Tarrant County, TX Ordinances (2026)

STRs in Tarrant County owe 6 percent Texas state HOT plus 7 to 9 percent city HOT. Tarrant County has no county HOT. Fort Worth and Arlington charge 9 percent, Grapevine 7 percent…

Tarrant County cities require STRs to provide off-street parking based on bedroom count. Fort Worth and Arlington require at least 2 off-street spaces, with more added for larger…

Tarrant County has no short-term rental registration or permit requirement for unincorporated areas. Texas counties lack zoning authority and cannot regulate STR operations. STR…

Tarrant County cities cap STR occupancy at 2 persons per bedroom plus 2 guests. Fort Worth and Arlington use 2-per-bedroom plus 2 with a 12-person total cap. Grapevine caps at 10…

STR noise in Tarrant County is regulated by each city. Fort Worth and Arlington enforce quiet hours 10 PM to 7 AM. Arlington and Grapevine require a local contact to respond to…

Tarrant County does not regulate above-ground pools in unincorporated areas: no county building permit, setback, or fence ordinance applies to single-family residences. Texas Health &…

Pool safety in Tarrant County follows TX Health and Safety Code 757 for residential pools and 25 TAC 265 for public pools. Cities add barrier and alarm requirements. Federal VGB Act…

Native plants and xeriscaping are fully legal in Tarrant County. Texas Property Code 202.007 bars HOAs from banning drought-resistant landscaping. The county has no turf grass mandate.

Tarrant County has no weed ordinance for unincorporated areas. Texas HSC Chapter 342 lets county health act only when vegetation creates a public health nuisance like harboring rodents…

Rainwater harvesting is fully legal in Tarrant County. Texas Property Code 202.007 prohibits HOAs from banning rainwater systems, though HOAs may set reasonable aesthetic standards…

Tarrant County does not regulate sheds in unincorporated areas. Texas counties have no general zoning authority (Tex. Loc. Gov. Code Ch. 232), and the county does not issue residential…

Tarrant County does not regulate outdoor music events or festivals in unincorporated areas. The state disorderly conduct statute is the only enforceable standard. Cities set their own…

Tarrant County has no county noise ordinance for unincorporated areas. Texas counties lack zoning authority and cannot enact noise regulations. Noise complaints are handled under Texas…

Tarrant County has no breed-specific ordinance. TX H&S Code 822 and Lillians Law govern dangerous dogs by behavior, not breed. Texas law preempts counties and cities from banning…

Unincorporated Tarrant County allows chickens and livestock without permit or flock limit. The county is closed range, so owners must contain livestock. TX Right to Farm Act protects…

Tarrant County does not restrict fence materials for unincorporated residential areas. Chain link, barbed wire, wood, masonry, and electric fencing are all allowed. HOA deed…

Tarrant County has no good-neighbor fence ordinance. Disputes are governed by Texas common law. Boundary fences on the property line are typically jointly owned with cost sharing…

Tarrant County does not regulate residential fence heights in unincorporated areas. Texas counties lack general zoning and police power (Local Gov Code Ch. 233 covers building lines…

Most Tarrant County cities prohibit or heavily restrict home business signage. Fort Worth and Arlington ban commercial signs in residential zones. Small non-illuminated name plates may…

Cottage food in Tarrant County is governed by Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 437. Home producers can sell non-hazardous foods directly to consumers with no license and no…

Home daycares in Tarrant County must be licensed or registered by Texas HHSC Child Care Regulation. Registered homes may care for up to 6 children, licensed homes up to 12. Cities add…

All commercial elevators, escalators, and lifts in Tarrant County are regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter…

Scaffolding safety in Tarrant County follows federal OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart L for construction and 29 CFR 1910.28 for general industry. Texas has no state OSHA plan; Federal OSHA…

Lead paint in Tarrant County is governed by the federal EPA RRP Rule (40 CFR Part 745) and HUD disclosure rules for pre-1978 housing. Texas DSHS administers abatement certification…

Tarrant County has no general overnight parking ban in unincorporated areas. Vehicles on county roads must not block lanes, drainage, or sight distance under Texas Transportation Code…

Tarrant County abandoned vehicle enforcement follows Texas Transportation Code Chapter 683. Vehicles left 48+ hours on public roads or inoperable 72+ hours may be tagged, towed, and…

Tarrant County has no commercial vehicle parking ordinance for unincorporated areas. Texas Transportation Code §545.307 provides statewide limits on heavy commercial vehicle parking in…

Rent control is prohibited statewide under Texas Local Government Code Section 214.902. Tarrant County and its cities cannot cap rents except during a declared housing emergency with…

Texas does not require just cause for eviction. Tarrant County landlords may end month-to-month tenancies with 30-day notice and evict for non-payment or lease violation under Texas…

Tarrant County addresses blight under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 343. Rubbish, stagnant water, weeds over 12 inches, and dilapidated structures can be declared nuisances with…

Vacant lot owners in Tarrant County must keep lots free of weeds over 12 inches, rubbish, and junked vehicles under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 343. Failure to abate triggers a…

Smoke detectors are required under the adopted International Residential Code and TX Property Code 92.251 for rentals. Landlords must install and maintain alarms in every bedroom and…

Tarrant County does not designate formal wildfire hazard zones. The Texas A and M Forest Service maps WUI risk statewide, with parts of western Tarrant County rated moderate risk…

No burn ban is currently active in Tarrant County (last lifted September 17, 2024). Texas counties may only restrict fireworks under Local Gov Code §352.051 when drought conditions…

Fire pits for social gatherings are generally permitted in unincorporated Tarrant County, even during burn bans. No county permit is required. The Tarrant County Fire Code applies to…

Structural pest control in Tarrant County is regulated by the Texas Structural Pest Control Service under TDA per Occupations Code Ch. 1951. Certified applicators and licensed firms…

Stormwater in Tarrant County is governed by TCEQ MS4 permit TXR040000 and the Construction General Permit TXR150000 for sites disturbing 1 acre or more. Illicit discharges to storm…

Tarrant County participates in the NFIP. Development in Special Flood Hazard Areas in unincorporated land requires a floodplain permit from the Tarrant County Floodplain Administrator…

Erosion and sediment control in Tarrant County is required under TCEQ TXR150000 for sites 1 acre or larger, plus MS4 rules. Common BMPs include silt fence, rock check dams, and…

Political signs in Tarrant County cannot be placed in road right-of-way per Texas Transportation Code Chapter 393. HOAs cannot ban yard signs from 90 days before to 10 days after an…

Tarrant County does not operate residential trash collection in unincorporated areas. Residents contract with private haulers such as Waste Management or Republic Services for weekly…

Tarrant County has no mandatory recycling rule for unincorporated areas. Residents may add curbside recycling as an optional hauler service at an additional monthly fee. Participation…

Recreational drones in Tarrant County are governed by FAA 14 CFR Part 107 and 49 USC 44809. Drones 250 grams or more must register. Texas Government Code Chapter 423 restricts…

Tarrant County does not regulate HVAC condenser or chiller noise in unincorporated areas. The International Mechanical Code governs installation but noise output is not addressed.

TX Property Code 202.007 bars Tarrant County HOAs from banning solar. HOAs may impose limited aesthetic conditions but cannot reduce efficiency or raise cost by more than 10 percent…

ACCs in Tarrant County HOAs follow TX Property Code 209.00505 after HB 3571 (2021): limited management-company control, written denial reasons, and owner appeal rights. State law…

HOA disputes in Tarrant County follow TX Property Code 209.006 notice and cure, 209.007 hearing rights, and HB 614 (2023) fine procedures. Owners may mediate, sue in district court, or…

Tarrant County HOAs levy assessments under TX Property Code 209. Collection follows 209.0062 payment plans, 209.008 attorneys fees limits, and 209.009 foreclosure limits barring…

CCR enforcement by Tarrant County HOAs follows TX Property Code 202 and 209. Preemptions limit bans on solar, xeriscape, flags, and religious displays, and HB 614 (2023) tightened fine…

Tarrant County and its municipalities do not have specific ordinances banning or restricting bamboo. If bamboo spreads onto neighboring properties, it may be addressed under general…

Tarrant County defers to the Texas Department of Agriculture's noxious weed list for prohibited species. The state list includes giant salvinia, water hyacinth, and certain thistles…

Texas HB 1686 (effective 2023) prohibits HOAs and municipalities from banning front-yard vegetable gardens. Tarrant County residents can grow edible gardens in their front yards…

Residential security cameras are legal in Tarrant County without a permit. Texas law allows recording video on your property and publicly visible areas. Cameras must not be directed…

Texas is a one-party consent state for audio recording. Only one party to a conversation must consent. Video recording in public spaces is legal, but recording in private areas where…