District A is the most restrictive of the two (2) residential districts of the city and consists mainly of large lots, medium and large single-family dwellings, and open spaces designed and desirable for large lot single-family dwellings.

No building, structure, or land shall be used and no building or structure shall be erected, constructed, reconstructed, converted, enlarged, or structurally altered except for one (1) or more of the following purposes:

A.

Single-family dwellings.

B.

Public schools, public libraries, and municipal buildings and structures and public parks and public playgrounds owned in whole or in part by the city.

C.

Accessory buildings and uses.

D.

Specific uses as permitted by article VIII hereof.

The following height regulations shall apply to all main buildings and accessory buildings, structures, and uses:

A.

Height, one-story main building. A one-story main building shall not exceed twenty-five (25) feet in height; however, chimneys may extend a maximum of five (5) feet above the roofline of such a building.

B.

Height, all other main buildings. A multiple story main building shall not exceed thirty-five (35) feet in height; however, chimneys may extend a maximum of five (5) feet above the roofline of such a building. Windows above the second story must face toward the front street. (Ord. No. 92-130, § 5, 12-15-92)

C.

Height, accessory building or structure. An accessory building or structure shall not exceed eighteen (18) feet in height.

(Ord. No. 21-558, § 2, 9-21-21)

The following area regulations shall apply to all lots and building areas.

A.

Lot area. No building shall be erected, constructed, or placed on a lot having less than twenty thousand (20,000) square feet in area.

B.

Impermeable building area calculation. The impermeable building area shall not exceed forty-five (45) percent of the area of the lot. For the purposes hereof, impermeable building area shall include portions of a lot which are covered with buildings or structures including, but not limited to, building foundations, driveways, sidewalks, walkways, sundecks, patios, or tennis courts, and other impervious surfaces. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the actual water surface area of swimming pools shall be considered a permeable surface. Artificial turf shall be considered a permeable surface so long as it is inspected by the City at the time of installation and meets the criteria established by the City or that of the manufacturer. Artificial turf shall not be permitted in the required front yard and shall not be visible from any public or private street.

C.

Maximum lot coverage calculation. The maximum lot coverage calculation shall not exceed fifty-five percent (55) of the area of the lot. This shall include both impermeable and permeable surfaces.

D.

Lot depth. The average depth of a lot shall be at least one hundred forty (140) feet.

E.

Lot width, standard lot. The width of a standard lot at the front property line, the width of that portion of the front property which must abut the front street line, and the average width of the lot shall be at least one hundred ten (110) feet each.

F.

Lot width, cul-de-sac lot. A cul-de-sac lot shall abut a portion of the front street line which forms the bulb or arc of the cul-de-sac. The lot frontage along the front property line shall be at least forty (40) feet measured along the property line; and the width of the lot at the front setback line shall be at least one hundred ten (110) feet measured on a straight line tangent to the front setback line.

G.

In the event of a reconstruction of an existing structure (50% or more) as an "In Kind/Same Kind" as defined in the City's subdivision ordinance, meaning that there is no modification to the existing footprint or exterior structural components, the foregoing regulations relating to lot coverage shall not prohibit the reconstruction of a single-family dwelling, provided that the construction is in compliance with all other provisions of the City's zoning ordinance.

(Ord. No. 92-130, § 2, 12-15-92; Ord. No. 03-289, § 1, 8-19-03; Ord. No. 14-447, § 4, 10-21-14; Ord. No. 17-486, § 2, 11-14-17; Ord. No. 24-627, § 3, 5-16-24)

Where a lot having less area, depth, or width than herein required existed in separate ownership on the effective date of this ordinance, the foregoing regulations relating to the size of a lot shall not prohibit the erection of a single-family dwelling thereon if one (1) or more of the following circumstances exist and all other provisions of this ordinance are complied with:

A.

Lots existing before April 29, 1955. When a lot or tract existed as a separate lot or tract at its present size prior to April 29, 1955, as shown by deed duly recorded in the deed records of Harris County, Texas, before April 29, 1955, or on a plat duly approved and recorded in the map or deed records of Harris County, Texas, before April 29, 1955; or

B.

Lots established on or after April 29, 1955. When a lot or tract was established by legal subdivision of land on or after April 29, 1955, and prior to the effective date of this ordinance, and is reflected on a plat duly approved by the city and recorded in the map records of Harris County, Texas, pursuant to law.

The following regulations shall apply to all yards:

A.

Front yard, standard lot. On a standard lot there shall be a front yard with a depth of at least fifty (50) feet. Alongside lot lines within a required front yard, a five-foot-wide green space shall be maintained.

B.

Front yard, cul-de-sac lot. A cul-de-sac lot shall abut a portion of the front street line which forms the bulb or arc of the cul-de-sac. Such lot shall have a front yard depth of at least forty feet (40), and shall complement adjacent homes creating a consistent neighborhood look as approved by the zoning official. Alongside lot lines within a required front yard, a five-foot-wide green space shall be maintained.

C.

Side yards. There shall be two (2) side yards on each lot. Each side yard shall have a depth of at least twenty (20) feet. Alongside lot lines within a required front yard a five-foot wide green space shall be maintained.

D.

Rear yard. Each lot shall have a rear yard with a depth of at least twenty-five (25) feet. In addition to this requirement, if a two-story main building is hereafter erected, constructed, or placed on a lot or if a second story is hereafter added to an existing one-story main building, the second story of such building shall be set back from the rear lot line of the lot on which it is situated a distance of at least forty (40) feet. As used herein, the term "second story" shall be deemed to include all portions of the building above the point where the top of the floor of the second story intersects or, if extended on a horizontal plane, would intersect the wall or roof of such building. Along rear lot lines a five-foot-wide green space shall be maintained.

E.

Overhang and encroachments into yard space prohibited, with exceptions. No balcony, cornice, eave, roof overhang, or protrusion of any kind or character from the walls or roof of a building or structure, other than uncovered and unenclosed driveways, walkways, steps, and porches, shall extend into or beyond any required yard or building line a distance of more than thirty (30) inches.

F.

In the event of a reconstruction of an existing structure (50% or more) as an "In Kind/Same Kind" as defined by the City's subdivision ordinance, meaning there is no modification to the existing footprint or exterior structural components of the structure, the foregoing regulations relating to the size of yards shall not prohibit the reconstruction of a single-family residence provided that the reconstruction is in compliance with all other provisions of the City's zoning ordinance.

(Ord. No. 14-447, § 5, 10-21-14; Ord. No. 17-486, § 3, 11-14-17)

Every single-family dwelling must have a roofed garage or carport with a floor space of at least four hundred (400) square feet and configured to accommodate at least two (2) standard-sized, four-wheeled, automobiles parked side by side. If a garage or carport is attached to the dwelling, it shall be considered a part thereof and subject to the minimum yard and setback requirements of the main building; otherwise, such garage or carport shall be deemed an accessory building or structure and subject to the regulations and minimum setback requirements applicable thereto.

(Ord. No. 14-447, § 6, 10-21-14)

The following regulations shall apply to all accessory buildings, structures, and uses:

A.

Limitations on use. An accessory building, structure, or use shall not be rented, shall not be used for commercial, or manufacturing purposes, and shall not contain any kitchen, living, or sleeping facilities. The foregoing notwithstanding, an accessory building or use subordinate to a main building may contain kitchen or living facilities for use in conjunction with recreational activities only.

B.

Distance requirements from main building. No wall of an accessory building or use shall be located less than six (6) feet from an outside wall of the main building. An accessory building or use may be connected to the main building by a covered walkway; provided, however, such covered walkway shall not be more than six (6) feet in width.

C.

Restrictions on location. Except as specifically permitted in this section or elsewhere in this ordinance, an accessory building, structure, or use shall not be erected, constructed, installed, placed, or maintained in any required yard. On an interior lot, if an accessory building, structure, or use is not attached to or made a part of the main building and is located in the rear one-third of the lot, it shall be set back at least ten (10) feet from the rear lot line and at least ten (10) feet from each side lot line. On a corner lot, if an accessory building, structure, or use is not attached to or made a part of the main building and is located in the rear one-third of the lot, it shall be set back at least ten (10) feet from the rear lot line; at least ten (10) feet from the interior side yard line (the side yard line farthest removed from the side street); and at least twenty (20) feet or a distance at least equal to the required depth of that yard of the contiguous lot which abuts such side street, whichever is greater, from the interior side lot line (the side lot line which abuts the side street).

D.

Placement of windows and doors. Windows and doors shall not be allowed on the side(s) of accessory structures which have less than the required main structure setback. Windows and doors on accessory structures can only face internally to the lot.

(Ord. No. 14-447, § 7, 10-21-14)