Landscaping Rules in Round Rock, TX

If you live in Round Rock or are thinking about moving there, landscaping rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Round Rock has 4 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of landscaping rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Water Restrictions

Round Rock caps outdoor irrigation to one or two fixed days per week based on your address, and only before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m., under a year-round Stage 1 drought contingency rule.

Key details: Current stage: Stage 1 (in effect year-round). Watering hours: Before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m.. Watering days: 1-2 fixed days per address. Hand-watering: Allowed any time, any day. Report violations: Call 512-671-2872.

Watering outside your assigned day or the 10 a.m.-7 p.m. curfew, letting irrigation run onto streets, or leaving a known leak unrepaired counts as water waste and can be reported for enforcement.

Weed Ordinances

Round Rock caps weeds, brush, and grass at 12 inches on occupied lots and any lot within 150 feet of one under City Code § 14-179. Taller growth is a declared nuisance; the city mows non-compliant lots and bills the owner, securing unpaid costs with a lien.

Key details: Height limit: 12 inches (occupied lots). Vacant platted lots: 24 inches if 150+ ft away. Wildflower exemption: Mar 1–Jun 15, under 24 inches. Abatement deadline: 7 days after notice. Enforcement: City mows, bills owner, files lien.

Miss the seven-day deadline after the city's notice and Round Rock mows the lot itself, bills you the abatement cost plus an administrative fee, and secures any unpaid amount with a privileged lien on the property.

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

Round Rock protects trees eight inches in diameter or larger under Chapter 8, Article III of the Zoning and Development Code. Removing a protected tree during development requires a permit and on-site replacement or a mitigation payment, enforced by the city Forestry Manager.

Key details: Protected size: 8-inch diameter or larger. Undeveloped-lot threshold: 20 inches in listed districts. Mitigation fee: $150 per diameter inch. Replacement ratio: 1:1 for 8-19 inch trees. Monarch trees: City Council approval to remove.

Removing a protected tree without an approved tree removal permit, or failing to replace or pay mitigation, violates the Zoning and Development Code and stops plan approval until the Forestry Manager signs off.

This is one of the stricter rules in Round Rock's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Artificial Turf

Round Rock's zoning code lets new single-family lots cover half their yard in drought-tolerant turfgrass, but artificial turf can't be used to satisfy that landscaping requirement: plastic grass doesn't count.

Key details: Governing section: UDC § 8-10, Landscaping. Turfgrass cap: 50% of uncovered lot area. Artificial turf status: Barred from meeting code minimums. Applies to: SF-2, SF-3, TF new construction. Adopted: Ordinance O-2025-044, Feb. 13, 2025.

New-construction landscape plans that count artificial turf toward the required drought-tolerant coverage get rejected by Planning and Development Services; the certificate of occupancy is withheld until living turfgrass or approved ground cover replaces it.

This is one of the stricter rules in Round Rock's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

The Bottom Line

Round Rock is tougher than many cities when it comes to landscaping rules. Out of the 4 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Round Rock, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

These rules come from Round Rock's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.