ADUs are allowed in San AntonioTypes:DetachedInternal
Types:DetachedInternal
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Rules for San Antonio, TX
Is your property eligible for an ADU?
# of Properties
371,214
Owner-occupied
94%
Zoning districts
259
Avg Home Value
$266,921
Median Lot Size
0.17 acres
Avg Income
$79,351
Residential Types:
371,214 housing units
Single Family
100%
Zoning Districts:
435,413 parcels · 259 districts
R-6
33%(142,367)
R-4
20%(88,369)
R-5
18%(76,408)
R-6-PUD
6%(27,174)
Other
23%(101,095)
ADU Rules
What can you build in San Antonio, TX?
San Antonio, TX follows state and local rules for Accessory Dwelling Units. Here is a concise overview of the local rules.
Eligibility
- –Internal / Attached ADU: By Right
- –Detached ADU: By Right
Interior / Attached ADU Size Limits
- –Maximum size of 800 sq ft (most single-family districts); 1,200 sq ft in RE; FR exempt from this formula
- –Maximum size of 50% of the primary dwelling’s gross floor area (excluding covered porches), not applied in RE or FR
Detached ADU Size Limits
- –Maximum size is the greater of 800 sq ft or 50% of the primary home’s gross floor area (excluding covered porches), capped at 1,600 sq ft; in RE and FR districts the cap is 1,200 sq ft.
Max Units
- –Detached ADU: 1 per lot
- –FR: up to 2 ADDUs per property
Owner Occupancy
- –Owner must occupy either the principal or the ADU
Parking
- –1 space per ADDU >800 sq ft; no minimum for smaller or attached ADDUs; waivers/reductions in UD, TOD, IDZ, and R-1 districts (up to 50% in some zones)
Rental Restrictions
- –Short-term rentals must comply with Sec. 35-374.01: stays less than 30 days (minimum 12 hours) and density caps.
- –Owner must occupy a unit and may not rent out the owner-occupied unit.
ADU State Law
What can you build in Texas?
- –Texas does not have a statewide ADU law. ADUs are regulated entirely at the local level.
- –ADU rules vary significantly by city, and many jurisdictions prohibit ADUs outright.
- –Counties generally lack zoning authority, but other restrictions may still apply outside city limits.
- –Outside city limits, ADU feasibility often depends on subdivision rules, deed restrictions, and septic or fire requirements.
- –Building/fire codes are set statewide, but whether an ADU is allowed is local zoning.
What's allowed on your lot?
These are the municipality-wide rules. What's allowed on a specific property also depends on state laws, setbacks, floor area ratio, lot coverage, environmental constraints, topography, and other property-specific factors. Search your address on FutureLot to see what's allowed on your property.
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ADU rules in other Texas municipalities
Rules change at the town line. Check the municipality your property is actually in.
Bexar County
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