Senate Bill 840, passed by the 89th Texas Legislature on May 21, 2025, and signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025, will take effect on September 1, 2025. The law requires cities with populations over 150,000 in counties with more than 300,000 residents—including Irving—to allow construction of multifamily apartments and residential mixed-use developments on land zoned for office, commercial, retail, or warehouse uses, with few exceptions.
SB 840 limits local zoning authority by mandating minimum standards for new multifamily and mixed-use projects, including:
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Residential density of at least 36 units per acre
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Building height of at least 45 feet
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Setbacks or buffers no greater than 25 feet
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Maximum of one parking space per residential unit
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No requirement for multilevel parking garages
Exceptions include land zoned for heavy industrial use or areas near airports or heavy industrial activity.
In response, the City of Irving is updating regulations to comply with the law and encourage high-quality, sustainable growth. Changes include amendments to the Unified Development Code, new building code requirements promoting energy-efficient construction, and updates to the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance to ensure new developments have proper utility and transportation infrastructure.
City Council is scheduled to consider adoption of these updates at the August 28 meeting. More information is available at IrvingTX.gov/Multifamily-By-Right.
