McKinney restricts accessory dwelling units in single-family residential districts. Under the McKinney Zoning Ordinance, an accessory living quarters or guest house may be permitted as incidental to the principal dwelling but cannot be rented as a separate household. Establishing a true ADU as a separate rental unit typically requires a Specific Use Permit (SUP), reviewed by the Planning & Zoning Commission and City Council under Texas Local Government Code Ch. 211 zoning authority.
McKinney regulates accessory dwelling units through its Zoning Ordinance, administered by the Planning Department and Building Inspections Division. McKinney's single-family residential districts (RS-60, RS-72, RS-84, RS-120, RED-1, RED-2) permit a single dwelling unit per lot; an accessory 'guest house' or 'servant's quarters' may be allowed as a use incidental to the principal dwelling but cannot operate as a separate rental household. Establishing a separate-unit ADU typically requires a Specific Use Permit (SUP) — a discretionary land-use review with Planning & Zoning Commission recommendation and McKinney City Council approval, including public hearings and notice to property owners within 200 feet. Texas Local Government Code Chapter 211 grants McKinney (as a home-rule city) zoning authority and has not preempted local ADU rules the way California has done. McKinney's historic downtown — within the Historic Preservation Overlay (HPO) and including East Side, West Side, and Chestnut Square heritage areas — has additional design review through the Historic Preservation Advisory Board for any new accessory structures, with Certificate of Appropriateness required. McKinney enforces the 2021 International Residential Code (with Texas amendments) through Building Inspections. North Texas tornado risk places McKinney in ASCE 7 Wind Zone IV (250 mph) for storm-shelter design considerations.
Building an unpermitted second dwelling unit: stop-work order from Building Inspections, daily fines up to $2,000 per violation for building code violations and $500 per day for zoning violations under Texas Local Government Code §54.001, and Code Services citations. Operating an unpermitted second unit as a rental violates McKinney's single-family district zoning. Unpermitted work in the HPO can trigger additional restoration orders.
McKinney, TX
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McKinney, TX
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McKinney, TX
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McKinney, TX
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McKinney, TX
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McKinney, TX
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Collin County.
See how other cities in Collin County handle adu permits.
See how McKinney's adu permits rules stack up against other locations.
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