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Brownsville, TX Accessory Structures: Tiny Homes (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified July 2026

Tiny home rules in Brownsville, TX, covering tiny houses on wheels (THOWs), park model RVs, and tiny home on foundation builds, determine where they are legal and how they get permitted.

Key Facts

Tiny-home use category
None in the UDC
ADUs per lot
One
ADU size cap
50% of principal dwelling floor area
ADU setbacks
Same as principal dwelling
Accessory structure height
2 stories / 30 feet

Summary

Brownsville's Unified Development Code contains no tiny-home use or building type. A small permanent dwelling is built as a detached house, a cottage-court unit, or an accessory dwelling unit, and it carries the full standards of whichever category applies.

An Accessory Dwelling Unit shall be limited in size to not more than 50% of the total floor area of the principal dwelling's living space.

Source: Brownsville Code of Ordinances & Unified Development CodeView official code

Full Breakdown

The accessory dwelling unit is the practical route. Section 4.4.4 allows one ADU per lot, occupied by one household, rentable to a tenant or a guest, held to the setbacks of the principal dwelling, and capped at 50 percent of the principal dwelling's living-space floor area. A separate utility meter is allowed. Under the accessory-structure building type in § 4.5.4, the structure tops out at 28 feet of building depth and two stories or 30 feet of height. A factory-built unit on a permanent chassis falls under the HUD-Code manufactured home definition and the manufactured-home development standards instead.

Violations & Fines

Building without a permit or occupying without a certificate of occupancy violates the UDC. Zoning offenses carry fines up to $2,000 under § 1-13, with each day a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put a tiny house in my backyard in Brownsville?
As an accessory dwelling unit, yes: one per lot, at the principal dwelling's setbacks, no larger than half the main house's living area, with permits and inspections.
Does a tiny house on wheels count?
The UDC's HUD-Code manufactured home definition expressly excludes recreational vehicles, so a wheeled unit is reviewed as an RV rather than as a dwelling and is not a listed building type.
Can I rent out the accessory dwelling unit?
Yes. Section 4.4.4 states accessory dwelling units may be rented or occupied by a guest. Short-term rental use triggers separate registration under Chapter 94, Article IV-A.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Brownsville

Animal Ordinances: Chickens & LivestockSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Leaf Blower RulesFew RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Wildlife FeedingFew RestrictionsFire Regulations: Wildfire ZonesFew RestrictionsLandscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage TreesSome Restrictions

All Brownsville rules

Texas rules heatmap·Compare Brownsville to another location·View the Texas accessory structures overview

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