Dallas Council Raises Unit Limits, Mandates Design Reviews for New Projects

The Dallas City Council voted 9-6 on July 10 to amend the zoning ordinance, raising maximum residential density from 25 to 45 units per acre in mixed-use districts near rail lines while requiring all new buildings over three stories to undergo design review by the Planning Commission.

Why the vote happened now

City planners cited the need to address a shortfall of 42,000 housing units projected by 2030, according to the latest Dallas Housing Needs Assessment released in May. The changes respond directly to developer applications stalled since early 2025 over height and massing disputes in several corridors.

Projects along Ross Avenue in Uptown and in the Bishop Arts District will face the new rules first. The amendments also update the 2023 Dallas Comprehensive Plan implementation guidelines to prioritize pedestrian-scale facades and ground-floor retail in those areas.

Numbers behind the shift

Median single-family home prices in Dallas reached $487,000 in the second quarter of 2026, according to the North Texas Real Estate Information Systems report released last week. Multifamily vacancy rates sit at 6.8 percent citywide, with rents averaging $1,950 for a one-bedroom unit near DART stations.

Developers must now submit facade material samples and shadow studies for any structure exceeding 60 feet. The new standards take effect August 15, 2026, with a 90-day grace period for applications already in the pipeline.

Property owners in affected zones should check the updated zoning map on the city website before submitting site plans. The Planning Commission will hold its first design review hearings under the revised rules on September 4 at City Hall.