Landscaping Rules in Houston, TX (2026)
8 verified landscaping rules for Houston, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Houston requires property owners to trim street trees so limbs overhanging sidewalks clear at least eight feet above the ground, per City Code Section 40-14.
Houston Tree Limb Clearance Over Sidewalks
Some RestrictionsHouston Code of Ordinances § 40-14
It shall be the duty of the owners and occupants of lots in the city in front of and adjacent to which shade trees are growing in the streets, to keep the same trimmed in such a manner that the limbs and branches of the same overhanging the sidewalks shall be at least eight feet above the ground.
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Remove a tree rooted in a Houston street or pedestrian realm and you must replant caliper inch-for-inch or pay into the city's tree fund.
Houston Street Tree Replacement Rule
Some RestrictionsHouston Code of Ordinances § 33-160(a)
no person shall cause a tree that is situated in whole or in substantial part within a street to be removed without complying with a tree replacement requirement, which may be satisfied as follows: (1) By the planting in the area adjacent to the street of additional trees from the street tree list on the basis of one caliper inch of tree planted for one caliper inch of tree removed; (2) By cont...
Weed Ordinances
Houston bans weeds and grass taller than nine inches on any lot. If you don't cut it, the Neighborhood Protection Division will, then file a lien for the cost plus ten percent interest. Fines run $50 to $2,000 per offense.
Houston Weeds and Grass Over Nine Inches Are Illegal
Some RestrictionsHouston Code of Ordinances § 10-451(b)(10)
The word "weeds" as herein used shall include all rank and uncultivated vegetable growth or matter which has grown to more than nine inches in height or which, regardless of height, is liable to become an unwholesome or decaying mass or a breeding place for mosquitoes or vermin.
Water Restrictions
When Houston declares a water shortage stage, irrigation drops to two nights a week on a set schedule tied to whether your address ends in an odd or even number, escalating to a full outdoor-use ban at higher stages.
Houston Drought-Stage Lawn Watering Schedule
Some RestrictionsHouston Code of Ordinances § 47-251(d)(3)
(3)Irrigate between 7:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. of the following day on no more than two days per week in conformity with the following schedule:a.Sundays and Thursdays for single-family residential customers with even-numbered street addresses; andb.Saturdays and Wednesdays for single-family residential customers with odd-numbered street addresses; andc.Tuesdays and Fridays for all other customers.
Rainwater Harvesting
Houston does not restrict residential rainwater harvesting. Texas Property Code Sec. 202.007 protects homeowners' right to install rain barrels and rainwater harvesting systems, prohibiting HOAs from banning these devices.
Houston Rainwater Harvesting Regulations
Few RestrictionsTex. Property Code § 202.007
Sec. 202.007. CERTAIN RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS PROHIBITED. (a) A property owners' association may not include or enforce a provision in a dedicatory instrument that prohibits or restricts a property owner from:(1) implementing measures promoting solid-waste composting of vegetation, including grass clippings, leaves, or brush, or leaving grass clippings uncollected on grass;(2) installing rain bar...
Native Plants
Texas Property Code Sec. 202.007 protects homeowners' rights to install drought-resistant landscaping and water-conserving natural turf. Houston does not restrict native plant landscaping and encourages water conservation through its municipal programs.
Houston Native Plant and Xeriscaping Regulations
Few RestrictionsTex. Property Code § 202.007
Sec. 202.007. CERTAIN RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS PROHIBITED. (a) A property owners' association may not include or enforce a provision in a dedicatory instrument that prohibits or restricts a property owner from:(1) implementing measures promoting solid-waste composting of vegetation, including grass clippings, leaves, or brush, or leaving grass clippings uncollected on grass;(2) installing rain bar...
Artificial Turf
Houston has no municipal restrictions on residential artificial turf installation. Texas Property Code Sec. 202.007 protects 'water-conserving natural turf' but is ambiguous on artificial turf, leaving HOAs some authority to regulate synthetic grass installations.
Houston Artificial Turf Regulations
Few RestrictionsTex. Property Code § 202.007
Sec. 202.007. CERTAIN RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS PROHIBITED. (a) A property owners' association may not include or enforce a provision in a dedicatory instrument that prohibits or restricts a property owner from:(1) implementing measures promoting solid-waste composting of vegetation, including grass clippings, leaves, or brush, or leaving grass clippings uncollected on grass;(2) installing rain bar...
Composting
Houston's minimum property-maintenance code requires owners to clear dead trees, limbs, and other debris that could injure someone or shelter insects and rodents, but it expressly carves out compost. A "reasonably-sized accumulation of compost" is not a violation of that clearing duty, so residential compost piles and bins are lawful by default under Code of Ordinances Section 10-363.
Houston Compost Piles Exempt From Debris Rule
Few RestrictionsHouston Code of Ordinances § 10-363(b)(3)
Remove dead trees, tree limbs, and other debris reasonably likely to cause injury to an individual or to provide living or breeding places for insects, ectoparasites, or rodents, provided that a reasonably-sized accumulation of compost shall not constitute a violation of this subsection;
Looking for Harris County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Houston city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Harris County →