Bill > HB5187

This bill establishes new regulations for municipalities with over 150,000 people regarding the conversion of office buildings to mixed-use or multifamily residential spaces. The bill defines mixed-use residential as developments where residential uses comprise at least 65% of the total square footage, and multifamily residential as sites with three or more dwelling units. It prohibits municipalities from imposing several types of restrictions on such conversions, including requiring traffic impact studies, additional parking spaces, utility upgrades beyond minimum service needs, or overly restrictive design requirements. Municipalities cannot demand zoning changes, impose impact fees for these conversions, or require additional approvals beyond administrative review. The bill specifically applies to office buildings at least five years old and excludes buildings near heavy industrial sites or military installations. Importantly, the law provides a mechanism for housing organizations or affected parties to bring civil actions against municipalities that violate these provisions, with courts required to award attorney's fees to prevailing claimants. The law will take effect on September 1, 2025, and applies only to building permits submitted on or after that date, aiming to streamline the process of converting underutilized office spaces into residential housing.

Government Affairs

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB5187