Sustainable Development and Construction
Building Inspection

Handicapped Group Dwelling Units (HGDU)

HGDU Criteria Overview:

• Permanent Facility
• 8 persons or fewer who are handicapped – may include 2 supervisors up to a maximum of 8 persons, including supervisory personnel
• For the definition of a handicapped person, please refer to the federal Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988.
• Zoning requirements: May be located in single family, duplex, townhouse, cluster housing, and some multi-family zones (among others). Must be when spaced 1,000 feet from another HGDU facility or a Group Residential Facility; otherwise a specific use permit (SUP) is required. Please see the Dallas Development Code, Chapter 51-A-4.209(3.1) for more details.
• No Certificate of Occupancy required for the HGDU use, however City registration as a non-owner occupied single family dwelling may be required in addition to applicable State licenses.

Process to verify 1,000 foot spacing:

Submit a request in writing (either by mail or e-mail) to:

Mindy Owen
%Building Inspection Division
320 East Jefferson Boulevard #201
Dallas, Texas 75203
214-948-4347
mindy.owen@dallascityhall.com

The request should include 1) the address in question, 2) a return mailing address, 3) telephone and email contact information, and 4) the following:

“I am requesting verification that there is not a Handicap Group Dwelling/Group Residential Facility within 1000 feet of the referenced location.”

The process involves staff research and field inspection, and may take up to 30 days from receipt of the request to notify the sender of the results. The sender will be notified via U.S. mail of the results of the research and inspection.

If the property is found to be within 1,000 feet of another Handicapped Group Dwelling or Group Residential Facility we will notify you of further information regarding obtaining a Special Use Permit which is a type of zoning change that is required in certain locations prior to this use to be established.