Council voted 6-1 to approve the changes, with council member Brandon McGee voting against the measure.
The details
An ADU is a secondary living space on a residential lot, like a garage apartment or backyard cottage, that provides accommodations for sleeping, cooking and sanitation, according to the city’s website.
Previously, Denton homeowners were allowed to build only one ADU per lot. After the council’s Jan. 13 decision, homeowners can build two additional ADUs with approval of a specific use permit.
“We need more people to have these options,” District 3 council member Suzi Rumohr said. “We have people who can’t afford to buy so they’re going to rent.”
ADUs can now be built on townhome, duplex and triplex lots, where before they could only be built on detached single-family lots.
Council also voted to reduce the minimum lot size for townhomes, from 2,000 square feet to 1,000 square feet in mixed-use districts, and changed the limitation on the maximum number of townhome units that can be built. Previously, townhome construction was limited by how many single family homes that could be built on the site.
The new policy treats townhomes the same as other residential units, limiting construction based on lot dimensions, drainage infrastructure and easements, according to a presentation from Denton principal planner Julie Wyatt.
What they’re saying
McGee voted against the changes in opposition to the implementation of specific use permits. The original policy proposal from staff allowed for additional ADU construction, but waived the specific use permit requirement for lots within 1.5 miles of downtown Denton. Mayor Gerard Hudspeth moved to eliminate the 1.5 mile exception area and add the specific use permit requirement as a way to require homeowners to notify their neighbors of the new ADU construction.
“You at least have a right to be notified ... It’s just saying you should tell your neighbor what you’re doing,” Hudspeth said.
McGee voted against Husdpeth’s motion out of concern for the added financial and time cost of applying for a specific use permit. Assistant Planning Director Angie Manglaris said the permit approval process can take between 10-16 weeks and requires a $601 fee.
“Support for this is a barrier to entry for a lot of people,” McGee said.
Some background
City staff developed the housing amendments in 2025, starting in February, Wyatt said. A presentation from Wyatt showed that more than 60% of surveyed Denton residents supported the townhome amendments and more than half supported the ADU amendments, per a presentation from Manglaris.
