Building Setbacks & Zoning in Brownsville, TX (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Brownsville, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
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.
R-1 requires 25-foot front and 5-foot side setbacks
Few RestrictionsBrownsville, TX Unified Development Code § 4.3.1(C), Primary Building Setbacks (Min.), R-1 district
FRONT (PRIMARY STREET) 25' FRONT (SECONDARY STREET) (CORNER LOT) 20' SIDE PROPERTY LINE 5' REAR PROPERTY LINE 5' REAR OR SIDE (ALLEY) 5'
Structure Height Limits
Brownsville caps primary building height at 35 feet in its single-family and estate districts, 45 feet in R-3 and in commercial and industrial districts, and 60 feet in the two downtown form districts.
35 feet in single-family districts, 60 feet downtown
Some RestrictionsBrownsville, TX Unified Development Code art. 6, "Building Height"
Is the vertical distance of a building measured from the average established grade at the street line or from the average natural front yard ground level, whichever is higher, to: a. The highest point of the roof's surface, if a flat surface; b. The deck line of mansard roofs
Lot Coverage Limits
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 caps rise with density in Brownsville
Some RestrictionsBrownsville, TX Unified Development Code § 4.3.1(C) (Residential Single-Family R-1)
LOT COVERAGE (MAX.) 50% (Including all accessory buildings on the lot)
Looking for Cameron County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Brownsville city rules.
Building Setbacks & Zoning in Cameron County →