⟵ Housing Advocacy

2024 TECHNICAL CODE ADOPTION

The City of Austin will adopt the 2024 editions of the technical codes later this year with the intent that they will become effective on 01 January 2025. With the adoption, the city makes local amendments to the model codes. With the 2021 code adoptions, the city greatly reduced the number of local amendments which has been a benefit to the practice by aligning more closely with standard practice and removing unneccsarily complicated additional requirements. Other local amendments were made redundant by changes to the base code on items where Austin was leading the way,

We are tracking a few proposed amendments that would compliment some of the LDC and place Austin near the lead of more wide-spread adoption of practices common in other jurisdictions. These include:

• IRC Multi-unit Expansion – IRC already allows for unlimited rowhouses and duplexes that are either stacked or adjacent. The tools to provide basic separation already exist within the code, so allowing additional units within certain limits that conform to the general intent of IRC regardless of configuration would greatly simplify the construction of a wide variety of missing middle typologies including triplexes and triple-deckers.
• IBC Single-Stair Expansion – Based on research and peer jurisdiction implementation, expanding the allowable units and/or floors served by a single stair would increase the dwelling unit yield of small infill sites where two stairs are impractical and eat up a disproportionate portion of the floor plate. It would also allow for smaller buildings on larger multi-family sites, contributing to greater variety in the types and scales of multi-unit buildings.
• IRC Tiny House Appendix BB Adoption – Establishes specific requirements and standards for tiny homes, clarifying ambiguity and removing restrictions from the IRC that prohibit or limit their construction.

The process for adoption has been complicated by the fact that the 2024 code texts were released late and on a staggered schedule, leading to a staggered stakehold input process. The city’s public input project page for the 2024 Code Adoption has more detailed information, but the overview of the process is expected to be the following:

• June 2024 – Feedback period closed for UMC, UPC, IFC, WUIC, ISPSC
• 5 July 2024 – IPMC Feedback Deadline
• 8 July 2024 – IECC Feedback Deadline
• 11 July 2024 – Building and Fire Code Board of Appeals – discussion and votes on recommendations for amendments to IRC, IBC, EBC, IFC, WUIC, and IECC (if ready in time)
• 24 July 2024 – IRC Feedback Deadline
• 24 July 2024 – IBC Round 2 Feedback Deadline (includes single stair language added by council direction)
• TBD – Planning Commission
• 12 September 2024 – Council vote on adoption
• 01 January 2024 – Effective Date

SPRING 2024 LDC REFORMS

In May 2024, the City of Austin adopted another round of updates to the Land Development Code (LDC), including reducing the minimum lot size (aka HOME Phase II), reducing compatibility setbacks, and implementing an ETOD zoning district and bonus program as the first step in implementing the Equitable Transit-Oriented Development plans and concepts.

CLICK HERE FOR THE SLIDES FROM OUR ROUNDTABLE REVIEWING THESE CHANGES.

 For more information on each item, click on the link to visit the City’s Speak Up page or read the summaries below.

• Reduction of Minimum Lot Sizes (HOME Phase 2)
• Repeal and Replace Compatibility Regulations
• Create an ETOD (Equitable Transit Oriented Development) Overlay

HOME INITIATIVE PHASE 1 (2023)

The HOME (Home Options for Middle-income Empowerment) Initiative is a collection of amendments to the Land Development Code and related regulations intended to facilitate a greater diversity of housing options.

HOME Phase 1 (2023)

The Austin City Council passed the HOME Phase 1 ordinance on 07 December 2023. Ordinance 20231207-001 amends the Land Development Code relating to occupancy limits and the allowable numbers of dwelling units on lots zoned SF-1, SF-2, and SF-3. The ordinance went into effect on 05 February 2024 for new applications. Housing Advocacy has prepared two documents to help members learn and use the new ordinance. The FAQ document will be updated as more information becomes available. Click the images below to download these PDFs:

The AIA Austin Housing Advocacy Committee worked with the City of Austin staff, Council, and Planning Commission to model the potential impact of the HOME Initiative. The Committee’s full summary and recommendations can be found below.

• HOME Initiative Modeling Analysis Report
• HOME Initiative Summary and Recommendations
• 2024.01.29 Housing Advocacy Roundtable Recording

Additional Information and Resources

• Development Services Department Information Page
• Phase 1 Ordinance Text
• City of Austin Phase 1 Press Release
• Land Development Code Update Public Information

AUSTIN CODE CARDS

The AIA Austin Housing Advocacy Committee is pleased to announce the launch of the Austin Code Cards: a new resource to help the community better understand the development constraints and opportunities in Austin. The Austin Code Cards seek to improve access to the code with a user-friendly graphic overview of critical aspects of the Land Development Code and link back to our Austin Code Resources for additional guidance.

A free, printed set of the cards can be picked up at the AIA Austin office or downloaded below.

AUSTIN CODE CARDS – CLICK TITLE TO DOWNLOAD
CARD 0 | Development Code Regulations & Definitions
CARD 1 | Base & Special Zoning
CARD 2 | Housing Density & Density Bonus Programs
CARD 3 | Watershed Protection & Environmental + Sustainability
CARD 4 | Subchapter E Design Standards & Compatibility

Coming soon:

• Parking & Transportation
• Subchapter F (McMansion) & Residential Uses
• Affordable Housing + Affordability Policies
• Development Process