Technical Advisory Review Panel

As directed by the Mayor and Council, the Technical Advisory Review Panel (TARP) is a collaborative group of City staff working along with housing and development industry professionals to better align the criteria manual rules with Council policies and, where appropriate, to simplify the development process. The TARP meets monthly to provide feedback on proposed rule changes before they begin the adoption process and considers ways to improve existing rules.

Rules Now Posted

New proposed Land Development Rules are now available for review on the City Clerk’s Land Development Rules Notices webpage.

Land Development Rules provide guidance and practices to meet Land Development Code requirements. The TARP has reviewed and recommended the following rules for 2026.

Each Notice of Proposed Rule on the Land Development Rules Notices webpage includes instructions on providing comments. All rules will go into effect Oct. 1, 2026.

Building Criteria Manual

Rule No. 161-26.28 - Provides design guidance to comply with irrigation requirements on residential landscaping projects.

Environmental Criteria Manual

Rule No. 161-26.04 - Provides clarity on regulated trees, updates requirements for preserving unregulated trees, adds priority replacement species, and updates tree survey information.
Rule No. 161-26.13 - Modifies design requirements for retention irrigation stormwater controls in the Barton Springs Zone.
Rule No. 161-26.22 - Clarifies and streamlines eligibility process for water quality payment in lieu, eliminating some barriers to using this option for certain residential infill projects. (Posted Aug. 5; comments close Sept. 6; to be adopted Sept. 14)

Fire Protection Manual

Rule No. 161-26.21 - Provides guidance on materials, design, submittal, and inspection requirements to comply with Wildland-Urban Interface Code and reorganizes and updates the manual with corrections, current practices, and minor changes to submittal requirements.

Parks Criteria Manual

Rule No. 161-26.29 - New manual consolidates park-related rules from Building and Environmental criteria manuals.

Standards Manual

Rule No. 161-26.27 - Provides detail on City branding for capital improvement project signs and allows removal of obsolete details from signs. (Standard 802)
Rule No. 161-26.17 - Updates the detail for water service and meter installation for 1' and smaller meters to reflect material specification changes. (Standard 520)
Rule No. 161-26.19 - Removes obsolete detail regarding concrete urban trail contraction joint (Standard 1302-2)
Rule No. 161-26.09 - Updates mailbox requirements to match Transportation Criteria Manual requirements and creates new detail for temporary driveways. (Standard Detail 433-3)

Standards Specifications Manual

Rule No. 161-26.03 - Updates material specifications for pipes, provides guidance for requesting a transmission main shut off.
Rule No. 161-26.18 - For water service and meter installation, updates material specifications; removes prohibitions, allowances, redundancies, and outdated information; and adds language for testing and disinfection.
Rule No. 161-26.24 - Updates marking requirements for combination air valve assemblies for potable and reclaimed service.

Transportation Criteria Manual

Rule No. 161-26.26 - Provides design guidance and requirements for driveway ribbons.
Rule No. 161-26.20 - Disallows switchbacks for sidewalks in right-of-way; removes fee in lieu for on-site trails; and modifies, clarifies, and updates other requirements for consistency.

Utilities Criteria Manual

Rule No. 161-26.02 - Updates requirements for lift stations, reclaimed water systems, and wastewater systems.
Rule No. 161-26.16 - Clarifies submittal requirements regarding right-of-way and easements, adds drain valve language, and updates requirements for crossing designs and blow-off valves.
Rule No. 161-26.23 - Updates submittal requirements, adds information on water main shutoff periods.