New Beginnings for 2023

Happy New Year! 

I hope your 2023 is going well so far. Many of you are aware that I recently announced my retirement, effective Jan. 31. As I prepare to move on to my next chapter, I want to thank you, the customers and community we serve, for your tremendous support, your thoughtful input, and your continuing commitment to shape the future of Austin.  

I hope you all will take time to read our recently released FY 2022 Annual Report, which provides a great overview of our recent initiatives to make the development process easier, faster, and more cost-effective for you. 

The past few years have presented unique and significant challenges, from a global pandemic to a historic winter storm to record demand for housing. As the Development Services Department (DSD) adapted its services to address your changing needs through those events and more, many of you have also adjusted to new processes and provided important feedback to help us serve you better. I am grateful for those relationships and the vibrant community you continue to build. 

Finally, I want you to know that José Roig, Director of the Austin Code Department, has been appointed to serve as interim director for DSD, effective Feb. 1. I know he looks forward to building on previous initiatives to improve your customer experience and the development process overall. I encourage you to support him in those efforts, and I look forward to watching what you all will achieve together. 



Wishing you all the best in 2023 and beyond. 



Sincerely, 

Denise Lucas, Outgoing Director 

City of Austin Development Services Department 

Parking Changes Coming to the

Permitting and Development Center  

Starting in February, all entry points to the Permitting and Development Center (PDC) garage will be gated, and all motor vehicles will need to pay to park for visits more than 30 minutes (with some exceptions, detailed below).  

PDC visitors will be required to take a ticket before being admitted into the parking garage gate and have several payment options, including paying at a kiosk with card or cash or paying at the garage exit upon departure.  

The garage rates, which were established by the City, are in effect 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The first 30 minutes of parking will be free, with a parking fee of $5 for an hour. After that, every additional half hour will cost $3, with a daily maximum of $35.  

Community members attending public events or meetings and members of the media are exempt from parking fees and should seek parking validation from the meeting organizer or security desk on the first floor of the building.  



For more information on parking, alternative transportation options, and PDC services, visit austintexas.gov/pdc. 

Updated Land Use and Site Plan

Applications and Resources Now Available

We recently launched a separate Site Plan application web form and updated our Land Use web form. These newly updated web forms will further increase efficiency in the intake process. You will notice some file uploads that were previously optional are now required, and the site plan web form now includes space for a summary of the proposed development in addition to the Engineer’s report. This will give our intake team more information, in plain language, about what the proposal includes so they can better assist you. The launch of a new Subdivision web form will be coming soon!

As part of our ongoing work to simplify the development process from start to finish, we have also added a wizard on the newly redesigned Site Plans, Exemptions and Corrections webpage to help you determine which application to use when proposing site development. Whether you are preparing a large or small project, this tool can direct you to the right documents, directions to apply, or other related webpages.

Environmental Criteria Manual Updates Clarify and Simplify Tree and Natural Area Preservation

In December 2022, the Development Services Department completed revisions to the Tree and Natural Area Preservation section of the Environmental Criteria Manual (ECM), improving its usability and clarity and removing unnecessary and outdated material. These revisions were made over a period of 10 months, following robust community outreach and feedback through webinars, SpeakUpAustin, and on social media. Thank you to everyone who engaged with us as a part of that process. 

As a result, we have reduced the length of this section in the ECM by 50% and increased usability and plain language. Highlights of the changes include: 



• Added Arizona ash to the list of tree species that do not require mitigation. This proactive change anticipates the imminent arrival of the destructive Emerald Ash Borer and reduces the overall cost of mitigation
• Introduced low-impact excavation, elevated foundations, and alternative methods for determining root system configurations
• Removed Sections 3.5.1, 3.5.3, and Appendix P-6
• Reorganized the remainder of Section 3.5 to better reflect the Land Development Code’s distinction between preservation of regulated trees and mitigation when trees are removed

The City Arborist also worked with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Austin chapter to develop plan submittal templates to facilitate complete and successful submittals. These plan submittal templates should reduce plan submittal rejections and review times. Stay tuned for more information as we update materials and resources based on these changes. 

New Web Form Simplifies Requests for

Temporary Certificates of Occupancy

When a new structure is complete and inspected, a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) concludes the development process for applicants and allows use of the new building(s). If you need to occupy, stock, or furnish a structure before all final steps are complete, a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO) can get you started. A full explanation of the TCO process and a step-by-step interactive web form to request a TCO are now included on DSD’s Certificate of Occupancy webpage. If you have questions or need more help, please contact Building Inspections.  

New Parkland Dedication Calculator Now Available

A Message from the Parks and Recreation Department

A new, calculate-it-yourself tool is available for anyone interested in current parkland dedication requirements for a specific site or project in Austin. The tool, located on the City’s parkland dedication website, is a great way to find out basic requirements for a project based on size of tract, land use, number of residential units, and other factors. The tool provides estimates for the amount of required parkland, fees in-lieu, and park development fees. Calculated requirements are for estimation purposes only and are based on user-inputted data and should not be considered as a fee bill or invoice. To receive a binding determination of whether requirements will be satisfied through land dedication, payment of fee-in-lieu, or a combination, please request a Parkland Early Determination at austintexas.gov/PEDRequest. 

City of Austin BizAid Series Offers

Guidance for Small Businesses

A Message from the Economic Development Department

If you operate a small business or seek to open one, be aware that the City of Austin Economic Development Department offers free classes and support to help you succeed. BizAid Business Orientation provides a general overview of opening a small business or re-evaluating an existing business during its growth. The BizOpen: Commercial Property Requirements class provides a general overview of the development process and helps you identify which processes are relevant to your business location development. Virtual and in-person options at various locations are available for both classes.  



Upcoming Dates

DSD at the Austin Build Expo – Feb. 2

BizOpen: Commercial Property Requirements (virtual) – Feb. 7 

BizOpen: Commercial Property Requirements (in-person) – Feb. 22 

Presidents’ Day holiday (City offices closed) – Feb. 20 

Environmental Inspections Lunch and Learn – Feb. 21 

PopUp ATX: City Services on the Go (Givens Recreation Center) – March 4