or patio.

Know your district

Setbacks and lot coverage live in Chapter 24. Sec. 24-531 says Table 24-531-1 identifies all dimensional regulations for single-family dwellings. For R-1 Residential, the table shows a minimum lot area of 14,400 square feet, a minimum floor area of 1,600 square feet, a rear yard of 10 feet from any alley or easement (with notes), and building height of 2.5 stories (25 and 35.5). The table also has front yard and side yard columns, and the R-3, R-4 and other districts use the same table. We could not read those cells reliably, so check the table itself for your district's front and side yard numbers.

Rule: City Code Sec. 24-531 (Table 24-531-1).

What "lot coverage" means

The zoning definitions say: "Lot coverage (site coverage). The area of a particular lot or tract which is covered with buildings and other surfaces." The "lot coverage ratio" is the ratio of buildings and other surfaces to the lot area. For R-1, the code says lot coverage is the greater of 4,200 square feet or 55 percent of lot area. Ask Development Services what counts on your plans.

Rule: City Code Sec. 24-202 (definitions) and Sec. 24-531.

Corner lots and side yards

The R-1 notes include a rule for older corner lots: on lots that were official corner lots of record before the chapter was enacted, the minimum side yard next to the side street is ten feet. Accessory structures have their own rule: a side yard of not less than three feet from any interior side lot line.

Rule: City Code Sec. 24-531 (table notes).

What happens if you don't

Breaking the zoning setback or lot-coverage rules in Chapter 24 can bring a fine of up to $2,000, and each day counts as a new offense (Sec. 1-10). We did not find a separate fine amount for these rules, so the general penalty applies. The legal basis for the $2,000 cap is Texas Local Government Code Sec. 54.001 (zoning).

Who to call

Development Services Department.

Sources

• City of Bellaire Code of Ordinances, Sec. 24-531 (R-1 and Table 24-531-1), Sec. 24-202 (lot coverage definitions), Sec. 1-10 (general penalty). library.municode.com/tx/bellaire

En español

¿Cuáles son los retiros y la cobertura del lote en Bellaire? Dependen de su distrito de zonificación, y la Tabla 24-531-1 contiene los números para distritos unifamiliares. En el distrito R-1, la tabla muestra un lote mínimo de 14,400 pies cuadrados, un área mínima construida de 1,600 pies cuadrados, un patio trasero de 10 pies desde un callejón o servidumbre, una altura de 2.5 pisos y una cobertura del lote igual a la mayor cantidad entre 4,200 pies cuadrados o el 55 por ciento del lote. La "cobertura del lote" incluye edificios y otras superficies. En lotes de esquina antiguos, el patio lateral hacia la calle lateral debe ser de al menos 10 pies, y las estructuras accesorias necesitan un patio lateral de no menos de tres pies. Consulte la tabla y al Departamento de Servicios de Desarrollo antes de ampliar. Romper estas reglas puede costar una multa de hasta $2,000, y cada día cuenta como una infracción nueva (Sec. 1-10). Para preguntas, comuníquese con el Departamento de Servicios de Desarrollo.