HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 26-0082 - 2026-08-04 - Informal Report
1 of 3 1.3.2 DEVELOPMENT UPDATE RELATED TO SENATE BILLS 15, 840 AND 2477, 89TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION - D.J. HARRELL, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
SUBJECT: DEVELOPMENT UPDATE RELATED TO SENATE BILLS 15, 840 AND 2477, 89TH
LEGISLATIVE SESSION - D.J. HARRELL, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR
DATE: 08/04/26 NUMBER: IR 26-0082
TO THE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
The purpose of this Informal Report is to provide an update on the City’s implementation of
Senate Bill 15, Senate Bill 840 and Senate Bill 2477 adopted during the regular session of the
89th Texas Legislature that became effective on September 1, 2025. This report summarizes the
requirements of each bill and the City’s actions to comply with the legislation since the effective
date. To date, the City has received 4 applications for multifamily developments under Senate
Bill 840. Each of these projects are still in plan review and no building permits have been issued.
The City has not received any applications seeking development under either Senate Bill 15 or
Senate Bill 2477.
Senate Bill 15 – Small Lot Single-Family Residential
Senate Bill 15 amended Chapter 211 of the Texas Local Government Code to require
municipalities to allow small lot single-family housing developments for tracts that are at least
five acres in size, located in an area zoned for single-family residential use and do not have a
recorded plat.
In response to Senate Bill 15, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 28525-05-2026 on May
12, 2026, to amend the city’s residential land use table and allow small lot single-family housing
developments in all one-family residential districts. Additionally, the ordinance established
development standards and procedures for small lot housing developments. The adopted
standards are modeled on the City’s existing “R1” Zero Lot Line/Cluster district and regulate lot
width, lot length, Lot area, lot coverage, setbacks, height, façade requirements, fencing
regulations, and parking requirements.
Senate Bills 840 and 2477 – Multifamily Residential and Mixed-Use Residential
Senate Bill 840 amended the Texas Local Government Code by creating Chapter 218, which
requires municipalities to allow multifamily residential and mixed-use residential development
in zoning districts that permit office, commercial, retail, or warehouse uses. Senate Bill 2477
also amended Chapter 218 of the Texas Local Government Code to require municipalities to
allow the conversion of certain existing office, retail, and warehouse buildings into multifamily
residential and mixed-use residential development.
2 of 3 On June 9, 2026, the Council adopted an ordinance to amend Chapter 4 and Chapter 5 of the
Zoning Ordinance to create new land use categories for “Multifamily Residential (Chapter 218
of the TLGC)” and “Mixed-Use Residential (Chapter 218 of the TLGC)” and to permit those uses
within applicable commercial and form-based zoning districts.
The table below summarizes regulations for development under Senate Bill 840. The
regulations are based on site size and/or the underlying zoning designation of the property. Of
note, projects developing under the “UR”, “MU-1” or “MU-2” district regulations do not have to
provide pedestrian-scaled streetlights but must provide enhanced landscaping and meet all
other applicable district standards.
Project Site Size and Zoning Designation Applicable District Regulations
Sites less than 1-acre zoned “E” Neighborhood
Commercial or “ER” Neighborhood Commercial
Restricted
§ 4.709 “R2” Townhouse/Cluster
Sites 1-acre or larger zoned “E” Neighborhood
Commercial or “ER” Neighborhood Commercial
Restricted
§ 4.713 “UR” Urban Residential
Sites of any size zoned “F” General Commercial or “FR”
General Commercial Restricted
§ 4.1300 “MU-1” Low Intensity
Mixed-Use
Sites of any size zoned “G” Intensive Commercial § 4.1302 “MU-2” High Intensity
Mixed-Use
Applications for Development
Since September 1, 2025, the City has complied with the new state laws. To date, four (4)
applications for development under Senate Bill 840 have been received. Three (3) of the four
(4) multifamily projects were submitted prior to the adoption of local development standards
and review procedures; therefore, those projects are not subject to the adopted standards.
Instead, those projects are required to be developed under the development standards
provided under Senate Bill 840. The recently adopted regulations ensure consistency with state
law and provide a clear regulatory framework for development under Senate Bills 840 and
2477. The projects submitted under Senate Bill 840 total 472 dwelling units and are summarized
below:
(3) Four-plex structures at 7920 – 7928 W. Elizabeth Lane (12 total units)
(5) Four-plex structures at 407 – 513 S. Sylvania Avenue (20 total units)
(1) 80-unit multifamily development at 4570 White Settlement Road
3 of 3 (1) 360-unit multifamily development at 6425 W. Bailey Boswell Road
No applications for development under Senate Bill 15 and Senate Bill 2477 have been received.
For questions regarding this information, please contact D.J. Harrell, Development Services
Director at d.j.harrell@fortworthtexas.gov .
Jesus “Jay” Chapa
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS