Irving, TX Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- R-40 district cap
- 20% of total lot area
- R-15 district cap
- 30% of total lot area
- R-10 district cap
- 35% of total lot area
- R-7.5 district cap
- 40% of total lot area
- What counts
- Roofed areas only (§3.1.1(a))
- Max fine
- $2,000 per day, zoning (§1-6)
Summary
Irving's Unified Development Code caps how much of a single-family lot a house can cover, with the percentage set district by district. In the large-lot R-40 district it is 20 percent of total lot area; the limit rises as minimum lot size shrinks, reaching 40 percent in the R-7.5 district.
e) Height and area regulations: The following maximum height and area regulations shall be observed: 1) Height of principal structure: 2½ stories or 30 feet 2) Lot coverage by principal buildings: 20 percent of total lot area
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4988517; v32 updated 2026-07-30).
Full Breakdown
4(e) of the Unified Development Code sets the R-40 single-family district's height and area regulations at a maximum of 2 1/2 stories or 30 feet, with lot coverage by principal buildings capped at 20 percent of total lot area. 5 at 40 percent (with a shorter 2-story or 25-foot height cap). ' That accessory-structure section also confirms an accessory building must sit on or behind the required front building wall in an 'R' district, and that distance between structures, including swimming pools, is governed by the city's adopted building codes.
Because the percentage is tied to the specific residential zoning district a lot carries, an owner has to confirm the district designation (R-40 through R-6, or a site-planned district) before applying a coverage number, since the UDC does not set one citywide figure. Site-planned (S-P-1/S-P-2) and planned unit development properties instead have their lot coverage set case-by-case as part of the zoning case rather than by these fixed district tables.
Violations & Fines
Zoning is one of the categories the Code's general penalty section calls out for the higher tier: Section 1-6 punishes violations of an ordinance governing zoning by a fine not exceeding $2,000.00, and 'each day any violation of any provision of this Code or other ordinance of the city shall continue shall constitute a separate offense, unless otherwise provided.' A structure built over the district's lot coverage cap is out of compliance with the applicable UDC district regulations and can be cited on that basis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the lot coverage limit for my house in Irving?
Does a pool or patio count toward lot coverage?
What happens if a house exceeds the district's coverage cap?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Irving
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Irving to another location·View the Texas building setbacks & zoning overview
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Lot Coverage Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dallas County handle lot coverage limits.