On August 13, 2019, Mayor Sylvester Turner signed the Vision Zero Executive Order committing to end traffic deaths and serious injuries on Houston streets by 2030.

Achieving safe and accessible streets for everyone requires us to shift how we think about moving around our city. People deserve to be safe on our streets whether they are driving, walking, biking, using a wheelchair, or riding transit. While everyone should travel safely, people make mistakes and we can design our streets to be forgiving so that those mistakes do not result in fatal crashes. Our streets support our livelihoods and we must commit to making them safer for everyone.

Vision Zero Houston will use data and best practices to inform comprehensive strategies. We will report regularly on our progress toward Vision Zero. See more about this on our webpage.

City Council approved the Walkable Places and Transit Oriented Development (TOD) rules on August 5, 2020 to enhance the pedestrian experience throughout Houston’s neighborhoods. This will change requirements of sidewalks, building lines, and parking spaces. Applicants will receive incentives when redeveloping in these areas through a reduction in the number of parking spaces and more buildable area. Effective October 1, 2020, the Planning and Development Department will provide applications for Walkable Places Plan (WPP), TOD amendments, Special Parking Area (SPAs), modification of sidewalks and pedestrian realm standards. For more information on the requirements, click here.

• Guidelines for Modification of Sidewalks
• Application for Modification of Sidewalks Standards

The City of Houston’s Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan (MTFP) is an effective instrument in guiding development, as well as providing mobility and accessibility to a large number of people who reside and work in the greater Houston area. The (MTFP) is updated annually through a process that begins in January and ends in September. Please stay tuned for the updated information for next year, and for more information, please visit the MTFP webpage.

The North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP) is an ongoing 2020 project of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to reconstruct Interstate 45 and adjacent freeways from Beltway-8 through downtown. This project poses significant impacts and opportunities for neighborhoods and the surrounding region, and many comments have been collected by TxDOT’s through previous scoping and analysis. The City and its partners are conducting a public process to unify these comments, so prominent concerns may be addressed, and new opportunities identified. To learn more about the project, the City’s effort and how you can get involved, please visit the project page.

In 2018, the City Council adopted the Houston Heights Historic District Design Guidelines for the three Houston Heights Historic Districts (East, West, and South) on July 25. Visit the project page for more information on the design guidelines and process.

HOP a has created new application and worksheet documents and functionality on Preservation Tracker for Certificates of Appropriateness (COA) and nominations for Protected Landmarks, Landmarks, Historic Districts, and pre-application design review.

In 2019, the City seeks input on proposed changes to the rules for Historic Preservation found in Chapter 33 of the Code. The proposed amendments improve ordinance enforcement language, establish double fees for work performed without the required approval, and modify how publicly owned land is considered when establishing a historic district. To view the proposed changes, please click here. Submit comments to historicpreservation@houstontx.gov.

See 2019 updates. In 2018, the City sought input on proposed changes to the rules for Historic Preservation found in Chapter 33 of the Code. The proposed amendments improve ordinance enforcement language, establish double fees for work performed without the required approval, and modify how publicly owned land is considered when establishing a historic district. To view the proposed changes, please click here. Submit comments to historicpreservation@houstontx.gov.

The Houston Bike Plan was adopted by City Council on March 22, 2017. The Plan’s vision calls to transform Houston into a safer, more accessible, gold level bicycle-friendly city by 2027. Completion of the bikeway network will put comfortable bikeways within reach of over 95% of people and jobs in the city. On March 7, 2018, the Bicycle Advisory Committee was appointed to advise city staff on Bike Plan implementation and other recommendations to encourage bicycling in Houston. Please visit HoustonBikePlan.org to view the Plan and related documents.

The Planning & Development Department sponsored a grant application in 2015 to expand the Houston BCycle program and was awarded a $3.5 million federal grant. The expansion project will more than triple the size of bike share in Houston over the next two years by adding 71 bike stations and 568 bicycles. Visit the project page for more information on the expansion.

P&D 2017 brochure on carport guidelines and permitting is available. The brochure helps homeowners understand the permitting process and importance of getting their carport permitted. The Carport brochure is available in English or Español

Recent changes to Chapter 28 of the Code of Ordinances related to the Hazardous Enterprises Ordinance will increase the regulation of hazardous operations and materials in our city by strengthening enforcement language. The changes also expand certain definitions, create a review process for appeals and modifications, and establish related fees to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of Houstonians. Click here to view the Chapter 28 Hazardous Enterprises Ordinance. Read more about the ordinance changes in the press release.

The 2017 Lower Westheimer Corridor Study is the City of Houston’s first Enhanced Pre-Engineering Study, a process applied to corridors with unique historic, cultural, and community significance requiring an advanced level of design sensitivity. The process is intended to develop a preferred design that enhances the character of the corridor while improving mobility and safety, enhances collaboration between stakeholders, and ensures the design considers community interest. The final public meeting of a series of three public meetings was held on April 20, 2017. Proposed concepts and enhancements developed throughout the Enhanced Pre-Engineering Study were presented at the public meeting. Please visit LowerWestheimerStudy.org to review these proposed concepts.

The Livable Places Action Committee will continue the Planning Department’s effort to update the City of Houston’s development codes to create more opportunities for walkability, affordability and equity. This initiative will focus on encouraging the development and preservation of affordable, quality housing for all and creating more opportunities for increased infill development. It is the next step the Department will take to implement community’s preferences identified in several previous planning efforts.

The Committee, convened by the City of Houston’s Planning Commission is co-chaired by Planning Commissioners Lisa Clark and Sonny Garza. To learn more about Livable Places click here.

The Planning and Development Department reviews sidewalk widths and applications for sidewalk modifications within the city limits of Houston.

Following City Council approval of the Walkable Places Transit-Oriented Development initiative in August, the City has modified sidewalk standards to enhance walkability of our city and improve safety and accessibility in the pedestrian environment.

Read more to find the sidewalk modification application and more information about eligibility, exceptions, fees and Frequently Asked Questions
Click Here