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Planning

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1. What is McKinney's current population?

Please visit our Demographics webpage.

2. Who assigns a street name?

Addresses are assigned by the City of McKinney’s GIS Department after the application has been reviewed by the Development Review Committee. Please contact the GIS Department at 972-547-7599 for additional information.

3. What are the new proposed developments in McKinney?

See the link below to view past and current submittals. This list contains the cases that have been submitted to the Planning Department for review and approval. Planning Case Submittal Page

4. What do I need to do to take down a tree on my property?

Please email the City of McKinney's Planning Department for detailed information regarding the removal of trees.

Construction Tree Permit Form

5. Is my property located within the city limits of McKinney?

You have a couple of options for determining whether or not a property is within the city limits. The first is by checking with Collin County Appraisal District. Once on the website, click on the Property Records search option which gives you the option to search for real property by account numbers, address or owner name. Once you have found the property, open the record and look beneath the owner’s name and mailing address, location and legal description in the information block and look at the taxing entities codes. If the code CMC for McKinney City is included, this means you are within the city limit, thus paying city taxes. Another way you can determine whether or not the property is within the city limits is by using the City of McKinney’s Interactive Land Use Planning Map

6. How can I find out what my property is zoned?

You can determine the zoning of a property by using the City of McKinney’s online Interactive Land Use Planning Map. For more information about the City of McKinney’s zoning districts regulations, please refer to the City of McKinney Zoning Ordinance Chapter 146 Article III - District Regulation. Please call the Planning Department at 972-547-2000 or email if you need additional information regarding zoning.

7. What is the Comprehensive Plan and what does it do?

The City of McKinney’s Comprehensive Plan is a document developed from community input and the leadership of McKinney to guide decision-making for McKinney’s future growth and development. The document is a guide for decision-makers – City Staff, the City’s elected and appointed leadership, McKinney residents and investors in the community – regarding City policies and issues related to land use, transportation, urban design, parks and recreation and infrastructure. The Comprehensive Plan reflects the vision of what McKinney residents want their community to be and how it should be achieved.

8. What is a Pre-Development Meeting and how do I know if I need one?

A pre-development meeting is a meeting scheduled by the Planning Department where representatives from the Fire, Engineering, Planning, Parks and Building Inspection Departments meet with the applicant or developer for a proposed development prior to the formal submittal of development plans. These meetings are meant to provide general information regarding development standards and to help point out any major issues with a proposed development plan prior to making a formal submittal. These meetings are offered free of charge and are encouraged if a developer is new to the City of McKinney, has questions about the development process or has a complex development proposal. These meetings are available to anyone who has questions regarding a development that they’re proposing to construct. If you’re not sure if a pre-development meeting is right for you, please call 972-547-2000 or email for more information

9. How can I set up a Pre-Development Meeting?

Beginning January 1, 2019 Predevelopment meetings will be held:

Mondays 2pm – 4 pm; Tuesdays 10am – 12 pm; Wednesdays 10am – 12 pm

To schedule a pre-development meeting, please call 972-547-2000.

10. When can I submit my Development Application to the Planning Department?

View the Planning Application Submittal Schedule and the PD Zoning Application Submittal Schedule

11. What are Impact Fees?

Impact Fees are authorized under Chapter 395 of the Texas Local Government Code and are defined as a charge imposed against new development to pay for the off-site construction or expansion of infrastructure facilities that are necessitated by and benefit the new development. Click here for more information concerning impact fees and for the Online Impact Fee Calculator.

12. Where can I find planning application submittal requirements and checklists?

Please refer to our Forms and Checklist page for submittal requirements, fees and checklists. This page is a quick reference for forms, documents and general information that might be useful to developers, property owners and citizens. View Forms and Checklist Page.

13. What is the Subdivision Platting Process and how long does it take?

The Subdivision Regulations Chapter 142 of Code of Ordinances apply to all property within the corporate limits of the City of McKinney as well as areas outside of the corporate limits of the City, but within the extraterritorial jurisdiction ETJ of the City. The subdivision or platting process can take one month to several months depending on many factors. Please contact the Planning Department at 972-547-2000 or via email for more detailed information.

14. How do I verify if my property has been platted?

Start by checking with Collin County Appraisal District. Once on the website click on the Property Records search option which gives you the option to search for real property by account number, address or owner name. Once you have found the property, open the record and look beneath the owner’s name, mailing address and location, and look at the legal description. If the description includes a subdivision name as well as lot and block, it is likely that the property is platted. If the description includes information such as tracts or abstract, it is likely that the property is not platted. To view the plat or abstract map, you can also click Plat Map or Plat Map Image beneath the Maps and Forms section of the property page. Please contact the Planning Department at 972-547-2000 to verify whether or not your property is platted.

15. What is the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ)?

Extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) means all land situated, as classified by V.T.C.A., Local Government Code Chapters 42, 43 and 212, in all directions from the corporate boundary of the city and its extensions, and which is not in conflict with the ETJ of another municipality, or with any duly executed boundary agreement with another incorporated municipality. A city’s ETJ is essentially the area outside a city’s corporate limits but within the ultimate planning area. Generally, it can be thought of as a ring around McKinney which enables the City to regulate subdivision of land, however, it does not allow for zoning regulation.

16. What is the purpose of zoning?

Zoning is the practice of dividing an area into districts within which regulations and requirements uniformly govern the use, placement, spacing and size of land and buildings. Zoning is most often utilized to protect properties from incompatible adjacent land uses and to preserve the “character” of a community.

17. What is a Zoning District?

A Zoning District defines the types of primary and accessory uses that can be developed and what types of development standards will govern that use. Development standards include but are not limited to lot size, lot width, setbacks, heights of structures and buildings, lot coverage and screening.

18. Can I run a business from my home?

Some businesses can be operated out of a home if they do not increase the level of activity in a neighborhood. These businesses are referred to as home occupations. Certain criteria must be satisfied and licensing may be required. A complete listing of criteria is available online in the City of McKinney’s Zoning Ordinance  Section 146-133 Home Occupations. Please contact the Planning Department via  email or call 972-547-2000 for more information.

19. What is my property zoned if I live in the ETJ?

There are no zoning districts in the ETJ. The city’s zoning authority does not extend to its ETJ. However, Chapter 142 - Subdivision Regulations of the Code of Ordinances do extend to the ETJ. Building permits will be issued by the City of McKinney. More information

Chapter 142 - Subdivision Regulations

20. My property is zoned "PD" - Planned Development District. How can I obtain a copy of the “PD” ordinance or refer to the base zoning description?

You can obtain a copy of the “PD” - Planned Development District Ordinance by using the City of McKinney’s online Interactive Land Use Planning Map. To access the ordinance, activate the Zoning layer and use the identify tool to launch a dialog box that will provide a link to the ordinances. You can also activate the Planned Development District - Base Description layer and use the identify tool to refer to a “PD” - Planned Development District’s base description. Please note that the Planned Development District - Base Description layer is a preliminary reference tool and for exact allowed uses and development regulations, please refer to the “PD” - Planned Development District Ordinances. If you need additional information please email or call the Planning Department at 972-547-2000.

21. How do I find the regulations for the various zoning districts within the City of McKinney?

Refer to Chapter 146 District Regulations.

22. Where can I view copies of the Zoning and Subdivision Regulations?

These regulations are available for view at 221 N. Tennessee Street or by clicking the links below: Chapter 146 Zoning Ordinance 

Chapter 142 Subdivision Ordinance

23. What uses are allowed in each zoning district?

In order to determine the uses allowed in each zoning district please refer to the City of McKinney’s Code of Ordinances Chapter 146 Section F4 -Schedule of Uses. This matrix shows which uses are allowed in which districts. Find the use that most closely relates to your use and see if an asterisk is located within the box associated with your zoning district. If the zoning is PD, you cannot find your use, or it does not exist, please contact the Planning Department at 972-547-2000 of via email.

24. How do I change the zoning on my property?

An application for a rezoning request is submitted to the Planning Department. Once the Planning Department has adequately reviewed the case, it goes before the Planning and Zoning Commission for consideration. It is then forwarded to City Council for consideration and action. The City Council is the final approval authority for rezoning requests. Please refer to the Rezoning Request Requirement Checklist for more detailed information, call the Planning Department at 972-547-2000 or email.

25. What is the City's fee for a rezoning request or other planning applications?

Please refer to the Planning Application Fee Schedule
Call the Planning Department at 972-547-2000 or email if you need additional information.

26. What is a Zoning Verification Letter and how do I get one?

A Zoning Verification Letter is a letter drafted by the Planning Department confirming the zoning district on a tract of land within the City limits. This type of letter is useful when trying to ascertain what uses can be placed on a property as well as the property’s setbacks, height limitations, minimum lot sizes and other related information. Zoning Verification Letters are $50.00 and may be applied for through the Citizen Self Service Portal (CSS).

27. How do I measure a setback?

A setback is measured from a lot (property) line to the nearest point of a building or structure using a perpendicular line to the property line. Front property lines are usually the trickiest. Remember to always measure from a lot line and not the back of the curb or sidewalk.

28. What is the function of the Planning and Zoning Commission?

The Planning and Zoning Commission is a board consisting of seven volunteer members who are appointed to two-year terms by the City Council. This board makes recommendations to the City Council regarding specific planning and zoning issues (i.e.: Zoning Ordinance amendments, specific use permits, rezoning requests and right-of-way vacations) and approves/denies other planning and zoning issues (i.e.: site plans, plats and meritorious exceptions).

Meeting information

29. How do I contact the Planning and Zoning Commission?

You can contact the Planning and Zoning Commission by email. Planning Staff will then forward your comments to the P&Z Commissioners.

30. What can I do to let the P&Z Commission or City Council know that I am either opposed or supportive of a proposed rezoning request or another planning application?

Citizens are encouraged to attend all public meetings held by the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) and the City Council and complete a “Speaker Request” card before the meeting if they wish to speak at the meeting. When speaking, please be brief, and try not to repeat information already mentioned by a previous speaker. If you cannot attend the public meetings, you may submit a statement in writing to the Planning Department which will be given to the Commission and/or Council. You may also email the Commission or Council with your input. If you wish to formally protest a proposed zoning case as established by Section 146-164 of the Zoning Ordinance, please compete a Zoning Change Written Protest Petition form (see link below) and email or mail to the Planning Department. Zoning Change Written Protest Petition Form