Research
Houston, TX
2026
This research project investigates infill development strategies for the typical Houston lot through the lens of the detached townhouse typology, with particular attention to compliance with SEC-42 of the Houston Code of Ordinances. This study situates infill as a critical mechanism for accommodating growth within established neighborhoods. Multiple residential typologies like the townhouse, bungalow, and row house were analyzed against Houston’s regulatory contraints. The massing study critically examines how setbacks, parking minimums, and maximum allowable density shape site organization and parcel subdivision. Case studies focus on conditions specific to the Third Ward and Near Northside neighborhoods, where development pressure intersects with historically rooted urban fabrics. This research identifies opportunities for code-compliant infill that balances regulatory constraints with spatial efficiency and increased housing capacity.
SEC-42 of the Houston Code of Ordinances governs subdivision, development, and platting. It dictates how land is divided, street widths, block sizes, and lot configurations. Because Houston lacks traditional zoning, this code acts as the primary tool for shaping building lines, density, and neighborhood compatibility. We studied how this chapter of the code governs how dense a neighborhood can get, and what building types tend to emerge.
Our research asks the question: How can we increase the supply of housing through subdividing lots in neighborhoods with development potential? Houston's building regulation allows for variety of approaches to infill development via re-platting. In one massing study focusing on a typical corner lot, we applied Houston's restrictions on dwelling unit density per acre, which limits the number of units to between 3 and 4 residences. The typical corner lot is also constrained by the front building line or setback, which pushes the building into the available backyard space. We saw this an opportunity to combine duplexes and single units with a strategy that introduces a pass-through garage, creating connectivity between front to back.