SpaceX Texas Town: New Zoning & Map Proposal
- Residents of Starbase, Texas, the town near Elon Musk's SpaceX facility, are facing potential changes to their property rights.
- The notice was sent to property owners within a proposed "Mixed Use District," which would allow for residential, office, retail, and small-scale service uses.
- starbase, a "type-C municipal corporation," was officially formed earlier in May after a local election.
Starbase, Texas, Residents Face Potential Zoning Changes Near SpaceX facility
Updated May 29, 2025
Residents of Starbase, Texas, the town near Elon Musk’s SpaceX facility, are facing potential changes to their property rights. A memo obtained by CNBC indicates that some residents might “lose the right to continue using” their property as they currently do, due to a proposed new zoning ordinance and citywide map.
The notice was sent to property owners within a proposed “Mixed Use District,” which would allow for residential, office, retail, and small-scale service uses. A public hearing is scheduled for June 23 to discuss the proposed zoning and map,according to Kent myers,the city administrator for Starbase.
starbase, a ”type-C municipal corporation,” was officially formed earlier in May after a local election. The town is now governed by officials who are SpaceX employees or former employees. As of early 2025, the population of Starbase was around 500, with approximately 260 directly employed by SpaceX, according to the Texas Tribune.
The company town includes the SpaceX launch facility where Starship rocket test flights occur, encompassing a 1.6-square-mile area of company-owned land. The Starship rocket recently experienced its ninth test flight,which ended in an explosion,marking the third consecutive setback for SpaceX. Musk stated the company is focused on data collection and learning from these incidents.
The FAA reported no public injuries or damage to public property resulting from the explosion. The starship system is designed to transport people and equipment around Earth, to the Moon, and potentially to Mars for colonization.
since 2008,Musk’s spacex has received over $20 billion in government contracts and is expected to receive several billion dollars annually in the coming years. Establishing Starbase as a company town provides SpaceX with greater freedom to build, test, and launch from its Texas Gulf Coast industrial complex.
The town is also seeking the ability to close a main road and beaches for launch activities during the week without needing municipal or other authority.
What’s next
The Starbase City Commission is holding its first meeting Thursday. The public hearing regarding the proposed zoning ordinance and citywide map is scheduled for June 23, where residents can voice their concerns and comments.