8 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Williamson County, Texas.
Verified from official government sources
Williamson County has no lawn grass-height ordinance and cannot zone. In the unincorporated area, uncultivated growth over 36 inches becomes an abatable weeds nuisance under state law; inside subdivisions, HOA covenants set mowing standards.
Tex. Health & Safety Code §343.002
"Weeds" means all rank and uncultivated vegetable growth or matter that: (A) has grown to more than 36 inches in height; or (B) may create an unsanitary condition or become a harborage for rodents, vermin, or other disease-carrying pests, regardless of the height of the weeds.
Williamson County requires no permit to trim trees on private property. The governing rule is horticultural: avoid pruning oaks February through June, when the beetles that spread oak wilt are most active across Central Texas.
You can remove trees on your own property in unincorporated Williamson County without a county permit. The county has no zoning power and no tree ordinance. Only recorded HOA covenants can restrict private tree removal.
In unincorporated Williamson County, letting weeds grow within 300 feet of another home or business is a public nuisance the Commissioners Court can abate under state law. Cities and HOAs enforce their own weed rules separately.
Tex. Health & Safety Code §343.011
(a) This section applies only to the unincorporated area of a county. ... (4) allowing weeds to grow on premises in a neighborhood if the weeds are located within 300 feet of another residence or commercial establishment.
Williamson County does not run water utilities. Outdoor watering limits come from your retail provider, such as Georgetown, Round Rock, Brushy Creek MUD, Jonah Water, or Chisholm Trail SUD, whose drought contingency plans set stage watering schedules under state law.
Tex. Water Code §11.1272
The commission shall by rule require wholesale and retail public water suppliers and irrigation districts to develop drought contingency plans consistent with the appropriate approved regional water plan to be implemented during periods of water shortages and drought.
Rainwater harvesting is protected statewide. A Williamson County HOA cannot prohibit rain barrels or a rainwater collection system, and the county encourages it. Property Code Section 202.007 voids any covenant that bans them.
Tex. Property Code §202.007
A property owners' association may not include or enforce a provision in a dedicatory instrument that prohibits or restricts a property owner from: ... (2) installing rain barrels or a rainwater harvesting system... A provision that violates Subsection (a) is void.
Drought-resistant and native landscaping is protected statewide. Property Code Section 202.007 stops an HOA from banning water-conserving plantings, and since September 2025 an HOA cannot force you to keep living grass. The county sets no plant rules.
Tex. Property Code §202.007
A property owners' association may not include or enforce a provision in a dedicatory instrument that prohibits or restricts a property owner from: ... (4) using drought-resistant landscaping or water-conserving natural turf.
Williamson County has no rule on artificial turf. Statewide, an HOA cannot force you to maintain living grass since September 2025, and it may not unreasonably deny water-conserving landscaping under Property Code Section 202.007.
Tex. Property Code §202.007
A property owners' association may not unreasonably deny or withhold approval of a proposed installation of drought-resistant landscaping or water-conserving natural turf under Subsection (d)(8) or unreasonably determine that the proposed installation is aesthetically incompatible with other landscaping in the subdivision.
2 cities in Williamson County have their own landscaping rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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