Little Elm, Texas zoning

A plain-language summary of the Little Elm zoning ordinance, organized by district and topic. Source: the official ordinance on Municode, last reviewed July 3, 2026.

Zoning districts

• A-1Residential

  Single-Family A-1 District

  Single-family detached dwellings on lots of not less than 10,000 square feet (Sec. 106.03.02(a)). Confirm the current zoning map and the cited section text before acting.

• A-2Residential

  Single-Family A-2 District

  Single-family detached dwellings on lots of not less than 6,000 square feet with public sewer, or 1 acre without (Sec. 106.03.02(b)). Confirm the current zoning map and the cited section text before acting.

• SF-REResidential

  Single-Family Ranchette Estate District

  Single-family detached dwellings on lots of not less than one acre per family, with allowance for agricultural accessory buildings on parcels of three acres or more (Sec. 106.03.02(c)). Confirm the current zoning map and the cited section text before acting.

• SF-1Residential

  Single-Family 1 District

  Single-family detached dwellings on lots of not less than 10,000 square feet (Sec. 106.03.02(d)). Confirm the current zoning map and the cited section text before acting.

• SF-2Residential

  Single-Family 2 District

  Single-family detached dwellings on lots of not less than 8,000 square feet (Sec. 106.03.02(e)). Confirm the current zoning map and the cited section text before acting.

• SF-3Residential

  Single-Family 3 District

  Single-family detached dwellings on lots of not less than 7,000 square feet (Sec. 106.03.02(f)). Confirm the current zoning map and the cited section text before acting.

• SF-4Residential

  Single-Family 4 District

  Single-family detached dwellings on lots of not less than 6,000 square feet (Sec. 106.03.02(g)). Confirm the current zoning map and the cited section text before acting.

• SF-XResidential

  Single-Family Mixed Size District

  A mix of single-family detached dwellings on a minimum of three lot sizes ranging from 10,000 square feet to one acre or more within the same subdivision (Sec. 106.03.02(h)). Confirm the current zoning map and the cited section text before acting.

• DResidential

  Duplex District

  Two-family (duplex) dwellings with separately metered utilities (Sec. 106.03.02(i)). Confirm the current zoning map and the cited section text before acting.

• THResidential

  Townhome District

  Townhomes on individually platted lots with rear-entry parking, subject to site plan review (Sec. 106.03.02(j)). Confirm the current zoning map and the cited section text before acting.

• PHResidential

  Patio Home District

  Smaller-scale single-family dwellings that may use a zero lot line on one side, subject to site plan review (Sec. 106.03.02(k)). Confirm the current zoning map and the cited section text before acting.

• MFResidential

  Multifamily District

  Multifamily (apartment) development at a maximum of 16 dwelling units per acre, with mandatory gating and masonry screening (Sec. 106.03.02(l)). Confirm the current zoning map and the cited section text before acting.

• MH-1Residential

  Manufactured Home District

  District supporting existing planned developments with a base MH-1 zoning approved before January 5, 2021; not available for new base zoning (Sec. 106.03.02(m)). Confirm the current zoning map and the cited section text before acting.

• AGResidential

  Agricultural District

  Agricultural uses and low-intensity uses on a minimum five-acre lot, intended to prevent fragmentation of existing farms (Sec. 106.03.03(a)). Confirm the current zoning map and the cited section text before acting.

• OCommercial

  Office District

  Office uses, often a transition between commercial and residential areas (Sec. 106.03.03(b)). Confirm the current zoning map and the cited section text before acting.

• NSCommercial

  Neighborhood Services District

  Small-scale neighborhood-serving retail and service uses (Sec. 106.03.03(c)). Confirm the current zoning map and the cited section text before acting.

• CFSpecial purpose

  Community Facilities District

  Federal, state, and local government uses, and public or private educational and medical facilities, with limited incidental commercial uses (Sec. 106.03.03(d)). Confirm the current zoning map and the cited section text before acting.

• LCCommercial

  Light Commercial District

  General retail, office, and service commercial uses (Sec. 106.03.03(e)). Confirm the current zoning map and the cited section text before acting.

• HCCommercial

  Heavy Commercial District

  More intensive commercial uses, including auto-related and outdoor sales uses not allowed in LC (Sec. 106.03.03(f)). Confirm the current zoning map and the cited section text before acting.

• LIIndustrial

  Light Industrial District

  Light manufacturing, warehousing, and industrial service uses (Sec. 106.03.03(g)). Confirm the current zoning map and the cited section text before acting.

• HIIndustrial

  Heavy Industrial District

  Heavy manufacturing and industrial uses, including uses prohibited elsewhere such as electric power generating plants and salvage yards by specific use permit (Sec. 106.03.03(h)). Confirm the current zoning map and the cited section text before acting.

• LFMixed use

  Lakefront District

  Form-based mixed-use district implementing the comprehensive plan's pedestrian-oriented lakefront civic and cultural core, combining residential, retail, and office uses (Sec. 106.04.02). This pack summarizes the Lakefront Code at a high level only; detailed building disposition, frontage type, and block standards are not transcribed cell by cell here and require reading Sec. 106.04.02 directly.

• 380 ODSpecial purpose

  US 380 Overlay District

  Overlay applied on top of LC, HC, LI, HI, or related PD base zoning along the US 380 corridor, adding use restrictions, height setback envelopes, sign standards, landscaping, and lighting requirements (Sec. 106.04.01). The overlay does not replace the base district; both apply together.

• PDSpecial purpose

  Planned Development District

  Each PD contains at least one base zoning district; town council sets specific height, density, parking, and other standards in the adopting ordinance, and any standard not specifically addressed reverts to the underlying base district (Sec. 106.04.03).

Rules by topic

• Permitted usesWhat you can do by right in each zoning district.
• Special land usesUses that need special approval before they are allowed.
• SetbacksHow far buildings must sit from property lines.
• Building heightHeight limits by district, and the exceptions.
• Lot coverageHow much of a lot buildings may cover.
• Lot size and widthMinimum lot area and width requirements.
• ParkingRequired spaces, driveway rules, and surfaces.
• Accessory dwelling unitsWhether a second dwelling unit is allowed.
• Garages, sheds, and accessory structuresSize caps, setbacks, and height limits for detached structures.
• FencesHeight limits, placement, and prohibited materials.
• SignsWhat signs are allowed and where.
• Home occupationsRunning a business from a residence.
• Variances and appealsWho decides, what standard applies, and the sequence.

Common questions

• Can I add an accessory dwelling unit?
• Can I build a fence?
• Can I operate a short-term rental here?
• Can I run a home business here?
• Can I use this property for retail?
• Do I need special approval for my use?
• How do I request a variance?
• How much parking is required?
• How tall can I build?
• What setbacks apply to this property?