--- title: "M Streets Window Rules in Dallas: Conservation District" description: "Replacing windows in the M Streets or Greenland Hills? See what Dallas conservation district ordinance says about glass, proportions, muntins and metal frames." url: https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/blog/m-streets-window-rules-dallas publisher: Honey Rock Window and Door phone: +1-214-484-9982 quote: https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/contact-us --- # M Streets Window Rules in Dallas: Conservation District On the front facade and wrap-around of an M Streets house, the Dallas ordinance allows only transparent, stained or leaded glass, and windows must be taller than wide. Muntins and mullions must stand out at least one-fourth inch, and metal frames must match original wood finishes. Get a Work Review Form first. Published September 14, 20264 min read ![A limestone home with tall arched black doors](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/_astro/project-02.BO5Nd01q_Z7hxAb.avif) ## What are the M Streets window rules in Dallas? The M Streets Conservation District ordinance sets window and door rules for the front facade and the wrap-around of each house. It allows only transparent, stained or leaded glass. Windows must be taller than wide. Muntins and mullions must show at least one-fourth inch. Metal frames must look like original wood. The City of Dallas adopted these rules in ordinance 25116, which creates Conservation District No. 9, called the M Streets (Greenland Hills). The ordinance covers about 176 acres. This post reads the ordinance text as of November 2026. Rules change, so confirm with Dallas staff before you order. ## Which part of the house do the rules cover? The rules apply to the front facade and the wrap-around. The ordinance defines the wrap-around as the part of a side facade 25 feet behind the corner of the front facade. It also defines a street facade as any part of a building that faces a public street. That wording matters on a corner lot. A side window that faces the street may count differently from a rear window. Do not guess. Mark each window on a plan and ask city staff which ones the rules cover. ## What does the ordinance say about each window rule? Here are the six rules that affect a window or door order, in the ordinance’s own words where we quote them. Rule What the ordinance says What to plan for Glass “Only transparent, stained, or leaded glass is allowed in windows and doors.” Choose clear, stained or leaded glass. Ask city staff before you pick a tint or film. Proportions “Window height must be greater than the window width.” Favor tall, vertical openings. A wide picture window on the front facade needs review. Fit “All windows must fit the wall opening. Infill surrounding the window is not allowed.” Measure the existing opening. Our post on [rough opening vs frame size](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/blog/rough-opening-vs-frame-size) explains the gap. Frames “Metal window frames must have a finish that is indistinguishable from the finish on original wood windows.” Ask for a finish sample and show it to staff. Muntins “Window muntins and mullions must be expressed by a minimum of one-fourth inch.” Flat stick-on grids may not meet the standard. Ask staff. Depth “Window assemblies must have a profile depth of at least three inches.” Check the frame depth on the product drawing. The ordinance also says “Window air conditioner units are not allowed” on the front facade and wrap-around. ## How do these rules shape the product you choose? They favor vertical windows with real depth and visible dividers. A [muntin](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/glossary/muntin) is a bar that divides panes of glass. A [mullion](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/glossary/mullion) joins two window units. The ordinance asks that both show real depth. The ordinance does not ban steel or aluminum. It sets a test: the finish on a metal frame must be indistinguishable from original wood. That is a finish question, so bring samples to the city, not just a color chip. Some options to compare with staff: - A tall casement or fixed unit with a deep frame. See our page on [casement and awning windows](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/windows/casement-and-awning-windows). - A window with the look of a classic sash. Bertrand describes one, and our post on [simulated double hung windows](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/blog/simulated-double-hung-windows) explains how it works. - A true [double hung window](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/windows/double-hung-windows) line, if staff prefers a sash that slides. We do not claim that any specific product meets the ordinance. City staff decides. Bring the drawing and the finish sample, and let them review it. ![A white brick home with black-framed windows and a Japanese maple](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/_astro/project-03.BtO7XoR4_Z1cP9pG.avif) ## Do you need approval before you replace windows? Yes, ask Dallas for a Work Review Form before work starts. The city’s conservation district packet says: “For alterations to a property, owners must obtain a Work Review Form (WRF).” It also says that if work is done without a WRF or city building permit, code inspectors will cite the owner and issue a stop work order. The ordinance itself states a penalty not to exceed $2,000. Read the ordinance for the full text. Whether a window swap also needs a building permit is a separate question. Ask Dallas Development Services. Do not assume “no permit.” The packet lists a WRF “or city building permit,” which means both can matter. ![Arched wood doors with divided lites in a stone wall](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/_astro/arched-window-stone-yellow-01.UK_Vazh1_C4K3b.avif) ## How is this different from a historic landmark district? A conservation district is not a landmark district. Dallas landmark districts require a Certificate of Appropriateness before exterior work. The M Streets use the conservation process with a Work Review Form. The rules differ, and so do the forms. Our guide on [windows in Dallas historic districts](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/guides/windows-in-dallas-historic-districts) covers the landmark process. If you are not sure which one your street falls under, ask Dallas staff for the district name and the governing ordinance. ## What should you bring to the city? Bring a window schedule, drawings, finish samples and photos of the existing front. A simple package makes review faster. We suggest this list: 1. A photo of each front and wrap-around window you plan to change. 2. A drawing with the opening size, the new unit size and the frame depth. 3. The muntin or mullion detail, with the depth shown. 4. A finish sample for any metal frame. 5. The glass type for each unit. Honey Rock works with Jada, Bertrand and Sun Windows, and describes its approach as running “From the initial design process to the final installation.” We can help you assemble the drawing set. We do not decide what the city approves. ## Next step Planning window work in the M Streets? Tell us about the house at [/contact-us](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/contact-us) or call (214) 484-9982. For the wider picture, see our pillar on [window replacement in Dallas](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/window-replacement-dallas) and the [Dallas area page](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/areas/dallas). This post is not legal advice. Confirm every rule with the City of Dallas. ## Questions people ask ### Do M Streets window rules apply to the whole house? The window and door rules in the ordinance apply to the front facade and the wrap-around. The ordinance defines the wrap-around as the part of a side facade 25 feet behind the corner of the front facade. Confirm your own lot with Dallas staff. ### Do I need approval before I replace windows in the M Streets? Dallas says owners must get a Work Review Form (WRF) for alterations to a property in a conservation district. Code inspectors can cite the owner and issue a stop work order if work starts without a WRF or building permit. ### Can I use steel or aluminum frames in the M Streets? The ordinance allows metal frames only if the finish is indistinguishable from the finish on original wood windows on the front facade and wrap-around. Ask city staff to review a finish sample before you order. ### Are these rules the same as a historic landmark district? No. A conservation district is a different tool from a landmark district. Landmark districts use a Certificate of Appropriateness. The M Streets use the conservation process with a Work Review Form. Confirm which applies to your address. ## Terms on this page - [Certificate of Appropriateness](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/glossary/certificate-of-appropriateness) - [Rough opening](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/glossary/rough-opening) - [Mullion](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/glossary/mullion) - [Muntin](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/glossary/muntin) - [Sash](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/glossary/sash) ## Sources 1. [City of Dallas: M Streets (Greenland Hills) Conservation District ordinance 25116](https://dallascityhall.com/departments/sustainabledevelopment/historicpreservation/DCH%20documents/pdf/MStreet_GreenlandHills.pdf) 2. [City of Dallas: M Streets (Greenland Hills) Conservation District ordinance 25116 (proportions)](https://dallascityhall.com/departments/sustainabledevelopment/historicpreservation/DCH%20documents/pdf/MStreet_GreenlandHills.pdf) 3. [City of Dallas: M Streets (Greenland Hills) Conservation District ordinance 25116 (muntins)](https://dallascityhall.com/departments/sustainabledevelopment/historicpreservation/DCH%20documents/pdf/MStreet_GreenlandHills.pdf) 4. [City of Dallas: M Streets (Greenland Hills) Conservation District ordinance 25116 (metal frames)](https://dallascityhall.com/departments/sustainabledevelopment/historicpreservation/DCH%20documents/pdf/MStreet_GreenlandHills.pdf) 5. [City of Dallas: M Streets (Greenland Hills) Conservation District ordinance 25116 (wrap-around)](https://dallascityhall.com/departments/sustainabledevelopment/historicpreservation/DCH%20documents/pdf/MStreet_GreenlandHills.pdf) 6. [City of Dallas: Conservation Districts packet](https://dallascityhall.com/departments/sustainabledevelopment/DCH%20documents/pdf/ConservationTotalPacket.pdf) 7. [City of Dallas: M Streets (Greenland Hills) Conservation District ordinance 25116 (fit)](https://dallascityhall.com/departments/sustainabledevelopment/historicpreservation/DCH%20documents/pdf/MStreet_GreenlandHills.pdf) 8. [City of Dallas Historic Preservation: Applications](https://dallascityhall.com/departments/sustainabledevelopment/historicpreservation/Pages/Applications.aspx) Written by Honey Rock Window and Door and checked against the sources above on September 14, 2026. Product specifications and city rules change, so check the linked page before you act. ## Keep reading - [Window replacement in Dallas luxury and historic homesBefore you replace windows in Dallas, confirm three things with the city: whether your work needs a permit, whether your home sits in a Landmark or conservation district, and what that district allows. As of November 2026, historic districts need approval before exterior work. Never assume a swap is exempt.](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/window-replacement-dallas) - [Replacing windows and doors in a Dallas historic districtIn a Dallas Landmark district, exterior work needs a Certificate of Appropriateness before it starts. Minor work may need only staff approval. Bigger changes go to the Landmark Commission. Conservation districts like the M Streets use a Work Review Form instead. Confirm your address and the rules with the city first.](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/guides/windows-in-dallas-historic-districts) - [Simulated Double Hung Windows: The Classic Sash LookA simulated double hung window copies the look of two vertically sliding sashes, but its sashes do not slide. Bertrand says one sash, typically the lower, can open as a tilt-turn or side-hung window while the other stays fixed. You get the traditional look with modern seals and hardware.](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/blog/simulated-double-hung-windows) - [Rough Opening vs Frame Size: How Windows Fit a WallThe rough opening is the hole framed in the wall. The frame size is the outside size of the window or door unit. The opening is larger so the unit can be set level, plumb and square. One manufacturer's casement chart typically adds 1/2 inch to the frame size. Always use your maker's drawing.](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/blog/rough-opening-vs-frame-size) - [Pivot doors for Dallas homes: steel and aluminumA pivot door turns on a vertical axis set into the floor and head instead of on side hinges. That lets a door be very large and still swing with one hand. Jada makes a vertical steel pivot door on a hydraulic floor pivot. Bertrand makes three aluminum pivot systems. Honey Rock works with both makers.](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/pivot-doors) - [Custom entry doors: swing, pivot, steel and wood-cladA custom entry door starts with how it opens: inswing, outswing or pivot. Then you choose the frame material, the glass and privacy level, the locks and the sill. In Texas, add the sun. A west-facing door needs low-solar-gain glass and a sill detail that suits its exposure.](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/custom-entry-doors) ![A modern home with wide glass doors lit warm at dusk beside a pool](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/_astro/dusk-modern-home-pool-01.CeePxgPr_Z2giQin.webp) ## Let’s frame your view. Send your plans or a few photos of the openings. We will help you choose the system, the brand and the glass. [Start your project](https://honeyrock.multisites.ai/contact-us)[or call (214) 484-9982](tel:+1-214-484-9982)