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Corpus Christi, TX Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Clustered development cap: 65% of development boundary
Cottage development sitewide cap: 65% impervious
Individual cottage lot cap: 75% impervious
Governing article: UDC § 6.7 and § 4.7
Standard RS/RM districts: no stated % cap; open-space minimum instead
Review point: site plan / plat approval

Summary

Corpus Christi's Unified Development Code sets no single citywide lot-coverage percentage for standard RS or RM lots; those districts instead run on minimum open-space percentages. Where the UDC does cap impervious surface by percentage, it applies to two specific development types: Clustered Developments (65% of the development boundary) and Cottage Housing Developments (65% sitewide, 75% per individual cottage lot).

E. Impervious Coverage Allowance.
The maximum impervious coverage of the entire clustered development cannot exceed 65% of the development boundaries, which includes parking areas, unless the parking areas consist of pervious surfaces.

Source: Corpus Christi Unified Development CodeView official code

Full Breakdown

B) regulate site coverage indirectly through a "Min. 5 is not subject to a numeric impervious cap in the UDC text itself. Percentage-based impervious limits appear only where the Code creates a distinct development type. E, "Impervious Coverage Allowance," caps the entire clustered development, including parking areas, at 65% of the development boundaries unless those parking areas are built with pervious surfaces, in which case they do not count against the cap. 7. B). C). 7 site plan requirements (Cottage), and Development Services checks the calculation before plat or permit approval.

Violations & Fines

A site plan or plat showing impervious coverage above the applicable 65%/75% cap is rejected by Development Services at plan review; the applicant must redesign, add qualifying pervious paving, or document BMP-Manual retention credit before resubmitting. Because these caps are development-standard conditions of the Clustered Development Overlay or Cottage Housing Article rather than separate criminal offenses, the Code does not set a distinct fine schedule for exceeding them; enforcement runs through withholding of plat/plan approval and, for built projects, through the general Code compliance process for constructing without an approved plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the maximum lot coverage for a regular house lot in Corpus Christi?

The UDC's standard single-family and multifamily district tables (Table 4.3.3, Table 4.4.3.B) do not list a maximum lot-coverage or impervious-cover percentage; they instead set a minimum open-space percentage for the site. A percentage-based impervious cap only appears where the Code creates a Clustered Development or Cottage Housing Development.

How much impervious surface can a Clustered Development have?

UDC § 6.7.2.E caps the entire clustered development, including parking areas, at 65% impervious coverage of the development boundaries, unless the parking is built with pervious surfaces, which then does not count against the cap.

Is the cottage lot cap different from the whole-development cap?

Yes. UDC § 4.7.6.A caps an individually platted cottage unit lot at 75% impervious cover of that lot's footprint, while § 4.7.6.B caps the entire Cottage Housing Development site at 65%, a two-tier structure unique to that housing type.

Can porous pavement increase how much impervious area I can build?

Yes. Under UDC § 4.7.6.C, properly installed and maintained porous paving used for driveways, parking areas, sidewalks or paths is treated as 100% pervious and does not count against the impervious cap, and site area served by qualifying stormwater BMPs can be deducted from the total as well.

Sources & Official References

[1]Corpus Christi Unified Development Code

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