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New Braunfels, TX Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)

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

Key Facts

Single-family districts
No lot coverage limit
R-3 multifamily yard minimum
55% of lot; 40% with garage
Effective max building coverage
45%, or 60% with enclosed parking
Also applies to
B-1, TH, ZH, C-1–C-4, M-1, M-2
Violation penalty
Misdemeanor, up to $2,000 per day

Summary

New Braunfels sets no lot-coverage cap for single-family homes, but multifamily, business, and industrial districts must keep at least 50 to 55 percent of the tract as yard space, capping building footprint near half the lot.

(ix)Lot coverage. The combined area of all yards shall be at least 55 percent of the total lot or tract; provided, however, that in the event enclosed parking is provided the minimum total yard area requirement shall be 40 percent of the total lot or tract.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 36).

Full Breakdown

The zoning code imposes no percentage-based lot coverage or impervious cover limit on single-family districts (R-1, R-2, R-1A-43.5, R-1A-12, and similar), only setbacks, height, and minimum lot area apply there. In the R-3 multifamily district, Sec. 144-3.3-3(b)(2)(ix) requires the combined area of all yards to equal at least 55 percent of the lot, dropping to 40 percent where enclosed parking is provided, capping building coverage at 45 percent, or up to 60 percent with garages. B-1, TH, ZH, C-1 through C-4, and M-1/M-2 districts use the identical yard-area formula.

Violations & Fines

Building beyond the required yard-area minimum is a zoning violation: a misdemeanor under Sec. 144-6.1, fined up to $2,000, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does New Braunfels cap lot coverage for single-family homes?
No. The zoning code sets no percentage-based lot coverage or impervious cover limit for R-1, R-2, or R-1A single-family districts: only setbacks, height, and minimum lot size apply.
What's the lot coverage rule for apartments in New Braunfels?
In the R-3 multifamily district, combined yard area must be at least 55 percent of the lot, or 40 percent if enclosed parking is provided, per Sec. 144-3.3-3(b)(2)(ix).
Do commercial and industrial properties have a coverage limit?
Yes. B-1, TH, ZH, C-1 through C-4, and M-1/M-2 districts use the same minimum-yard-area formula as R-3, capping building footprint at roughly 40 to 50 percent of the lot.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in New Braunfels

Parking Rules: Overnight ParkingSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Construction HoursSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsSetback RulesSome RestrictionsStructure Height LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome Restrictions

All New Braunfels rules

Texas rules heatmap·Compare New Braunfels to another location·View the Texas building setbacks & zoning overview

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