Accessory Structures in Garland, TX (2026)
3 verified accessory structures rules for Garland, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Garland lets an accessory dwelling share a lot with a single-family home under GDC § 2.58, but caps its floor area at 30% of the main house's floor area (never forcing it below 600 square feet), scales height to 15 or 25 feet by size, and bars renting or selling the unit apart from the main property.
Garland Accessory Dwelling Unit Rules
Some RestrictionsGarland Development Code § 2.58(C), (F), (G)
Habitation Prohibited.No Accessory Building may be used as a place of habitation or as an Accessory Dwelling except as provided for in Section 2.51 of Chapter 2 of this GDC. Building Permit.Accessory Buildings (including Accessory Dwellings) that have a total floor area over twenty square feet in size require a Building Permit (see Article 1, Division 4 of Chapter 4 of this GDC). Total Floor Ar...
Shed & Carport Rules
Garland regulates backyard sheds and other accessory buildings under GDC Section 2.58. Any accessory building over 20 square feet needs a Building Permit, total accessory floor area is capped at 30 percent of the main house (never less than 600 square feet), and maximum height steps up with size: 15 feet over 200 square feet, 25 feet over 500 square feet.
Garland Accessory Building Size & Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsGarland Development Code § 2.58(F), (G), (H)(1), (I)(1), (J)
(F) Building Permit. Accessory Buildings (including Accessory Dwellings) that have a total floor area over twenty square feet in size require a Building Permit... (G) Total Floor Area. The total floor area of all Accessory Buildings on a lot may not exceed thirty percent of the floor area of the main building on the lot, except that this requirement does not limit the floor area of an Accessory...
Garage Conversions
Garland's Development Code requires every single-family, single-family-attached, and two-family home to keep its required off-street parking inside an enclosed garage (GDC § 2.34(G)(2)). Converting that garage into a bedroom, office, or den without providing a code-compliant replacement space violates the parking standard, and the City still requires a repair/remodel building permit for the construction work itself.
Garland Garage Conversion Parking Rule
Some RestrictionsGarland Development Code § 2.34(G)(1)-(3)
(1) Required Off-Street Parking. Off-street parking for each lot and dwelling must meet the standards and requirements as provided in the Land Use Matrix in Article 5 of this Chapter 2 and, for SFA, the standards and requirements of Section 2.37(E) of this GDC. (2) Garages Required. Required residential automotive parking spaces must be located within an enclosed garage for all single-family de...
Looking for Dallas County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Garland city rules.
Accessory Structures in Dallas County →