Austin holds public hearing on raising preservation-bonus FAR from 0.55 to 0.65 to preserve small homes

Austin City Council and the Austin Planning Commission held a joint public hearing April 1, 2025, at City Hall on a staff proposal to amend the city’s land development code so that two new dwelling units on a lot could be built to 0.65 floor-to-area ratio (FAR) — or roughly 4,350 square feet — when the existing residence on the lot is preserved.

Keith Mars, assistant director of the Development Services Department, told the joint meeting the proposal is “changing 1 line in the land development code in the zoning chapter to state that the 2 dwelling units may not exceed 0.65 FAR or 4,350 square feet if the existing residential unit is preserved.” He emphasized the change would not affect other zoning rules: “It’s important to note that this changes no other land use regulations. This does not change impervious cover. This does not change building height or setbacks.”

The amendment responds to earlier action and direction by council.…