Texas Government Code Chapter 423 occupies the field of unmanned aircraft regulation. Cities and counties cannot adopt their own recreational drone ordinances, though limited municipal rules over takeoff and landing on public property remain.
Government Code Chapter 423, as amended in 2017 (HB 1424), reserves regulation of unmanned aircraft to the State of Texas. Section 423.009 explicitly preempts city, county, or special-district ordinances that purport to regulate the operation, ownership, or use of unmanned aircraft. The only authority left to local governments is to regulate takeoff and landing on city- or county-owned property and to enforce general trespass and reckless-conduct laws. State law also creates surveillance and 'no-fly' offenses around critical infrastructure, sports venues, and correctional facilities. Recreational pilots must still follow FAA rules including TRUST and Remote ID.
Unlawful surveillance or flight over critical infrastructure is a Class B misdemeanor escalating to Class A on second offense. Local rules beyond takeoff/landing are unenforceable.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Rosenberg, TX
Rosenberg adopts the 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code by reference and requires a residential building permit for any swimming pool, with city r...
Rosenberg, TX
Rosenberg requires multi-family developments to install eight-foot decorative masonry walls and limits commercial perimeter property line fences to chain lin...
Rosenberg, TX
Rosenberg Sec. 1-481 prohibits fences from being built on or overhanging a property line and lets the city remove dilapidated fences at the owner's expense a...
Rosenberg, TX
Rosenberg requires a residential building permit for any fence over seven feet tall, plus contractor registration; doing fence work without the proper permit...
Rosenberg, TX
Rosenberg does not impose a flat residential fence height cap because it has no traditional zoning, but any fence taller than seven feet requires a residenti...
Rosenberg, TX
Rosenberg requires every property to keep weeds, grass, and brush under twelve inches tall, with limited exemptions for agricultural acreage.
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Fort Bend County.
See how Rosenberg's recreational drones rules stack up against other locations.
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