Brownsville, TX Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- R-1 front setback
- 25 feet
- R-1 side and rear
- 5 feet each
- Corner secondary street
- 20 feet in R-1
- Accessory buildings
- 5 feet from side/rear lines
- Variance body
- Board of Adjustment, UDC 4.2.11
Summary
Brownsville sets minimum building setbacks district by district in its Unified Development Code. The R-1 single-family district requires 25 feet in front, 20 feet on a corner side street, and 5 feet from side and rear property lines.
FRONT (PRIMARY STREET) 25' FRONT (SECONDARY STREET) (CORNER LOT) 20' SIDE PROPERTY LINE 5' REAR PROPERTY LINE 5' REAR OR SIDE (ALLEY) 5'
Full Breakdown
In Residential Single-Family (R-1), primary buildings sit back 25 feet from the primary street, 20 feet from the secondary street on a corner lot, and 5 feet from side, rear and alley lines. Residential Estate (RE) requires 35 feet along arterials, 25 feet along other streets, and 10 feet at side and rear. Agriculture (AG) requires 40 feet along arterials, 30 feet elsewhere, and 10 feet side and rear. R-2 and R-3 drop to a 10-foot front setback with a 0-foot side line where fire separation standards are met. Accessory buildings stand 5 feet from side, rear and alley lines and 10 feet from the primary building.
Violations & Fines
Encroaching into a required setback triggers a stop-work order or permit denial. Fines reach $500 per day for zoning violations and $2,000 for fire-safety violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close to the alley can I build?
Can a townhome sit on the property line?
How do I get a setback variance?
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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