Welcome to the Livable Places initiative
Overall Housing Recommendations
For the last three years, the City of Houston Planning and Development Department has been working with the Livable Places Action Committee to amend portions of the City’s subdivision and development standards (Chapter 42 of the Houston Code of Ordinances) to create more opportunities for walkability, affordability and equity. The proposed amendments include recommendations for small lot developments, small multi-family developments, accessory dwelling units, and lot access to public streets. They have been developed through three years of public engagement and technical analysis.
Planning Department staff presented Livable Places housing recommendations (proposed Chapter 42 ordinance amendments) to Planning Commission at a public hearing on March 16, 2023. The Planning Commission closed the comment period on April 27, 2023 and will consider the amendments in June.
Click here to see an English or Spanish version of the proposed amendments flyer.
Overall Housing Recommendations LPAC - Summary
Proposed Overall Housing Amendments Ordinance Daft
Click here to view the presentation of the four citywide public meeting series conducted on April 3, 15, 18 and 20.
The Planning Commission will consider these changes in June and you can sign up to speak during this meeting.
About Livable Places
Houston is a rapidly growing city and family sizes are shrinking. There's a need for more, smaller homes for people of all ages. However, the City's rules make it difficult to build small, neighborhood-scale homes for people to buy and rent.
If we want to preserve our great diversity, culture and innovative industry, we need to act now to address issues like displacement and rising home and transportation costs. The goal of Livable Places is to update development standards to allow for a greater variety of homes to be built, make neighborhoods safer, and better utilize alternative forms of transportation.
We're paving the way for more equitable, walkable, and affordable neighborhoods for all Houstonians.
Sounds good, right? We agree - but we need your help to make it happen.
Key Recommendations
- Allowing more “missing middle” homes, like triplexes and small house scale apartment buildings, in developed neighborhoods
- Making it easier to build accessory dwelling units, like garage apartments or “granny flats,” on single-family residential lots when not prohibited by deed restrictions
- Adding more home options with better access to transit options like bus stops, bike lanes, and neighborhood destinations
- Improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists
- Reducing parking requirements in neighborhoods with good access to existing transit and bike lanes
These recommendations are based on community feedback and previous efforts by the Planning Department. We want to hear from you about how to make our communities more walkable, affordable and equitable - scroll down to find out more and leave your comments.
The purpose of Conservation Districts is to preserve, maintain and protect community character and heritage of neighborhoods having distinctive characteristics, cultural elements and patterns of development within the city limits. Houston City Council Voted on April 5 to approve an amendment to Chapter 33 of the Code of Ordinances that will enable the process of creating Conservation Districts in six pilot Houston neighborhoods. Discussions about Conservation Districts arose from and are related to the ongoing work of the Livable Places Action Committee.
The pilot neighborhoods include Independence Heights, Freedmen's Town, Acres Home, Magnolia Park/Manchester, Pleasantville and Piney Point (located in District F, not Piney Point Village).
The ordinance amendment does not create any Conservation Districts at this time, but authorizes the Planning and Development Department to move forward in concert with these selected communities to continue public engagement, evaluate options and begin the district creation process. Learn more about Conservation Districts.
Approved by City Council January 25
City Council unanimously approved amendments to the City Code of Ordinances and City of Houston Construction and Electrical Codes on January 25 to address the effects that may arise when newly constructed, mid-rise and high-rise structures abut single-family and small scale multi-family residential structures.
The amendments were presented to Council by the Planning and Development Department after considerable discussion and hearing from community members. These changes will apply to all building permit applications for commercial properties starting February 25, 2023. Read the full press release.
Click to review the adopted ordinance amendments, presentation to the Council Committee, Proposed ordinance amendments side by side, public comments matrix and Residential buffering amendments FAQ.
If you're not registered on the Let's Talk Houston site, sign up here to provide comments.
Comment and Learn More
In the Proposed Amendments tab, you will find information on various amendments proposed through the Committee's work. Post your comments or questions or start a discussion.
In the Articles tab, you will find various reading material that can provide context and definitions to support and provide meaning to the work the Livable Places Action Committee will discuss during its monthly meetings.
Schedule a Presentation
We want to visit with your organization. Let us know about upcoming meetings or events. Call Suvidha Bandi or Tammi Williamson at 832-393-6600 or LivablePlaces@houstontx.gov to schedule a presentation on the purpose of the Livable Places Action Committee and the draft recommendations described on this page.
Livable Places Action Committee meetings
The Livable Places Action Committee is a committee of the Houston Planning Commission comprised of industry representatives, subject matter experts, community leaders and other agencies who will guide the process.
View presentation and meeting documents click here.
Previous meeting materials