10/16/2026
Buying a Norhill bungalow with plans to add on later? How much you can build depends on rules that are still being written. 🏡
The city's revised draft guidelines would allow about 2,300 sq ft of floor area on a typical 5,000 sq ft lot. In the city's own modeling, though, a two-story addition topped out around 1,980 sq ft once the 19-foot rear setback was applied.
And that's only one of three rulebooks:
📋 City draft guidelines: not adopted yet. The final vote is still to be scheduled. 📜 Deed restrictions: in force today. New garage apartments are prohibited in North and East Norhill, and garages must sit at least 60 ft from the front property line. 🏛️ Chapter 33: this is how additions are reviewed right now, case by case, based on how well they fit the neighborhood.
In practice, your limit is whichever rule is strictest.
The approval order matters too. The Norhill Neighborhood Association recommends getting its approval before you submit final drawings to the city. Filing with both at once can mean reapplying and losing time.
If you're considering a Norhill home, let's pull the deed restrictions, plat and lot dimensions before your option period ends, so you know what's realistic under today's rules, not the draft.
🔗 Read the full blog post: https://newheightstx.com/blog/buying-in-norhill-to-build-on-later-how-much-you-can-add-depends-on-rules-still-being-written
Sources: Houston Chronicle (Oct. 7, 2026); HAHC meeting (Oct. 8, 2026); North Norhill deed restrictions; City of Houston Code Ch. 33. General information, not legal advice.
