8 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Travis County, Texas.
Verified from official government sources
Travis County has no county-wide grass height ordinance for unincorporated areas; Texas counties lack zoning authority. Austin City Code 10-5 limits grass to 12 inches within city limits and ETJ. HOAs throughout master-planned communities (Steiner Ranch, Circle C, Avery Ranch) enforce their own height limits, typically 6-8 inches.
Oak wilt prevention is critical in Central Texas: do NOT prune oaks February through June. Paint all oak pruning cuts immediately year-round. Travis County and Austin enforce oak wilt suppression zones. Utility trimming by Oncor/Austin Energy/PEC follows right-of-way standards. No county tree-trimming permit required in unincorporated areas.
Unincorporated Travis County has no tree removal permit requirement. Austin has one of the strictest tree ordinances in Texas: Code 25-8-622 protects trees 19+ inches diameter, 24+ inch heritage species (oaks, elms, pecans, cypress). Removal requires permit, mitigation, or fee. Round Rock, Pflugerville, Cedar Park have lighter but similar rules.
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 ban contexts. Austin Code 10-5 addresses weeds with 12-inch height limit. HOAs and MUDs enforce locally.
Tex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 342.004, 342.008
Sec. 342.004. MUNICIPAL POWER CONCERNING WEEDS OR CERTAIN PUBLIC NUISANCES. The governing body of a municipality may require the owner of real property in the municipality to keep the property free from weeds, brush, and a condition constituting a public nuisance as defined by Section 343.011(c)(1), (2), or (3). Sec. 342.008. ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY TO ABATE DANGEROUS WEEDS. (a) A municipality may...
LCRA (Lower Colorado River Authority) and Austin Water set watering restrictions for Travis County. Austin Water Conservation Stage (year-round): once-per-week watering by address, before 10 AM or after 7 PM. Drought stages escalate to twice-monthly. LCRA enforces Highland Lakes firm/interruptible water contracts. Violations carry fines.
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 offer rebates. Systems used for indoor potable supply must meet TCEQ standards. No permit needed for outdoor irrigation systems.
Tex. Prop. Code Sec. 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 b...
Travis County strongly encourages native Hill Country plants (live oak, cedar elm, bluebonnet, Indian paintbrush, Mexican feathergrass) for water conservation. Austin Grow Green program and LCRA/LBJ Wildflower Center offer plant lists and rebates. HOAs cannot ban xeriscaping under TX Property Code 202.007.
Tex. Prop. Code Sec. 202.007 (Certain Restrictive Covenants Prohibited - Drought-Resistant Landscaping)
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 rai...
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 living plants qualify). HOAs may impose aesthetic requirements but cannot ban water-conserving alternatives under TX Property Code 202.007.
Tex. Prop. Code Sec. 202.007
Sec. 202.007. ... (c) A property owners' association may restrict the type of turf used by a property owner in the planting of new turf to encourage or require water-conserving turf. (d) This section does not: ... (5) restrict a property owners' association from regulating yard and landscape maintenance if the restrictions or requirements do not restrict or prohibit turf or landscaping design t...
1 cities in Travis County have their own landscaping rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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