Accessory Structures in Lubbock, TX: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Lubbock or are thinking about moving there, accessory structures are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Lubbock has 4 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of accessory structures, and some of them might surprise you.

Shed & Carport Rules

Lubbock's Unified Development Code holds sheds, garages, greenhouses, and storage buildings to a five-foot minimum side and rear setback, sets a 20-foot setback for alley-facing garages, and caps accessory floor area at 10 percent of the lot under UDC Section 39.02.020c.2. A shed under 200 square feet skips the separate building permit under Building Code Section 28.05.062(1), but the zoning setbacks apply no matter the size.

Key details: Side/rear setback: 5 feet minimum, detached accessory structures. Alley-facing garage setback: 20 feet from alley right-of-way. Max accessory floor area: 10% of total lot square footage. Permit-exempt shed size: Under 200 square feet. Max UDC violation fine: $2,000 per day, per offense.

UDC violations go to the Director of Code Enforcement, who logs and investigates any written complaint under Section 39.09.004. A property owner, builder, or occupant who violates the accessory structure standards is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $2,000.00, with each day the violation continues counted as a separate offense. The Director can also sue to restrain, correct, or abate an out-of-compliance shed or garage in addition to filing a criminal citation.

ADU Owner Occupancy

Lubbock only allows an accessory dwelling unit on a residential lot where the property owner lives in either the primary house or the ADU itself, and approval automatically ends if neither unit stays owner-occupied after a sale.

Key details: Governing section: UDC § 39.02.020(e). Core requirement: Owner lives in primary or accessory unit. Applies in: RE, SF-1, SF-2, MDR (new); HDR (existing). Min. lot area: 10,000 sq ft; 6,000 in Infill Overlays. Approval limit: 1 primary + 1 accessory unit per lot.

An ADU that loses owner-occupied status because neither the primary nor accessory unit is occupied by the property owner loses its approved status automatically under Subsection 5; continuing to rent or use the unit after that point makes it an unpermitted accessory dwelling, subject to Code Enforcement action and potential requirement that the unit be vacated, converted to a conforming accessory use, or removed.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Lubbock actively enforces its adu owner occupancy requirements.

ADU Rules

Lubbock allows one accessory dwelling unit per lot in the RE, SF-1, SF-2, and MDR zoning districts, but only if the property owner lives in the primary or accessory unit. New ADUs need a 10,000-square-foot lot (6,000 in infill overlays), one extra parking space, and floor area capped at the primary home's size.

Key details: Governing section: § 39.02.020(e), Accessory Dwelling Unit. Districts allowed (new ADUs): RE, SF-1, SF-2, MDR, qualifying Mixed Use. Owner-occupancy: Required in primary or accessory unit. Minimum lot area: 10,000 sq ft (6,000 sq ft in infill overlays). Parking: One extra off-street space required.

Building an ADU without an approved owner-occupancy affidavit, exceeding the one-ADU-per-lot cap, or building past the floor-area or parking limits puts the structure out of compliance with the UDC, and the Director of Planning can deem it a nonconforming or illegal structure. If neither the primary nor accessory unit stays owner-occupied, the approved ADU status terminates, and continued rental use afterward runs afoul of the applicability standard in Section 39.02.020(e).

ADU Rental Restrictions

Lubbock lets an owner-occupied accessory dwelling unit be rented long-term, rented short-term, or used as a guest house, but caps every ADU at one per lot, a 10,000-square-foot minimum lot, one extra off-street parking space, and a floor area no larger than the primary house.

Key details: Governing section: UDC § 39.02.020(e)(3). Permitted rental use: Long-term, short-term, or guest house. Units per lot: 1 primary + 1 accessory only. Extra parking required: 1 off-street space for the ADU. Floor area cap: Cannot exceed primary dwelling's area.

An ADU rented out without meeting the one-off-street-parking-space requirement, or built beyond the floor area of the primary dwelling, is out of compliance with Section 39.02.020(e)(3) and can be cited by Code Enforcement; because rental use is also conditioned on the ADU's owner-occupancy status remaining intact, an ADU that loses that status under the termination provision cannot continue to be rented as an approved accessory dwelling unit.

The Bottom Line

Lubbock's accessory structures rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Lubbock is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Lubbock can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.