ADU Rules: Katy vs Stafford

Can I rent out an ADU in Katy as a separate apartment?

No. Katy's zoning ordinance limits ADU occupancy to family members, guests, or employees working within the principal residence and prohibits commercial use.

Does an ADU need its own electric and water meter?

No. The ordinance requires the principal dwelling and accessory unit to be on single utility metering.

Are ADUs allowed throughout Katy?

Katy's ADU definition is in the citywide zoning ordinance, but subdivision deed restrictions and HOA covenants frequently prohibit ADUs in master-planned communities. Confirm with the Planning Department at 281-391-4803 before building.

Can I build a garage apartment or backyard ADU in Stafford, TX?

Stafford has a real zoning code — Chapter 102 of the Code of Ordinances, adopted in 1997 under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 211 — and your ability to build a second dwelling depends on which zoning district your lot is in. Most single-family residential districts in Stafford prohibit independent kitchens or separate dwelling units in accessory buildings. Before designing anything, request a zoning verification from the Planning & Zoning Division at 2610 S. Main St. (281-261-3920) and check your subdivision deed restrictions, which commonly prohibit secondary dwellings even where city zoning would allow them.

Does Stafford allow short-term rental of a guest house or accessory unit?

Whether a separate accessory dwelling can lawfully exist comes first — and even where a guest house is permitted, it is generally an accessory use to the primary single-family dwelling, not a separately rented unit. Short-term rental of an entire detached structure typically requires that structure to qualify as a permitted dwelling unit under Chapter 102 and that the use comply with any city short-term rental rules. Contact Stafford Planning & Zoning before listing an accessory structure on a hosting platform, and review your HOA's covenants which often prohibit short-term rentals outright.