Converse, TX Local Ordinances Guide

Converse, Texas may not be the biggest city in the state, but it has its own set of local rules that residents need to follow. With 112 tracked ordinances across 35 categories, there is more here than you might expect.

Water Use Rules

Leak Reporting Duty: In Converse, water customers must maintain the plumbing from the meter to their home or business, and the city bills for every gallon that passes through the meter even if it was lost to a leak..

Also covered: Recycled Water Rules (limited). See the full water use rules guide for Converse for details.

Soliciting & Door-to-Door

Solicitor Permits: Door-to-door solicitors, peddlers, and commercial canvassers in Converse must obtain a solicitor permit from the city, submit to a background check, and display identification while soliciting..

Also covered: No-Knock Registry (moderate). See the full soliciting & door-to-door guide for Converse for details.

Animal Ordinances

Mandatory Spay/Neuter: Converse requires every free-roaming cat within city limits to be spayed or neutered, and any intact cat caught loose can be impounded by animal control under the city code..

Also covered: Pet Limits (moderate), Wildlife Feeding (moderate), Exotic Pets (limited). See the full animal ordinances guide for Converse for details.

Sign Regulations

Digital Billboards: New billboards are banned in Converse, but LED billboard conversions can be approved by city council under a strict one-for-one removal rule..

Also covered: Political Signs (permissive), Garage Sale Signs (limited), Holiday Displays (permissive). See the full sign regulations guide for Converse for details.

Trash & Recycling

Illegal Dumping: Dumping or abandoning property on city right-of-way or public property in Converse is a class C misdemeanor carrying a $500 fine..

Also covered: Dumpster Rules (moderate), Bin Placement Rules (moderate), Yard Waste Collection (moderate). See the full trash & recycling guide for Converse for details.

Business Licensing & Operations

Auto Repair on Residential Property: Converse bans automobile repair as a home occupation citywide. City Code Sec.

Also covered: Adult Entertainment (restrictive). See the full business licensing & operations guide for Converse for details.

Environmental Rules

Flood Elevation Requirements: Converse requires new and substantially improved residential structures to elevate the lowest floor to or above the base flood elevation, certified by a registered engineer, architect, or surveyor under Sec. 22-82..

Also covered: Flood Zones (moderate), Erosion Control (limited), Stormwater Management (moderate). See the full environmental rules guide for Converse for details.

Special Events & Permits

Block Party Permits: Converse has no stand-alone block-party or street-closure permit process. Instead, Sec.

Also covered: Park Event Permits (moderate), Street Fair Rules (restrictive). See the full special events & permits guide for Converse for details.

Public Conduct

Loitering Rules: Converse bans loitering that alarms, obstructs, or harasses in public places, covering prowling, blocking traffic, begging, and lingering near schools under a citywide loitering ordinance..

Also covered: Jaywalking (moderate), Skateboarding Rules (moderate), Public Alcohol Use (moderate). See the full public conduct guide for Converse for details.

Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules

Encroachment Permits: Converse requires a construction permit from the public works department before anyone builds, installs, or places facilities in a city street or sidewalk right-of-way, with registration, insurance, and bond requirements for permit holders..

Also covered: Obstruction Rules (restrictive). See the full sidewalk & pedestrian rules guide for Converse for details.

Fence Regulations

Retaining Walls: Converse requires an engineered retaining wall for any cut or fill slope over three feet high; without one, slopes must lay back to a 3:1 horizontal-to-vertical grade under the city's land-disturbing activity rules..

Also covered: Fence Permit Requirements (moderate), Neighbor Fence Rules (permissive), Material Restrictions (permissive). See the full fence regulations guide for Converse for details.

Building Setbacks & Zoning

Lot Coverage Limits: Commercial and industrial buildings in Converse's B-3, B-4, and I-1 districts cannot cover more than three-fifths (60%) of the total lot area under the city's zoning code..

Also covered: Setback Rules (moderate), Structure Height Limits (moderate). See the full building setbacks & zoning guide for Converse for details.

Landscaping Rules

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees: Converse bars removal of any special or specimen tree -- the largest, healthiest trees on a lot -- without the city arborist's prior written approval, tied into the site's tree protection plan..

Also covered: Tree Trimming (moderate), Rainwater Harvesting (permissive), Native Plants (permissive). See the full landscaping rules guide for Converse for details.

Tree Protection

Heritage & Protected Trees: Converse designates large, mature hardwoods, softwoods, and understory trees as protected 'specimen' or 'special' trees that developers must make reasonable efforts to preserve and cannot remove without the city arborist's written approval..

Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors

Sidewalk & Mobile Vending: Converse requires a peddler permit before selling on public streets or sidewalks, and street vendors get no exclusive spot: they can't set up stationary or operate in congested areas that inconvenience the public..

Also covered: Food Truck Permits (moderate), Vending Zones (moderate). See the full food trucks & mobile vendors guide for Converse for details.

Home Business

Home Daycare: Family day care homes aren't on Converse's by-right land-use list for single-family zones, so caring for three or more unrelated children in an R-1 house requires a special use permit before it can legally operate..

Also covered: Customer Traffic Restrictions (moderate), Cottage Food Operations (permissive), Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (moderate). See the full home business guide for Converse for details.

Accessory Structures

ADU Rules: Converse's R-1 Single-Family zoning permits accessory buildings only as private garages or unrented servants' quarters for on-site employees: a rentable garage apartment or ADU isn't a permitted accessory use in single-family districts..

Also covered: Shed & Carport Rules (moderate). See the full accessory structures guide for Converse for details.

Parking Rules

Driveway Rules: Converse bans parking vehicles or boats in the front yard or an unenclosed side yard of a residential lot: they must sit on the driveway or in a carport, with only narrow, time-limited exceptions..

Also covered: Street Parking Limits (limited), Overnight Parking (permissive), Abandoned Vehicles (limited). See the full parking rules guide for Converse for details.

Property Maintenance

Property Blight: Converse enforces property maintenance under Texas Local Gov Code 214.001. Blighted conditions including structural decay, debris, and abandoned vehicles may result in abatement orders and liens..

Also covered: Vacant Lot Maintenance (limited). See the full property maintenance guide for Converse for details.

Drone Rules

Recreational Drones: Recreational drone operators in Converse must follow FAA Part 107 hobbyist rules and Texas Government Code Chapter 423 privacy restrictions. City parks may prohibit drone launches without a permit..

Also covered: Commercial Drones (permissive). See the full drone rules guide for Converse for details.

Building Safety

Plumbing Permits: Converse has adopted the 2024 International Plumbing Code and requires a permit for plumbing work, with fees set by a published city fee schedule..

Also covered: Building Permits (moderate), Electrical Permits (moderate), Elevator Maintenance (limited). See the full building safety guide for Converse for details.

Short-Term Rentals

Short-Term Rental Permits: Converse has no local STR registration portal. Operators register with the Texas Comptroller for HOT, check Bexar County rules, and confirm zoning and building compliance.

Also covered: Short-Term Rental Parking Rules (limited), Taxes & Fees (limited), Occupancy Limits (limited). See the full short-term rentals guide for Converse for details.

HOA Rules

Dispute Resolution: Converse HOA disputes follow Texas Property Code Ch 209. Owners get a pre-fine hearing, records within 10 business days, and must be offered ADR before suit.

Also covered: Assessment & Dues (limited), Board Procedures (limited), Architectural Review (limited). See the full hoa rules guide for Converse for details.

Hotels & Lodging

Transient Occupancy Tax: Converse levies a 7% hotel occupancy tax on rooms renting for $2 or more per night, collected by hotel operators and remitted monthly to the city's tax collector..

Noise Ordinances

Vehicle Noise: Converse bans truck engine brakes ("jake brakes") within city limits except in emergencies, and treats unmuffled exhaust, horn misuse, and faulty-vehicle noise as separate noise nuisances citywide under Chapter 18..

Also covered: Decibel Limits (permissive), Leaf Blower Rules (permissive), Construction Hours (moderate). See the full noise ordinances guide for Converse for details.

Garage & Yard Sales

Frequency, Duration & Permits: Converse requires property owners, lessees, and nonprofits to obtain a $25 permit before holding any garage, yard, or rummage sale, verified with proof of address..

Solar Energy

Panel Permits: Solar PV installations in Converse require a building and electrical permit under the adopted 2018 IRC and 2017 NEC. Ground mounts follow setback rules.

Also covered: HOA Restrictions (permissive). See the full solar energy guide for Converse for details.

Fire Regulations

Fireworks: Converse prohibits the use, sale, and possession of consumer fireworks inside city limits. Texas Occupations Code Chapter 2154 allows municipalities to ban fireworks, and Converse enforces that ban with fines..

Also covered: Smoke Detectors (limited), Wildfire Zones (permissive). See the full fire regulations guide for Converse for details.

Cannabis Regulations

Home Cultivation: Home cultivation of marijuana is illegal in Converse and throughout Texas. Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 481 prohibits cultivation outside the state's narrow medical Compassionate Use Program..

Also covered: Dispensary Zoning (permissive). See the full cannabis regulations guide for Converse for details.

Rental Property Rules

Rent Control: Converse has no rent control. TX Local Gov Code 214.902 preempts cities from enacting rent control absent a governor-declared housing emergency.

Right to Farm

Agricultural Zoning Protection: Converse has no land zoned for agriculture: every agricultural use needs a city-council-approved special use permit..

Curfew Laws

Park Curfew: Converse closes all city parks from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

Outdoor Lighting

Light Trespass & Shielding: Converse requires off-street parking lot lighting to be arranged so the light source doesn't obstruct public view or detract from neighboring properties, while still giving the lot adequate nighttime security lighting..

Public Health Rules

Food Handler Certification: Food establishments in Converse must have a person in charge holding a valid state food handler's certificate present during food prep..

Also covered: Rodent Control (limited). See the full public health rules guide for Converse for details.

Swimming Pools & Spas

Fencing & Safety Requirements: Converse pools over 24 inches deep need a barrier at least 48 inches tall with self-closing, self-latching gates per the ISPSC. Picket spacing, latch height, and door-alarm rules apply..

Also covered: Pool Permits (limited). See the full swimming pools & spas guide for Converse for details.

What to Do With This Information

This overview covers the big picture, but the details matter. Each ordinance page for Converse includes the full text, violation penalties, and frequently asked questions. Use those pages when you need specifics.