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North Richland Hills expands accessory-structure allowances and streamlines approvals
Summary
Council approved text amendments that increase size thresholds for accessory structures, allow two permanent accessory structures (within cumulative caps), lower roof-pitch limits, and expand administrative approval options to reduce use of special-use permits.
The North Richland Hills City Council unanimously approved text amendments April 13 to the accessory-structure section of the city's code, aiming to reduce the frequency of special-use permit requests for detached garages and similar buildings.
Corey told the council the package responds to a pattern staff and the Planning & Zoning Commission documented over several years: many applicants sought deviations for floor area, wall height and roof pitch. The new rules raise the maximum for large lots to 5% of lot area (for lots 40,000 square feet or larger), allow lots under 40,000 square feet to have accessory structures up to 3% of the lot area or 500 square feet (whichever is greater), and permit two permanent accessory structures so long as the cumulative square footage remains within the lot-area cap.
"We saw requests routinely approved that averaged just over 4% of lot area," Corey said, explaining the rationale for moving the cap to 5% on large lots and lowering procedural barriers by allowing administrative approval for more cases. The Planning & Zoning Commission recommended unanimous approval at its March 19 hearing.
The amendments also change roof-pitch guidance from a 4:12 minimum to 2:12, and remove a separate wall-height maximum while retaining overall building-height limits (15 feet for small structures, 25 feet for larger ones). Staff said they would continue to require an SUP review for buildings that exceed 25 feet. Council approved ordinance 3953 on a 7-0 vote.
City staff said the changes are partly designed to accommodate common homeowner requests, including larger garages to fit recreational vehicles, and to make the city's review process "easier to do business with."
