Tarrant County does not impose general building height limits on unincorporated land; limits come from FAA airspace rules around DFW/Alliance, deed restrictions, and the IRC. Cities set their own zoning heights.
Texas counties, including Tarrant County, lack general zoning authority to set building height limits on typical unincorporated parcels. There is no countywide height cap in unincorporated Tarrant County. Instead, structure heights are governed by several overlapping rules. The IRC enforces maximum stories and building height for wood-frame residential construction (typically 3 stories and 60 feet or less for conventional construction). FAA regulations under 14 CFR Part 77 limit structure heights near airports, which is especially relevant in Tarrant County because of DFW International Airport, Alliance Airport, Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Meacham International, and Arlington Municipal; any structure over 200 feet (or lower within conical approach zones) requires FAA Form 7460-1 review. Recorded subdivision plats and deed restrictions commonly cap heights at 2 to 2.5 stories or 35 feet in residential sections of DFW suburban subdivisions, and HOA CCRs often add architectural control review under Texas Property Code 209.00505. Within incorporated cities, municipal zoning sets height limits: typically 35 feet in single-family districts, 45 to 60 feet in multifamily, and higher in commercial or downtown zones. Always check recorded plats, the relevant city code, and FAA obstruction evaluation if near an airport.
Constructing a structure that penetrates FAA Part 77 imaginary surfaces without obstruction evaluation can trigger federal enforcement and be declared a hazard to air navigation. HOA height violations are enforced privately under TX Property Code 209 through ACC procedures, fines, and injunctive relief. Violating a platted height restriction can result in a lawsuit from neighboring owners or the county.
Tarrant County, TX
Tarrant County Transportation Services issues driveway permits for connections to county roads under Texas Transportation Code Chapter 251. Standards address...
Tarrant County, TX
Tarrant County abandoned vehicle enforcement follows Texas Transportation Code Chapter 683. Vehicles left 48+ hours on public roads or inoperable 72+ hours m...
Tarrant County, TX
Tarrant County permits residential EV charger installation with an electrical permit and licensed electrician under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1305. NEC ...
Tarrant County, TX
Tarrant County has no general overnight parking ban in unincorporated areas. Vehicles on county roads must not block lanes, drainage, or sight distance under...
Tarrant County, TX
Tarrant County has no RV or boat parking ordinance for unincorporated areas. Texas counties cannot zone, so RV storage on private property is not regulated b...
Tarrant County, TX
Tarrant County does not regulate residential fence heights in unincorporated areas. Texas counties lack general zoning and police power (Local Gov Code Ch. 2...
See how Tarrant County's structure height limits rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.