ReCode – Laredo Planning Department

ReCode Laredo

We’ve got the plan and vision for Laredo, now it’s time to update our Land Development Code (LDC). This code sets the regulations and guidelines for how Laredo is built.

What is ReCode?
ReCode Laredo is the City of Laredo’s initiative to rewrite our land development code. This project is a follow-up to the City Council adopted comprehensive plan, Viva Laredo, which aims to provide a more connected, sustainable, and affordable future, embodying the values and needs of the Laredo community.

Why is it important?
The Land Development Code regulates how and where we build and grow as a City. By updating this code, we plan to improve the process and allow for more creative, affordable, and sustainable solutions as Laredo moves into the future. Laredo’s current Land Development Code was written nearly 30 years ago. The code requires a complete re-haul in order to enable the development of the kinds of spaces and places our community voiced they want to see in the years to come.

Final Review Schedule

The ReCode effort was originally an 18-month process. Commencing in the fall of 2019, a final draft was scheduled to be brought to City Council in the Spring of 2021. Due to the Pandemic, the timeline was extended to allow for in-person public involvement once the risk of Covid-19 has sufficiently subsided. The new final review schedule will bring a final draft to City Council this summer, as follows:

Local Government Review – 2021:

Thur, May 13th, 2021 @ 9am – 12 pm – Session 1 – Article 1 & 2
Fri, May 14th, 2021 @ 9am – 12 pm – Session 2 – Article 3
Thur, May 20th, 2021 @ 9am – 12 pm – Session 3 – Article 4
Fri, May 21st, 2021 @ 9am – 12 pm – Session 4 – Article 5 & 6
Thur, May 27th, 2021 @ 9am – 12 pm – Session 5 – Article 7 & 8
Fri, May 28th, 2021 @ 9am – 12 pm – Session 6 – Article 9 & 10
Thur, Jun 3rd, 2021 @ 9am – 12 pm – Session 7 – Article 11 & 12
Fri, Jun 4th, 2021 @ 9am – 12 pm – Session 8 – Overflow / Recap
Thur, Jun 24th, 2021 @ 9am – 12 pm – Session 9 – Overflow / Recap
Fri, Jun 25th, 2021 @ 9am – 12 pm – Session 10 – Overflow / Recap

Laredo Builders Association – 2021

Thur, July 29th, 2021 @ 3 pm – 5 pm – LBA Introduction and Draft Deliverable Open House – Laredo Public Library, 1120 E. Calton Rd.

Planning Commission Workshop (Public Meeting) – 2021

Thur, July 29th, 2021 @ 6 pm – 8pm – Workshop Laredo Public Library, 1120 E. Calton Rd.

Public Workshop – 2021

Tue, Aug 17th , 2021@ 9 am – 12 pm – Laredo Public Library, 1120 E. Calton Rd.
- Session 1 – Article 1 & 2 – 9 am
- Session 2 – Article 3 – 10 am
- Session 3 – Article 4 – 11 am
Wed, Aug 18th, 2021 @ 9 am – 12 pm – Laredo Public Library, 1120 E. Calton Rd.
- Session 4 – Article 5 & 6 – 9 am
- Session 5 – Article 7 & 8 – 10 am
- Session 6 – Article 9 & 10 – 11 am
Thur, Aug 19th, 2021 @ 9 am – 12 pm – Laredo Public Library, 1120 E. Calton Rd.
- Session 7 – Article 11 & 12 – 9 am
- Session 8 – Overflow / Recap – 10 am
- Session 9 – Overflow / Recap – 11 am

Public Workshop Follow-up – 2021

Tue, Sep 28th, 2021 @ 9 am – 12 pm – Laredo Public Library, 1120 E. Calton Rd.
- Session 1 – Article 3 – 9 am
- Session 2 – Article 4 – 9:30 am
Wed, Sep 29th, 2021 @ 9 am – 12 pm – Laredo Public Library, 1120 E. Calton Rd.
- Session 3 – Article 6 – 9 am
- Session 4 – Article 7 – 10 am
- Session 5 – Article 8 – 11 am
- Session 6 – Article 9 – 11:30 am
Thur, Sep 30th, 2021 @ 9 am – 12 pm – Laredo Public Library, 1120 E. Calton Rd.
- Session 7 – Article 10 – 9 am
- Session 8 – Overflow – 10 am

Submit Your Comments

Your comments are very valuable in the development of the Unified Development Code. You may submit your comments at the following link: https://www.vivalaredo.org/recode

Draft Unified Development Code

The ReCode effort will update and unify the existing Land Development Code, Subdivision Ordinance, and all other codes and ordinances related to land development and regulation. The result will be a new Unified Development Code (UDC). The effort started in the fall of 2019, involved significant public outreach and stakeholder involvement, and is scheduled to be brought to the City Council for consideration in the summer of 2021. The following is the current draft, which is still subject to change:

Article 1: Intro

Draft # 1 UDC Chapter 1: Introduction

Draft # 2 UDC Chapter 1: Introduction

Draft # 3 UDC Chapter 1: Introduction

Art 1 Introduction
24.1.1 Title
24.1.2 Purpose
24.1.3 Authority
24.1.4 Applicability
24.1.5 Consistency with Comprehensive Plan

Article 2: Zoning Districts

Draft # 1 UDC Chapter 2: Zoning Districts

Draft # 2 UDC Chapter 2: Zoning Districts

Draft # 3 UDC Chapter 2: Zoning Districts

Art 2 Zoning Districts
Dvision 1 General Provisions
24.2.1 Generally
24.2.2 Districts Established
24.2.3 Zoning Map
24.2.4 Zoning of Annexed Areas
Division 2 Base Districts
24.2.5 Agriculture (AG)
24.2.6 Residential Low (RL-1)
24.2.7 Residential Low (RL-2)
24.2.8 Residential Medium (RM)
24.2.9 Residential High (RH-1)
24.2.10 Residential High (RH-2)
24.2.11 Mixed Use (MX-1)
24.2.12 Mixed Use (MX-2)
24.2.13 MX-3 (Downtown)
24.2.14 C (Commercial)
24.2.15 I-1 (Industrial Light)
24.2.16 I-2 (Industrial Heavy)
24.2.17 Use Chart
Division 3 Overlay Districts
24.2.18 H (Historic Overlay)
24.2.19 A Airport Overlay Districts (AO)
24.2.20 F (Flood Hazard Overlay)
Division 4 Special Districts
24.2.21 PD (Planned Development)
24.2.22 OG (Oil & Gas)
24.2.23 RD (Redevelopment)

Article 3: Zoning Standards

Draft # 1 UDC Chapter 3: Zoning Standards

Draft # 2 UDC Chapter 3: Zoning Standards

Draft # 3 UCD Chapter 3: Zoning Standards

3 Zoning Standards
24.3.1 General Provisions
24.3.2 Access Management
24.3.3 Blocks, Lots and Yards
24.3.4 Building Design & Height
24.3.5 Fencing and Screening
24.3.6 Landscaping & Tree Preservation
24.3.7 Parking and Loading
24.3.8 Riparian Buffers
24.3.9 Site Design

Article 4: Subdivision Standards

Draft # 1 UDC Chapter 4: Subdivision Standards

Draft # 2 UDC Chapter 4: Subdivision Standards

Draft # 3 UDC Chapter 4: Subdivision Standards

4 Subdivision Standards
24.4.1 General Provisions
24.4.2 Commercial Condominiums
24.4.3 Improvement Guarantees
24.4.4 Park Standards
24.4.5 Stormwater Management
24.4.6 Streets
24.4.7 Utilities

Article 5: Procedures

Draft # 1 UDC Chapter 5: Procedures

Draft # 2 UDC Chapter 5: Procedures

Draft # 3 UDC Chapter 5: Procedures

5 Procedures
Division 1 General Procedures
24.5.1 General Procedural Requirements & Authority
24.5.2 Preapplication
24.5.3 Filing Applications
24.5.4 Notice Provisions
24.5.5 Staff Review
24.5.6 Decision Making & Public Hearings
24.5.7 Continuance of Application
24.5.8 Withdrawal of Application
24.5.9 Scope of Approval
24.5.10 Post-Decision Proceedings
Division 2 Plans and Amendments
24.5.11 Comprehensive Plan
24.5.12 Text Amendment
24.5.13 Annexation
Division 3 Zoning Procedures
24.5.14 Rezonings
24.5.15 Special Use Permits
Division 4 Subdivision Procedures
24.5.16 General Subdivision Procedures
24.5.17 Preliminary Plat
24.5.18 Final Plat
24.5.19 Minor Plats
24.5.20 Construction Plans
24.5.21 Replats
24.5.22 Vacating Plats
24.5.23 Amending Plats
24.5.24 Certificate of Compliance
Division 5 Stormwater Permits
24.5.25 Administration and Permitting Process
24.5.26 Storm Water Management Permit
24.5.27 Simplified Storm Water Management Control Plan
24.5.28 Storm Water Concept Plans
24.5.29 Storm Water Management Plan
24.5.30 Storm Water Variances
24.5.31 Storm Water Appeals
24.5.32 Storm Water Inspection
24.5.33 Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)
Division 6 Administrative Permits
24.5.34 Site Plan Review
24.5.35 Building Permits & Certificates of Occupancy
Division 7 Relief
24.5.36 Appeals
25.4.37 Zoning Variances
24.5.38 Subdivision Variances
24.5.39 Interpretation

Article 6: Use Regulations

Draft # 1 UDC Chapter 6: Use Regulations

Draft # 2 UDC Chapter 6: Use Regulations

Draft # 3 UDC Chapter 6 Use Regulations

6 Use Regulations
24.6.1 Generally
24.6.2 Accessory Structures & Uses
24.6.3 Access Dwelling Units
24.6.4 Adaptive Reuse
24.6.5 Amusement Redemption Machine Establishment
24.6.6 Bars
24.6.7 Campgrounds
24.5.8 Day Care
24.6.9 Flea Markets
24.6.10 Funeral Homes
24.6.11 Halfway Houses
24.6.12 Head Shops
24.6.13 Junkyards
24.6.14 Manufactured and Mobile Home Land Lease Communities
24.6.15 Mini-Warehouses
24.6.16 Nationalization of Vehicles
24.6.17 Oil & Gas Production and Extraction
24.6.18 Residential Building Types
24.6.19 Restaurants
24.6.20 Residential Building Types
24.6.21 Sexually Oriented Businesses
24.6.22 Sidewalk cafes
24.6.23 Sidewalk displays
24.6.24 Signs
24.6.25 Telecommunications Facilities
24.6.26 Temporary Structures and Uses
24.6.27 Vehicle Sales and Repair

Article 7: Nonconformity

Draft # 1 UDC Chapter 7: Nonconformity

Draft # 2 UDC Chapter 7: Nonconformity

Draft # 3 UDC Chapter 7: Nonconformity

7 Nonconformities
24.7.1 Generally
24.7.2 Nonconforming uses
24.7.3 Nonconforming structures
24.7.4 Nonconforming lots
24.7.5 Nonconforming site improvements
24.7.6 Applications and Projects in progress

Article 8: Enforcement

Draft # 1 UDC Chapter 8: Enforcement

Draft # 2 UDC Chapter 8: Enforcement

Draft #3 UDC Chapter 8: Enforcement

8 Enforcement
Division 1 General Enforcement Procedures
24.8.1 Generally
24.8.2 Violations
24.8.3 Responsible Persons
24.8.4 Enforcement Responsibility
24.1.5 Enforcement Procedures
24.8.6 Cumulative Remedies
24.8.3 Penalties
Division 2 Stormwater Management Enforcement
24.8.8 Applicability
24.8.9 Administrative Enforcement Remedies
24.8.10 Right to Reconsideration Hearing and Appeal
24.8.11 Judicial Enforcement Remedies
24.8.12 Supplemental Enforcement Action

Article 9: Agencies

Draft # 1 UDC Chapter 9: Agencies

Draft # 2 UDC Chapter 9: Agencies

Draft # 3 UDC Chapter 9: Agencies

9 Agencies
24.9.1 Generally
24.9.2 Planning Department
24.9.3 Zoning Enforcement Officer
24.9.4 Historic Preservation Officer
24.9.5 Planning Director
24.9.6 Planning & Zoning Commission
24.9.7 Zoning Board of Adjustment
24.9.8 Historic District / Landmark Board Created
24.9.9 Standard Technical Specifications Manual Committee

Article 10: Definitions

Draft # 1 UDC Chapter 10: Definitions

Draft # 2 UDC Chapter 10: Definitions

Draft # 3 UDC Chapter 10: Definitions

10 Definitions & Rules of Interpretation
24.10.1 General rules of interpretation
24.10.2 Definitions
24.10.3 Interpretation of Zoning Map

Article 11: Legal Provisions

Draft # 1 UDC Chapter 11: Legal Provisions

Draft # 2 UDC Chapter 11: Legal Provisions

Draft # 3 UDC Chapter 11: Legal Provisions

11 Legal Provisions
24.11.1 Relationship to Other State, Federal and Local Provisions
24.11.2 Private Restrictions
24.11.3 Severability
24.11.4 Repeal of existing ordinance
24.11.5 Effective Date