Round Rock Officials Outline Requirements For Garage Conversions

ROUND ROCK, TX -- So you want to turn your garage into a separate living unit? Well you can now, thanks to a new ordinance allowing it but there are rules to which residents must adhere.

Round Rock city officials sent out an advisory to residents via their website outlining the required protocol for converting a garage into living space. An ordinance approved in January now allows for that sort of transformation.

But the city reminds people of the rules, including two garage-enclosed parking spaces and two driveway spaces in residential zoning districts -- safeguards that the city acknowledged effectively prohibit such conversions.

Despite those outlined measures, officials said they have seen garage conversions occurring despite the parking requirements.

“The primary reason the city adopted this ordinance is to ensure converted garage space meets building codes pertaining to health and safety,” city officials explained.

The parking-space-less conversions are being seen primarily in older neighborhood where deed restrictions don’t prevent those changes.

The new garage conversion ordinance applies to single-family and two-family dwelling on lots platted before 2002, the advisory reads. That cut-off date was settled on because prior to 2002, the zoning ordinace didn’t require two garage-enclosed parking spaces.

This had the effect of re-establishing a property owner’s right previously in effect for many older neighborhoods, city officials said.

Oh, and the new ordinance doesn’t allow converted garages to be used as a separate dwelling unit,

Yes, it’s all rather confusing. The city refers those interested in garage conversions to visit the Garage Conversion brochure for information on eligibility and requirements for garage conversions. Those with additional questions should contact Senior Planner Joelle Jordan at 512-218-5422 or jjordan@roundrocktexas.gov.