Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Selma, Texas

Selma’s own rules

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  R-1 Single-Family Dwelling District.

  • Garage area is excluded.

  minimum living area: >= 1500 square feet (excluding an attached or detached garage)

  “Minimum living area shall be 1,500 square feet, excluding the area of an attached or detached garage.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  A-R Agricultural-Ranch District.

  • The same minimum applies to internal and corner lots.

  minimum lot area: >= 43560 square feet (internal and corner lots)

  “Area requirements in the A-R district are as follows: (1) Minimum lot area: a. Internal: 43,560 square feet; b. Corner: 43,560 square feet.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  A-R Agricultural-Ranch District.

  • Side setback differs between internal and corner lots; rear setback is expressed as a percentage of lot depth.

  front setback depth: >= 40 feet · rear setback depth: >= 20 percent of lot depth · internal side setback width: >= 20 feet · corner side setback width: >= 25 feet

  “Minimum depth of front setback: 40 feet. (5) Minimum depth of rear setback: 20 percent of lot depth. (6) Minimum width of side setback: a. Internal lot: 20 feet; b. Corner lot: 25 feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-1 Single-Family Dwelling District.

    “Minimum depth of front setback: 20 feet. (5) Minimum depth of rear setback: 20 percent of the lot depth. (6) Minimum width of side setback: a. Internal lot: five feet; b. Corner: 10 feet.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  R-1 Single-Family Dwelling District.

  • Accessory-building coverage is separately limited to the rear yard.

  maximum building coverage: <= 50 percent of lot area · maximum accessory-building rear-yard coverage: <= 30 percent

  “Maximum building coverage as a percentage of lot area: 50 percent. (8) Maximum accessory building coverage of rear yard: 30 percent.”

• Building heightSpecified

  A-R Agricultural-Ranch District.

  • The lower of the feet or stories limits controls.

  maximum structure height: <= 30 feet (or 2½ stories, whichever is less)

  “Maximum height of structures: 30 feet or 2½ stories, whichever is less.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-1 Single-Family Dwelling District.

    “Maximum height of structures: 30 feet or 2½ stories, whichever is less.”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Occupying a parked trailer, boat, camper, or recreational vehicle in Selma residential areas.

  • The prohibition does not apply when the vehicle is located in an approved mobile home park.

  “Vehicles shall not be occupied while parked and shall not be connected to public or private utilities unless located in an approved mobile home park.”

• Accessory dwellingsProhibited

  Accessory dwelling use in the R-1 Single-Family Dwelling District.

  • The cited district permits one single-family dwelling unit per lot; this claim does not resolve other zoning districts.

  “In an R-1 single-family dwelling district, no land shall be used and no building shall be erected for or converted to any other use than: (1) One single-family dwelling unit per lot.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision proposals, including placement of manufactured-home parks and subdivisions, inside Selma city limits.

  • The cited rule concerns floodplain development; larger proposals and other city subdivision requirements may impose additional conditions.

  “All proposals for the development of subdivisions including the placement of manufactured home parks and subdivisions shall meet floodplain development permit requirements of sections 70-63 and 70-64 and the provisions of division 3 of this article.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Residential driveway approaches in Selma Park Estates and Live Oak Hills subdivisions.

  • Plans must be submitted for review and demonstrate that drainage was appropriately considered; driveways may not be placed nearer than five feet from a fire hydrant or utility pole.

  minimum clearance from fire hydrant or utility pole: >= 5 feet

  “Residential driveway approaches in Selma Park Estates and Live Oak Hills subdivisions require driveway permits. Plans must be submitted for review that demonstrate that drainage has been considered appropriately in the design. [...] Driveways may not be placed any nearer than 5’ from a fire hydrant or utility pole.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development of subdivision proposals, including manufactured-home parks and subdivisions, inside Selma city limits.

  • The floodplain development permit requirements cited are §§ 70-63 and 70-64, along with division 3 requirements.

  “All proposals for the development of subdivisions including the placement of manufactured home parks and subdivisions shall meet floodplain development permit requirements of sections 70-63 and 70-64 and the provisions of division 3 of this article.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Residential building permits inside Selma city limits.

  • The guideline revision effective when the permit is pulled controls; plan-check, permit, and water/sewer fees may all apply.

  residential plan-check fee: 70 USD (for any permit for which plans are submitted for review)

  “Plan Check Fee: For any permit for which plans are submitted for review, a plan check fee is required. The plan check fee is $70.00.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Residential permit applications inside Selma city limits.

  • The applicable guideline is the revision in effect when the permit is pulled; applications require the listed contact, site, ownership, contractor, professional, building-use, and work-class information.

  “Permit Applications are available at the permit office, or the city’s website at www.ci.selma.tx.us. The following Information is required to be completed on the application:”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Selma or Bexar County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Selma city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Selma city limits.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Selma city limits.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Selma city limits.
• Who permits septic — On-site sewage facilities inside Selma city limits.

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.