Killeen regulates accessory dwelling units through its Unified Development Code (UDC) and Chapter 31 (Zoning) of the Code of Ordinances. ADUs are not permitted by right in single-family (SF) districts and typically require a Specific Use Permit (SUP) reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission and approved by City Council. Building permits are issued through Killeen Building Inspections after the SUP is granted. Texas has not preempted local discretionary review of ADUs.
Killeen regulates accessory dwelling units (often described locally as 'accessory living quarters,' 'guest quarters,' or 'garage apartments') under the Unified Development Code and Chapter 31 of the Code of Ordinances. In the predominant single-family residential districts (SF-1, SF-2, SF-3), a second dwelling with kitchen facilities is not allowed by right and requires a Specific Use Permit. SUP applications are filed with the Planning Department, reviewed by Planning and Zoning Commission, and approved by City Council after a public hearing with notice to property owners within 200 feet under Texas Local Government Code Ch. 211. Review criteria include neighborhood compatibility, lot size, on-street parking impact, and infrastructure capacity. The Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood) market has driven significant demand for garage apartments and guest quarters near the post; Killeen's UDC distinguishes a true second dwelling from a permitted accessory structure (no kitchen, no separate utility metering) used as a guest room. Detached ADUs that are approved generally must comply with accessory structure standards in UDC Article on accessory uses: typically subordinate to the principal dwelling in size and height, set back at least 5 feet from side/rear lot lines, and single-story unless the SUP allows otherwise. Construction plans are processed through Killeen Building Inspections under the 2024 IRC (Killeen Code Ch. 8), effective Jan. 1, 2026, plus electrical (2023 NEC), mechanical, and plumbing trade permits. SUP processing typically takes 2 to 4 months; building permit review adds another 2 to 4 weeks. Texas state law has not preempted Killeen's discretionary SUP process the way California's Gov. Code § 65852.2 has preempted local ADU review.
Building or occupying an ADU without an approved SUP and building permit is a violation of the Killeen Code of Ordinances enforceable through municipal court citations. Texas Local Government Code § 54.001 authorizes civil penalties up to $1,000 per day for zoning violations affecting public health and safety and $500 per day for general zoning violations. The city may issue stop-work orders, refuse Certificates of Occupancy, and place liens for abatement.
Killeen, TX
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See how Killeen's adu permits rules stack up against other locations.
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