Public Conduct in Travis County, TX (2026)
5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Travis County, Texas.
Verified from official government sources
Aggressive Panhandling
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 under federal court rulings.
Aggressive Solicitation Prohibited
Light RestrictionsTex. Penal Code Sec. 42.03
Sec. 42.03. OBSTRUCTING HIGHWAY OR OTHER PASSAGEWAY. (a) A person commits an offense if, without legal privilege or authority, he intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly: (1) obstructs a highway, street, sidewalk, railway, waterway, elevator, aisle, hallway, entrance, or exit to which the public or a substantial group of the public has access; or (2) disobeys a reasonable request or order to mo...
Loitering Rules
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 disembarking, and bars loitering, grilling, fishing, picnicking, swimming, and any other water activity from the shoreline there.
Loitering Banned at Loop 360 Boat Ramp
Significant RestrictionsTravis County Code § 232.043(a)-(b)
a. The Loop 360 Boat Ramp may be used only to launch and retrieve watercraft or board and disembark watercraft. b. Visitors are prohibited from all other activities, including loitering, grilling, fishing, picnicking, swimming, and any water activities from the shoreline.
Outdoor Smoking Restrictions
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 15 feet of any doorway or window that opens. There are no designated smoking areas anywhere on county property.
Travis County Bans Smoking at Facilities
Some RestrictionsTravis County Code § 157.004
General. Subject to other specific provisions of this Policy, use of Tobacco Products is not permitted at any time by Employees or Covered Individuals within the limits of all County Facilities. ... No Designated Areas. There will be no designated smoking areas within Facilities. Littering. Littering of tobacco-related products on the grounds of parking areas (lots, garages, driveways) is also ...
Public Marijuana Use
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 possession arrests within Austin city limits.
Public Marijuana Use Prohibited
Few RestrictionsTex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 481.121
Sec. 481.121. OFFENSE: POSSESSION OF MARIHUANA. (a) Except as authorized by this chapter, a person commits an offense if the person knowingly or intentionally possesses a usable quantity of marihuana. (b) An offense under Subsection (a) is: (1) a Class B misdemeanor if the amount of marihuana possessed is two ounces or less; (2) a Class A misdemeanor if the amount of marihuana possessed is four...
Public Alcohol Use
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 Penal Code Section 49.031 statewide.
Public Alcohol Consumption Limits
Light RestrictionsTex. Penal Code Sec. 49.02
Sec. 49.02. PUBLIC INTOXICATION. (a) A person commits an offense if the person appears in a public place while intoxicated to the degree that the person may endanger the person or another. (a-1) For the purposes of this section, a premises licensed or permitted under the Alcoholic Beverage Code is a public place. (b) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that the alcohol or other su...
Public Conduct by City in Travis County
1 cities in Travis County have their own public conduct rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Travis County ordinances
See every category we cover for Travis County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Travis County Ordinance Hub →