McKinney, Texas zoning

A plain-language summary of the McKinney zoning ordinance, organized by district and topic. Source: the official ordinance on City of McKinney Document Center (native PDF; Municode hosts the pre-2022 Chapter 146 for reference only), last reviewed July 3, 2026.

Zoning districts

• R43Residential

  Residential Estate

  Large-lot residential development of single-family homes on lots of at least one acre, creating neighborhoods of a rural character (UDC Sec. 204D). Appropriate in the Rural Living, Estate Residential, and Suburban Living placetypes of the ONE McKinney 2040 Comprehensive Plan.

• R12Residential

  Residential

  Low density, suburban-style single-family residential development (UDC Sec. 204E).

• R8Residential

  Residential

  Low density, suburban-style single-family residential development (UDC Sec. 204F).

• R6Residential

  Residential

  Medium-density, suburban-style single-family residential development (UDC Sec. 204G).

• R5Residential

  Residential

  Medium-density single-family residential development (UDC Sec. 204H).

• R3Residential

  Residential

  High-density single-family residential development, including small-lot single-family product platted under TLGC Sec. 211.052 (UDC Sec. 204I).

• TR1.8Residential

  Townhome Residential

  High-density townhome residential development (UDC Sec. 204J). Detached single-family uses built in this district follow the R5 dimensional standards.

• MRResidential

  Mixed Residential

  A mix of housing types, including single-family detached and attached homes, duplexes, triplexes, and quadplexes alongside lower density multi-family buildings (UDC Sec. 204K). Dimensional standards vary by housing type within the district; see Table 2-10.

• MF36Residential

  Multi-Family Residential

  Multi-family residential development (UDC Sec. 204L). Density capped at 36 dwelling units per acre.

• MHRResidential

  Manufactured Home Residential

  Manufactured homes with supporting and accessory uses such as management offices, maintenance buildings, laundry, and storage facilities, and recreation areas (UDC Sec. 204M).

• C1Commercial

  Neighborhood Commercial

  Small-scale, low-intensity commercial, retail, office, service-oriented, and professional uses serving the surrounding neighborhood, typically at collector-road intersections (UDC Sec. 204N).

• C2Commercial

  Local Commercial

  Mid-sized, medium-intensity commercial, retail, office, service-oriented, and professional uses, typically at arterial-road intersections (UDC Sec. 204O).

• C3Commercial

  Regional Commercial

  Large-scale, high-intensity commercial, retail, office, service-oriented, and professional uses serving the broader region, typically along major regional highways (UDC Sec. 204P).

• O1Commercial

  Office

  A concentration of low-intensity office and professional uses, limiting commercial and retail uses, typically at arterial and collector road intersections (UDC Sec. 204Q).

• O2Commercial

  Regional Office

  A concentration of high-intensity office and professional uses, allowing commercial and retail uses, typically along major regional highways (UDC Sec. 204R).

• I1Industrial

  Light Industrial

  A range of lower-intensity industrial uses (UDC Sec. 204S).

• I2Industrial

  Heavy Industrial

  The widest permitted range of more intense industrial uses (UDC Sec. 204T).

• GCSpecial purpose

  Government Complex

  Standards conducive to public and government facilities that contribute to the provision of public services (UDC Sec. 204U). Lot, setback, and height standards are not fixed citywide; see Sec. 204U for the applicable process.

• AGResidential

  Agriculture

  Rural and agricultural uses (UDC Sec. 204V). Appropriate in the Rural Living and Estate Residential placetypes.

• APSpecial purpose

  Airport

  Air transportation and associated uses (UDC Sec. 204W). Applied only to the extent compatible with Chapter 118 (Airport Height, Hazard, and Land Use Regulations) of the McKinney Code; Chapter 118 controls in any conflict.

• PDSpecial purpose

  Planned Development

  New and imaginative concepts in urban design and land development that require unique standards not permitted by the standard zoning districts (UDC Sec. 204X). Every PD ordinance is an amendment to the Code and the zoning map; where a PD ordinance is silent, the standard zoning ordinance controls. A live GIS point query in this session returned a PD result, confirming PD is common on the ground in McKinney.

• MTCMixed use

  McKinney Town Center

  Downtown mixed-use district governed by its own standards in Appendix 2B: McKinney Town Center MTC (UDC Sec. 204Y), not the base district tables in this pack. Detailed MTC dimensional and use standards are review-gated pending a follow-on pass through Appendix 2B. A live GIS point query at a downtown McKinney address in this session returned MTC.

• HSpecial purpose

  Historic Overlay

  Supplemental overlay protecting districts and landmarks of historical and cultural importance, used with the underlying base zoning district (UDC Sec. 204Z). A Certificate of Appropriateness is required before most exterior work, new construction, or demolition on a property within the overlay boundary.

• HCSpecial purpose

  Highway Commercial Overlay

  Supplemental overlay allowing some non-residential buildings along University Drive (US 380), Central Expressway/Sam Rayburn corridor (US 75), and Sam Rayburn Tollway (SH 121) to exceed the base district height, through four subzones: Suburban (no increase), Low-Rise (up to 3 stories), Mid-Rise (up to 6 stories with a design exception), and High-Rise (up to 12 stories) (UDC Sec. 204AA).

• TMNSpecial purpose

  Traditional McKinney Neighborhood Overlay

  Supplemental overlay modifying underlying base district standards to help facilitate redevelopment in specific identified areas (UDC Sec. 204BB). Single-family lots and structures follow reduced percentages of the underlying district's lot and setback standards; see Table 2-23.

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 in McKinney?
• Can I build a duplex, triplex, or quadplex in McKinney?
• Can I build a fence in McKinney?
• Can I run a home business in McKinney?
• Do I need special approval for my use in McKinney?
• How do I request a variance in McKinney?
• How much parking is required in McKinney?
• How tall can I build in McKinney?
• Is my property in McKinney's Historic Overlay, and what does that mean?
• What setbacks apply to this property in McKinney?