ADUs are allowed in Port ArthurTypes:DetachedInternal
Types:DetachedInternal
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Rules for Port Arthur, TX
Is your property eligible for an ADU?
# of Properties
244
Owner-occupied
60%
Zoning districts
18
Median Lot Size
0.32 acres
Avg Income
$53,857
Residential Types:
244 housing units
Single Family
6%
Apts (4+ units)
30%
Condos
33%
Other
31%
Zoning Districts:
28,661 parcels · 18 districts
LDR
38%(10,883)
MDR
38%(10,785)
CR
9%(2,520)
CG
4%(1,113)
Other
12%(3,360)
ADU Rules
What can you build in Port Arthur, TX?
Port Arthur, 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 1,000 sq ft
- –Maximum size of 50% of the primary dwelling’s living area
Detached ADU Size Limits
- –Maximum ADU size of 1,000 sq ft and no more than 50% of the primary dwelling’s living area
Max Units
- –1 ADU per lot
Owner Occupancy
- –Owner must occupy either the ADU or the primary unit
Parking
- –1 space per ADU; no maximum stated. Downtown Core District may count on-street/public parking toward required spaces if shared parking criteria are met.
Rental Restrictions
- –Short-term ADU rentals allowed only in districts where Short-Term Rentals are permitted (LDR/MDR/DT; not AG) and must comply with STR standards: max two adults per bedroom, total of ten people, two means of escape per bedroom, working smoke/CO detectors, no parties/events, subject to city inspections.
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.
Jefferson County