Brownsville, TX Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- R-1 lot coverage
- 50 percent maximum
- R-2 / R-3
- 60 and 70 percent
- Commercial and industrial
- 75 percent maximum
- Accessory buildings
- Counted in the percentage
- Code
- UDC Article 4, adopted 2021
Summary
Brownsville caps lot coverage by zoning district under its Unified Development Code. Single-family R-1 lots allow 50 percent coverage, and the cap counts every accessory building on the lot, not just the house.
LOT COVERAGE (MAX.) 50% (Including all accessory buildings on the lot)
Full Breakdown
Article 4 of the UDC sets one maximum lot coverage figure per district: 30 percent in Agriculture (AG), 40 percent in Residential Estate (RE), 50 percent in Residential Single-Family (R-1), 60 percent in Residential Suburban (R-2), and 70 percent in Residential Transition (R-3). Commercial and industrial districts, including Corridor Commercial, Regional Center, Light Industrial and Heavy Industrial, all cap coverage at 75 percent. Every figure is stated as including all accessory buildings on the lot, so a detached garage, workshop or shed counts against the same percentage as the primary dwelling. Coverage is measured against total gross lot area.
Violations & Fines
Building beyond the district cap is a UDC violation. The Planning Director withholds or revokes permits, and fines run to $500 per day for non-safety violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a detached shed count toward lot coverage?
Do driveways and patios count as lot coverage?
Can I exceed the coverage cap?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Brownsville
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Brownsville to another location·View the Texas building setbacks & zoning overview
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