Travis County, TX Ordinances (2026)

Political signs are broadly protected under Texas Election Code §259.002 and the First Amendment. Travis County and Austin cannot ban political signs on private residential property…

Holiday decorations and displays are permitted in Travis County and Austin without permit, provided they do not create traffic hazards, encroach on public right-of-way, or violate…

Garage sale signs are allowed on private property during the sale but prohibited in public right-of-way. Austin City Code §25-10-152 limits off-premise temporary signs; Travis County…

Travis County does NOT levy a county hotel occupancy tax on STRs. Operators pay 6% Texas state HOT to the Comptroller plus any city HOT (Austin 11%, Bee Cave 7%, Lakeway 7%). Platforms…

Travis County does not restrict short-term rentals to a host's primary residence. Investor-owned and second-home STRs are permitted across unincorporated areas, consistent with Texas…

Travis County does not cap STR rental nights. Austin Type 2 STRs are currently limited to non-owner-occupied rental with no annual night cap; owner-occupied Type 1 has no limit.

Travis County does not cap home-share length or distinguish extended stays from short stays. Hosts can rent rooms or whole homes for any duration, subject only to Texas hotel occupancy…

Travis County does not regulate STR parking in unincorporated areas. Guests generally park on-site; county roads allow on-street parking unless posted. Austin STRs must provide one…

Texas Tax Code 156.103 requires marketplace facilitators like Airbnb and Vrbo to collect and remit state hotel occupancy tax on Travis County stays. Hosts remain responsible if the…

Travis County does not require a short-term rental permit in unincorporated areas. Incorporated cities (Austin, Lakeway, Bee Cave, Pflugerville) each license STRs separately. State HOT…

Travis County enforces floodplain development through Chapter 82 and participates in NFIP. The 2018 Llano River / Lake Travis flood raised the lake 18 feet in days and drove…

Travis County has no cool-roof mandate for private properties because Texas preempts local energy code amendments on residential construction beyond the adopted 2015 IRC baseline…

Travis County bans illicit discharges into its municipal storm sewer system and open waterways countywide, requiring best management practices from industrial and construction sites…

Travis County requires County Executive approval before any access route or appurtenance to a boat dock, pier, wharf, or marina crosses the mandatory waterway setback along Lake…

New construction and substantial improvements in unincorporated Travis County's special flood hazard areas must sit at or above the minimum flood protection elevation: two feet of…

Heavy-duty diesel vehicles operating in Travis County are subject to the TCEQ five-minute idling rule under 30 TAC Chapter 114. Travis County signed the Memorandum of Agreement…

Grading permits are required under Travis County Code Chapter 82 for any disturbance over 1 acre, cuts/fills over 4 feet, or any work in the Edwards Aquifer recharge or contributing…

Travis County has no leaf blower regulations for unincorporated areas. No countywide decibel, time-of-day, or equipment-type rules exist. Austin city ordinance does not extend to…

Travis County parks require every generator and every amplified-music source to be silenced between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., a flat nine-hour curfew that applies regardless of how loud the…

Vehicle noise in unincorporated Travis County is enforced under TX Transportation Code 547.604 requiring functioning mufflers and prohibiting excessive/unusual noise. No county decibel…

Travis County relies on state law for barking dog complaints. TX Health & Safety Code 822.041 defines public nuisance dogs. Travis County Animal Control (via Austin Animal Center…

Travis County does not regulate construction hours in unincorporated areas. TX counties lack zoning authority to impose work-hour limits. State disorderly conduct applies only to…

Travis County has no overnight parking ban on unincorporated county roads. Texas law sets no statewide overnight limit. County park facilities including Pace Bend, Hippie Hollow, and…

Abandoned vehicles on public roads in unincorporated Travis County are handled under TX Transportation Code Chapter 683 (Abandoned Motor Vehicles). A vehicle left over 48 hours on…

Travis County has no ordinance restricting commercial vehicle parking on residential property in unincorporated areas. Texas Transportation Code §622 governs commercial vehicle weight…

Rooftop solar installations in unincorporated Travis County require an electrical permit from Development Services (typical fee $150-250) and must comply with 2017 National Electrical…

Texas Property Code Section 202.010 voids any Travis County homeowners' association rule that bans or restricts solar panels outright. HOAs governing unincorporated subdivisions may…

Artificial turf is permitted throughout Travis County; no county ordinance prohibits or regulates it. Austin allows artificial turf but excludes it from landscape rebate programs (only…

Texas strongly supports rainwater harvesting under TX Property Code 202.007 (HOAs cannot prohibit) and Tax Code 151.355 (sales tax exemption for equipment). Travis County and Austin…

Travis County has no county-wide weed ordinance for unincorporated areas. Texas counties lack general nuisance abatement authority except under HSC 342 (unsanitary conditions) and burn…

Travis County strongly encourages native Hill Country plants (live oak, cedar elm, bluebonnet, Indian paintbrush, Mexican feathergrass) for water conservation. Austin Grow Green…

Travis County requires a certified tree survey and tree assessment before any development permit or plat can be approved for construction that removes trees, or disturbs a tree's…

Smoke detector requirements follow Texas Property Code Ch. 92 for rental dwellings (landlord must install and maintain one in each bedroom and hallway). Owner-occupied homes in…

Backyard recreational fires in unincorporated Travis County must comply with TCEQ 30 TAC 111.219 and active Commissioners Court burn bans. Wood fires require 25-foot clearance…

Unincorporated Travis County requires every new subdivision to have two independent access streets connecting to different external roads. A single access street is allowed only if the…

Outdoor burning in unincorporated Travis County is governed by TCEQ 30 TAC 111.219 and Commissioners Court burn ban orders. Burn bans are in effect most summers (typically May-October)…

Cannabis home cultivation is illegal in Texas. TX Health & Safety Code §481.121 makes possession of any marijuana plant a criminal offense. Only TCUP (Texas Compassionate Use Program)…

Cannabis delivery in Travis County is limited to state-licensed Compassionate Use dispensing organizations transporting low-THC product to registered patients under DPS rules, with no…

In unincorporated Travis County, no zoning ordinance governs where a cannabis dispensary can locate because Texas counties hold no zoning power. Instead, Tex. Health & Safety Code Sec…

Texas does not license adult-use cannabis businesses, so Travis County has no social equity licensing program; only a small set of state-licensed Compassionate Use Program dispensaries…

Texas does not impose statewide cannabis buffer zones because adult-use is illegal; the few Compassionate Use dispensaries follow DPS site-security rules, and Travis County has no…

Texas prohibits personal cannabis cultivation entirely; Travis County cannot authorize home grows because Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 481 makes any plant possession a state…

Property owners in unincorporated Travis County must abate rodent harborage and standing water that breeds vectors, with TCHHS empowered to issue notices and pursue abatement under…

Texas requires food employees to complete an accredited food handler course within 60 days of hire, and Travis County food permits are conditioned on staff holding current certificates…

Texas has no Good Neighbor Fence Act. Each owner is responsible for their own fence. Travis County does not mediate boundary fence disputes. Shared fence cost-sharing requires…

Travis County imposes no fence height limits in unincorporated areas because TX counties cannot zone. Height is governed only by deed restrictions, HOA covenants, or Austin ETJ rules…

Travis County does not restrict fence materials in unincorporated areas. Wood, metal, masonry, chain link, and wire are all allowed. No countywide ban on barbed wire, electric, or…

A Travis County retaining wall taller than 5 feet must be designed and sealed by a Texas-licensed professional engineer before the county will issue a development permit for…

Commercial drone operators need FAA Part 107 certification plus LAANC authorization for Austin-Bergstrom Class C airspace. Texas Gov Code Ch. 423 restricts aerial surveillance. Travis…

Recreational drone flight in Travis County is regulated by FAA Part 107 and 49 USC §44809. Austin-Bergstrom Class C airspace covers most of Travis County, requiring LAANC…

Travis County allows drones in its parks only during daylight in good weather, bars flying between dusk and dawn, and lets the Parks Department post signs closing specific parks to…

In Travis County parks, drone operators must comply with all FAA rules, including the FAA's prohibited airspace zones near airports that cover many county parks. Flights cannot…

Texas Local Government Code 250.007 prohibits cities and counties from requiring landlords to accept Section 8 housing vouchers. Travis County therefore cannot enforce source-of-income…

Travis County allows no-fault, end-of-lease non-renewal under Texas Property Code Chapter 24. Landlords need only provide proper notice; no just-cause requirement applies, and county…

Travis County does not require landlords to pay tenant relocation assistance for no-fault evictions, demolitions, or substantial renovations. Texas Property Code provides no statewide…

Travis County and Texas law impose no rules on cash-for-keys agreements. Landlords and tenants may negotiate any sum for voluntary surrender of possession, subject only to ordinary…

Travis County has no dedicated tenant anti-harassment ordinance. Tenants rely on Texas Property Code retaliation protections, federal Fair Housing Act anti-harassment rules, and…

Texas law does not require a landlord to prove cause to end a tenancy. In unincorporated Travis County, Tex. Prop. Code Sec. 24.005 sets only a notice-to-vacate requirement: at least…

Texas Property Code 92.103 requires landlords to return tenant security deposits, with itemized deductions, within 30 days of move-out. Travis County follows state rules; willful…

Travis County does not regulate plastic straws because TX HSC 361.0961 preempts local container restrictions; restaurants may voluntarily offer paper or upon-request straw service…

Travis County cannot ban polystyrene foam containers because the same TX HSC 361.0961 preemption confirmed by Laredo Merchants v. Laredo applies to all solid waste containers, not just…

Travis County cannot ban plastic carryout bags after the 2018 Texas Supreme Court decision in Laredo Merchants v. City of Laredo, which struck local bag bans as preempted by the Texas…

Texas Health and Safety Code Section 161.0815 prohibits selling tobacco or e-cigarette products to anyone under 21, with limited military exception, and Travis County retailers must…

Shared electric scooters operate under City of Austin and other municipal permits, not Travis County. Unincorporated Travis County has no shared-mobility license framework, so dockless…

Travis County Transportation and Natural Resources stripes bike lanes on county arterials including Cameron Road, FM 1826, and South Pleasant Valley extensions. Texas Transportation…

Travis County classifies e-bikes by motor behavior, not just speed: Class 1 and 2 top out pedal- or throttle-assist at 20 mph, Class 3 assists to 28 mph. Only Class 1 and 2 e-bikes may…

Massage therapy and establishments in Travis County are licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation under Occupations Code Chapter 455, with county zoning and TCHHS…

Texas requires e-cigarette retailers to hold a state e-cigarette retailer permit issued by the Comptroller, with FDA premarket authorization for products, and Travis County does not…

Travis County regulates adult-oriented businesses in unincorporated areas through state law and county location restrictions, requiring sexually oriented business permits, age 21…

A towing company cannot pick up non-consent tows for the Travis County Sheriff's Office without a spot on its Rotation List. Getting listed means running 24-hour service, holding a…

Tattoo and body piercing studios in Travis County need a Texas Department of State Health Services license under Health and Safety Code Chapter 146, with mandatory minor-consent rules…

Secondhand dealers and metal recyclers in Travis County must follow Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1956 reporting rules, hold-period requirements, and seller identification, with TCSO…

Above-ground pools deeper than 24 inches require a Travis County Development Permit and must meet the same 48-inch barrier standard. Pool walls at least 48 inches high may serve as the…

Travis County's swimming pool fencing rule lives in its nuisance code: Section 261.001(r) treats an unprotected pool on abandoned, unoccupied property as a public nuisance unless it…

Unincorporated Travis County has no chicken or poultry limits. No zoning means no coop setbacks, flock caps, or rooster bans apply countywide. Austin ETJ and HOA rules may restrict in…

Unincorporated Travis County does not require cat licenses, but rabies vaccination is mandatory under state law and TCAS Chapter 30 rules apply to cats causing nuisance or showing…

Travis County has limited zoning authority under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 240, so veterinary clinics in unincorporated areas operate primarily under state licensing rules…

Travis County Code Section 252.006 adopts the state's Dangerous Dog process under Health and Safety Code Section 822.047: a sworn incident report, an ACA investigation, and a hearing…

Travis County requires a state certificate of registration before anyone in the unincorporated county may keep a lion, tiger, bear, cougar, or other Dangerous Wild Animal, under Code…

Travis County Park Rules flatly prohibit feeding any animal in a county park, alongside disturbing, harming, collecting, hunting, restraining, trapping, or releasing wildlife…

Travis County does not impose general mandatory spay-neuter on owned pets, but Texas HSC 828 requires sterilization of dogs and cats released from TCAS adoption or shelter custody…

Travis County Animal Services investigates suspected hoarding under Chapter 30 cruelty provisions and Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 821, working with TCSO when seizure of…

Travis County hosts protected species like the golden-cheeked warbler under the federal Endangered Species Act, plus migratory songbirds under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act…

Travis County Code Section 252.005 requires every dog owner in the unincorporated county to keep the dog securely on the owner's property or, off it, on a leash long enough for direct…

Travis County has not adopted a mandatory green building code, though state-level energy provisions in the IECC apply through Chapter 64 and Austin Energy Green Building reaches some…

Travis County adopts the International Building Code and International Fire Code through Chapter 64, which require fire sprinklers in most multifamily and commercial occupancies but…

Elevators in Travis County commercial and multifamily buildings are regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation under TX Health and Safety Code Ch. 754 and 16 TAC Ch…

New residential construction in unincorporated Travis County needs a minimum of three inspections: foundation before concrete, framing and mechanical before drywall, and a final…

In unincorporated Travis County, no one may build or substantially improve a building without first obtaining a Building Permit under the county's Fire Code, and any required fire…

Childcare centers in unincorporated Travis County must meet Texas HHSC licensing requirements alongside Chapter 64 building rules, ESD fire marshal inspection, and Travis County Health…

Recycled and reclaimed water service in Travis County is largely confined to the City of Austin reclaimed water network, which serves downtown, Mueller, and select east-side districts…

Turf replacement is voluntary in Travis County. Several water providers including Austin Water and WTCPUA offer rebates between one and two dollars per square foot of converted lawn to…

Travis County prohibits public consumption of alcohol in county parks and on the Highland Lakes shoreline by ordinance, while broader open container rules in vehicles follow Texas…

Travis County and Austin prohibit aggressive panhandling such as touching, blocking paths, or soliciting at ATMs and bus stops, while passive sign-holding remains protected speech…

Travis County's only loitering ban sits in one place: the Loop 360 Boat Ramp on Lake Austin. Section 232.043 limits the ramp to launching and retrieving watercraft or boarding and…

Travis County's Tobacco-Free Campus Policy bans tobacco and vapor product use at every county-owned or leased building, vehicle, garage, and parking lot, including outdoor space within…

Marijuana possession and public use remain illegal under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 481 across Travis County, though Austin Proposition A (2022) deprioritized low-level…

Travis County has limited zoning authority compared to municipalities. Texas Local Government Code Chapter 240 grants counties only narrow powers over subdivisions, flood plains, and a…

Texas Senate Bill 4 (2017) prohibits sanctuary policies in Travis County, requires local jails to honor ICE detainers, and bans elected officials from limiting cooperation, with…

Texas preempts local minimum wage laws under Local Government Code Chapter 229, leaving the federal $7.25 per hour rate as the floor for most private employers in Travis County, though…

Travis County HOAs operate under the Texas Residential Property Owners Protection Act (TX Property Code Ch. 209). Boards must hold open meetings, provide 10 days notice, and maintain…

HOA assessments in Travis County are governed by CCRs and TX Property Code 209.0062-209.0064. Payment plans must be offered before foreclosure; judicial foreclosure required for…

HOAs enforce CCRs under TX Property Code 202 and 209. Fines must be reasonable; common cap $200/day. Owners have right to cure, hearing, and appeal. Religious items, solar, flags, and…

TX Property Code 209.007 requires HOAs to provide owners notice and opportunity for a hearing before assessing fines or suspending privileges. Owners may request ADR through the Texas…

Posted No Soliciting signs are legally enforceable in Austin under §10-3-32. Violations constitute criminal trespass under Texas Penal Code §30.05. Residents can report violations to…

Commercial door-to-door solicitors must register with the City of Austin Police Department per Austin City Code §10-3 and carry a permit. Unincorporated Travis County has no solicitor…

Registered and licensed child-care homes in unincorporated Travis County operate under Texas HHSC rules (TX Human Resources Code Ch. 42, 26 TAC Ch. 745). County has no zoning, so home…

Unincorporated Travis County has no zoning, so there is no yard-setback-by-district table. The real setback minimums instead come from the Subdivision Regulations'…

Travis County caps impervious cover at 15% for single-family and duplex lots and 45% for commercial parcels under Code Sec. 482.229, but only inside subdivisions built under the…

Chapter 247 of the Travis County Code requires every mobile food unit and roadside vendor operating in the unincorporated county, including the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction, to…

In unincorporated Travis County, letting litter pile up for more than 30 days within 50 feet of a public highway is prohibited outright. The Commissioners Court can send a…

Travis County residents can use the Austin Resource Recovery bulk pickup program (Austin addresses) or drop off at the Austin Recycling and Reuse Drop-off Center. Unincorporated…

Groups wanting to hold a rally, picket line, or other pre-coordinated speech event on Travis County property must file a written notice at least five days ahead with the Facilities…

Anyone wanting to hold a special event, or to film or photograph commercially, in a Travis County park must apply at least 14 days in advance and get approval from the Parks Director…

Outdoor cooking in Travis County parks is normally fine in camp stoves, grills, fireplaces, or ground fires in designated areas, but the county can shut that down fast: during a burn…

Filming or photographing on Travis County Parks property for commercial use, stock photography, student projects, TV, or movies requires the same special events application every other…

Travis County Parks require a special events application before anyone films or photographs on park property for commercial use, stock photography, student projects, television, or…

Any privately owned wall, fence, landscaping or building projection that encroaches into Travis County right-of-way needs a License Agreement approved by Commissioners Court under Code…

Travis County Code Sec. 482.210 bars any object placed in a county road's right-of-way, from stockpiles to fences, unless the owner shows it doesn't make the roadway impassable…

New construction, additions and remodeling inside a Travis County Conservation Development must comply with the Dark Sky Lighting Standards spelled out in the county's Conservation…

Any vacant or unimproved lot in unincorporated Travis County must be kept free of stagnant water, weeds over 36 inches, rubbish, garbage, and trash under Code Section 261.009, which…

A building that is structurally unsafe, unsanitary, dilapidated, storm damaged, or abandoned is a public nuisance under Travis County Code Section 261.001(r). The Health Authority can…

Any plat application in unincorporated Travis County must include a drainage plan showing FEMA or Atlas 14 flood elevation data whenever the property sits in a special flood hazard…

Hotels and short-term rentals in Travis County collect a combined hotel occupancy tax of roughly fifteen percent, including six percent state and up to nine percent municipal in…

Travis County businesses pay the Texas franchise tax administered by the Comptroller rather than a local business income tax, and personal property used in business is taxed annually…