Lawn Ornament Rules: Arlington vs Fort Worth
How do lawn ornament rules rules compare between Arlington, TX and Fort Worth, TX?
Arlington and Fort Worth have similar restriction levels.
Arlington, TX
Tarrant County
Arlington has no city ordinance regulating residential lawn ornaments, statuary, or religious displays on private property. Property maintenance rules under Arlington City Code Chapter 12 apply to dilapidated or junk-like conditions. Texas Property Code § 202.018 limits HOA restrictions on religious displays. Texas Election Code § 259.002 protects political signs during campaign periods.
View full Arlington rules →Fort Worth, TX
Tarrant County
Fort Worth has no municipal ordinance limiting lawn ornaments, statues, gnomes, flamingos, or yard art on private property. HOA architectural guidelines under Texas Property Code Chapter 209 are the primary source of restrictions. Texas Property Code 202.018 protects religious items on doors and frames.
View full Fort Worth rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Arlington | Fort Worth |
|---|---|---|
| City Ornament Code | None | - |
| Property Standards | Arlington Code Ch. 12 | - |
| Religious Door Display | Protected (TX Prop Code § 202.018) | - |
| Political Signs | Protected (TX Elec Code § 259.002) | - |
| City Ordinance | - | None on private property |
| HOA Authority | - | Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 209 |
| Religious Display Protection | - | Door/frame only (Tex. Prop. 202.018) |
| Flagpole Protection | - | Up to 20 ft (Tex. Prop. 202.011) |
| Sight Triangle | - | 30 in within 25 ft of driveway |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Arlington FAQ
Can I leave lawn ornaments out year-round in Arlington?
Yes. Arlington has no ordinance restricting residential lawn ornaments. Keep them out of the right-of-way and clear of corner sight triangles. HOAs in Viridian, the Highlands, and master-planned communities may have rules — check first.
Can my HOA make me remove a religious display in Arlington?
Texas Property Code § 202.018 protects religious displays affixed to entry doors with combined dimensions under 25 square inches. Yard displays are subject to HOA aesthetic authority but HOAs cannot fully ban religious expression and must apply reasonable standards.
Fort Worth FAQ
Does Fort Worth limit how many lawn ornaments I can have?
No city ordinance limits the number, type, or height of lawn ornaments on private property. HOA architectural guidelines under Texas Property Code Chapter 209 are the main source of restrictions in most Fort Worth neighborhoods - typical limits include height (3-4 ft), muted colors, and total count.
Can my Fort Worth HOA make me remove my pink flamingos?
Yes. Texas Property Code Chapter 209 lets HOAs adopt architectural rules limiting lawn ornaments. Section 202.018 protects religious items only on doors and frames, and Section 202.011 protects flagpoles - neither extends to yard ornaments. HOA enforcement must follow the due-process steps in Section 209.006-209.007.
Are religious statues in my Fort Worth yard protected from the HOA?
Only if displayed on the entry door or door frame, per Texas Property Code 202.018. Free-standing yard statues are not protected by that statute and may be regulated under HOA architectural guidelines like any other ornament.
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