Mcallen City Zoning Code

The use, erection, construction, reconstruction, relocation, or alteration of any building, structure, or land shall comply with the regulations of this article for the zoning district in which the building, structure, or land is located.

Article 4.2 establishes the rules for applying the dimensional standards in the zoning districts. These include height, lot area, density, and yard requirements. All buildings, structures, and lots in the zoning district must comply with the dimensional standards established for that district. Nothing in this article authorizes an encroachment within any easements or plat restrictions, unless otherwise specified.

Generally. The City is geographically divided into the following base, overlay, and special zoning districts. The zoning districts are established according to the following:

Purpose. The Agricultural and Open Space (A-O) District provides, preserves, and maintains large tracts of undeveloped land for agricultural pursuits such as crop production and farming, ranching and raising livestock, wildlife management, and agrarian lifestyle practices. This district protects agricultural areas from encroachment of urban and suburban development. This district implements the character and intent of the Comprehensive Plan's Conservation Land Use Category.

Uses. See Table 3.1.3-2 and all applicable regulations in Chapter 3.

Dimensional Standards. Development in the Agricultural and Open Space (A-O) District shall follow the standards in Table 2.2.1-1.

Purpose. The Low-Density Residential (R-1) District is designed to primarily accommodate low-density single-family residential development supported by parks, open space, cultural, and educational amenities. This district implements the character and intent of the Comprehensive Plan's Complete Community, Parks and Open Space, and Public/Semi-Public Land Use Categories.

Uses. See Table 3.1.3-2 and all applicable regulations in Chapter 3.

Dimensional Standards. Development in the Low-Density Residential (R-1) District shall follow the standards in Table 2.2.2-1.

Purpose. The Medium-Density Residential (R-2) District provides for medium-density residential development with a diversified range of housing choices. This district encourages a mix of single-family, two-family, and multifamily residential uses and incentivizes community amenities to form compact, accessible, walkable, and equitable neighborhoods. This district implements the character and intent of the Comprehensive Plan's Complete Community, Mixed Density Complete Neighborhood, Parks and Open Space, and Public/Semi-Public Land Use Categories, while promoting "missing middle housing" development.

Uses. See Table 3.1.3-2 and all applicable regulations in Chapter 3.

Dimensional Standards. Development in the Medium-Density Residential (R-2) District shall follow the standards in Table 2.2.3-1.

Purpose. The High-Density Residential (R-3) District provides for high-density residential development, targeting well-designed multifamily uses serving as a transition between medium-density residential development and commercial nodes. This district encourages multifamily uses with site development characteristics that accommodate open space and access to light and air. This district implements the character and intent of the Comprehensive Plan's Mixed Density Complete Neighborhood Land Use Category and promotes development of the "missing middle housing" concept.

Uses. See Table 3.1.3-2 and all applicable regulations in Chapter 3.

Dimensional Standards. Development in the High-Density Residential (R-3) District shall follow the standards in Table 2.2.4-1.

Purpose. The Local Commercial (C-1) District provides for a range of commercial activities, including the development of small-scale neighborhood offices, low-intensity retail and service businesses, restaurants, and public spaces. This district offers a transition between neighborhoods and intensive commercial areas, providing a critical commercial function that serves nearby residential areas. Development in this district is primarily pedestrian-scaled to help improve vehicular circulation and safely accommodate residents and pedestrians. This district implements the character and intent of the Comprehensive Plan's Mixed Use Corridor Land Use Category.

Uses. See Table 3.1.3-2 and all applicable regulations in Chapter 3.

Dimensional Standards. Development in the Local Commercial (C-1) District shall follow the standards in Table 2.2.5-1.

Purpose. The Regional Commercial (C-2) District provides for medium to large-scale development of retail, service, entertainment, office, necessary for a regional market. This district primarily facilitates commercial development, like big box and anchor retailers and intensive shopping strip centers, that are automobile-oriented and generate high traffic counts. This district implements the character and intent of the Comprehensive Plan's Regional Commercial, Mixed Use Corridor, and Employment Center Land Use Categories.

Uses. See Table 3.1.3-2 and all applicable regulations in Chapter 3.

Dimensional Standards. Development in the Regional Commercial (C-2) District shall follow the standards in Table 2.2.6-1.

Purpose. The Light Industrial (I-1) District provides for manufacturing, day laborers, commercial uses, wholesale businesses, material fabrication, research facilities, and general industrial uses that are clean, quiet, and free of hazardous or objectionable elements such as noise, odor, dust, smoke, or glare. This district provides a transition between heavy industrial uses and other less intensive commercial activity and residential uses. This district implements the character and intent of the Comprehensive Plan's Employment Center and Industrial Land Use Categories.

Uses. See Table 3.1.3-2 and all applicable regulations in Chapter 3.

Dimensional Standards. Development in the Light Industrial (I-1) District shall follow the standards in Table 2.2.7-1.

Purpose. The Heavy Industrial (I-2) District provides areas for manufacturing, processing, assembling, storing, testing, and industrial uses that are extensive and intensive in character, and require large sites, open storage and service areas, extensive services and facilities, and access to major transportation networks. Development in this district is sometimes incompatible with less intensive uses by reason of traffic, noise, vibration, dust, glare, or emissions, and are intrusive to commercial activity and residential areas. This district implements the Comprehensive Plan's Employment Center and Industrial Land Use Categories.

Uses. See Table 3.1.3-2 and all applicable regulations in Chapter 3.

Dimensional Standards. Development in the Heavy Industrial (I-2) District shall follow the standards in Table 2.2.8-1.

Purpose. The Local Mixed Use (M-1) District provides for medium to high-density residential development comingled with localized low to medium intensity commercial services, retail, and offices. This district encourages use variety and "missing middle housing" options, emphasizing a cohesive development pattern to achieve housing diversity, accessibility, walkability, and equity. This district implements the Comprehensive Plan's Mixed Density Complete Neighborhood and Mixed Use Nodes Land Use Categories.

Uses. See Table 3.1.3-2 and all applicable regulations in Chapter 3.

Dimensional Standards. Development in the Local Mixed Use (M-1) District shall follow the standards in Table 2.3.1-1.

Purpose. The Regional Mixed Use (M-2) District provides for development outside of McAllen's city core that have identifiable centers and edges, a walkable development pattern, accessible community open spaces, and various commercial tenants. This district provides residential, entertainment venues, commercial, and office uses that harmoniously coexist in a higher density, pedestrian-oriented environment. This district implements the Comprehensive Plan's Mixed Density Complete Neighborhood, Mixed Use Nodes, Mixed Use Corridor, Regional Commercial, and Employment Center Land Use Categories.

Uses. See Table 3.1.3-2 and all applicable regulations in Chapter 3.

Dimensional Standards. Development in the Regional Mixed Use (M-2) District shall follow the standards in Table 2.3.2-1.

Purpose. The purposes of the City Core (C-C) District are to:

Uses. See Table 3.1.3-2 and all applicable regulations in Chapter 3.

Dimensional Standards. Development in the City Core (C-C) District shall follow the standards in Table 2.3.3-1.

Purpose. The Planned Unit Development (PUD) district is intended to provide for combining and mixing of uses allowed in various districts with appropriate regulations and to permit flexibility in the use and design of land and buildings in situations where modification of specific provisions of this UDC is not contrary to its intent and purpose or significantly inconsistent with the planning on which it is based and shall not be harmful to the City. A Planned Unit Development (PUD) district may be used to permit new and innovative concepts in land utilization. While great flexibility is given to provide special restrictions that shall allow development not otherwise permitted, procedures are established to prevent misuse of the increased flexibility.

Uses. Any use may be considered for approval.

Dimensional Standards. A PUD shall have a minimum area requirement of at least five (5) acres.

Special Regulations. Unless specifically modified by the PUD ordinance, the PUD shall comply with all standards established in Chapter 4 and any other relevant standards provided in this UDC.

Purpose. The Thoroughfare Overlay (T-O) district is intended to allow for development design flexibility along the City's major thoroughfares by allowing height and setback modifications in exchange for development standards that supersede the UDC's minimum requirements.

Uses. These regulations apply to any nonprohibited use within the zoning district in which that use is located.

Special Regulations. A development may increase the maximum building height requirement as established below: