Texas SB 840: A Game-Changer for High-Density Housing and Mixed-Use Development

Question: What does Texas Senate Bill 840 mean for property owners trying to build high-density residential in zones originally designated for commercial or office use — and what role will mixed-use development play in meeting housing demand?

Short answer: SB 840 forces many large Texas cities to let multifamily and mixed-use residential developments in formerly commercial zones—by right, with limited local resistance. That creates new opportunities (and new tensions) around infrastructure, market absorption, and design, especially in fast-growing metro markets.