Pop. 56,400 · Tarrant County
Euless prohibits chronic barking and habitual animal noise under the Animal Control ordinance (Code Chapter 10) and noise ordinance (Chapter 50). Owners of dogs that bark continuously for 15 minutes or more can be cited.
Euless uses a plainly audible standard rather than posted decibel limits under Code Chapter 50. Comparable DFW cities set ~55 dBA day and ~50 dBA night in residential zones. Fines up to 500 dollars per day.
Euless construction noise is limited to roughly 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mon-Sat under Code Chapter 50. Sunday and holiday work is restricted to emergencies absent a special permit from Public Works.
Outdoor music at Euless restaurants, parks, and venues must comply with Code Chapter 50. Commercial outdoor music generally ends by 10 p.m. Special event permits may allow extended hours.
Euless borders Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and sees heavy aircraft noise. FAA has exclusive jurisdiction under federal law, so local ordinances cannot regulate flight operations.
Euless prohibits amplified music plainly audible from a neighboring property between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. under Code Chapter 50. Class C misdemeanor with fines up to 500 dollars per day.
Euless regulates industrial noise via zoning (Chapter 82) and the general noise ordinance (Chapter 50). Performance limits at residential boundaries: roughly 65-70 dBA daytime, 55-60 dBA nighttime.
Euless has no specific leaf blower ordinance. Leaf blowers are regulated only by the general noise ordinance (Code Chapter 50). Use during quiet hours (10 p.m. to 7 a.m.) can be cited as a noise disturbance.
Euless quiet hours run 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily under Code Chapter 50. Sound plainly audible from an adjoining property during these hours is a Class C misdemeanor with fines up to 500 dollars per day.
Euless generally prohibits chickens, roosters, and livestock in residential zones under Code Chapter 10. Roosters are prohibited citywide in residential zones. Some 1+ acre lots may qualify with setbacks.
Beekeeping in Euless is regulated by zoning and TX Agriculture Code Chapter 131. Typical rules: hive setbacks, flyway barriers, on-site water, and TAIS registration for 6+ hives.
Euless prohibits feeding feral or wild animals (coyotes, raccoons, opossums, stray cats) when it creates a nuisance under Code Chapter 10. Bird feeders are generally allowed if kept sanitary.
Euless has no breed-specific dog bans. TX Health and Safety Code 822.047 preempts breed bans statewide. Dangerous dogs are regulated by behavior under Lillians Law and Euless Code Chapter 10.
Euless bans dangerous wild animals under Code Chapter 10 and TX H&S 822 Subchapter E. Prohibited: big cats, bears, primates, venomous snakes, large constrictors. Common exotic pets usually allowed.
Livestock (horses, cattle, goats, sheep) are prohibited in Euless residential zones under Code Chapters 10 and 82. Hogs are broadly banned citywide. 1+ acre ag zones may qualify with setbacks.
Euless requires all dogs on public property to be leashed under Code Chapter 10. Leash length typically limited to 6 feet. At-large dogs may be impounded. Class C misdemeanor, fines up to 500 dollars.
Euless bans barbed wire, razor wire, and electrified fences in residential zones under Code Chapter 82. Permitted: wood, vinyl, masonry, metal, and chain link (often restricted in front yards).
Euless fence limits under Code Chapter 82: 4 ft front yards, 8 ft side/rear (6 ft common), reduced heights at sight triangles. Permits required above 7 ft. Fines up to 500 dollars.
Retaining walls over 4 ft in Euless require a permit and engineered drawings by a licensed TX PE under IBC 1807. Shorter walls may also require permits based on surcharge loads or location.
Euless pool barriers must be 48 inches tall with self-closing, self-latching gates under TX H&S 757 and the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code. No climbable features within 45 inches of the top.
Euless requires a fence permit for new and replacement fences under Code Chapters 14 and 82. Typical fee 50-150 dollars. Apply at the Building Inspections Division, 201 N. Ector Drive.
Euless does not require neighbor consent to build a fence on your own property. Shared (division) fences and maintenance disputes are governed by Texas common law. Courtesy notice recommended.
Euless fence construction must meet Code Chapter 82: setbacks, 4 ft front and 8 ft rear height limits, sight-triangle rules, and permit approval. Posts typically set 2-3 ft deep in concrete.
Backyard fires in Euless are allowed only for cooking or warming in pits up to 3 feet wide and 25 feet from structures. Open burning of brush, leaves, or trash is banned under TCEQ rules.
Euless is not in a Texas A and M Forest Service wildland-urban interface and has no mapped wildfire hazard zone. Risk is limited to grass fires along open tracts and the Trinity River during drought.
Euless property owners must keep weeds and grass below 12 inches and remove combustible brush near structures. The city can abate violations and assess costs plus fees as a lien at Tarrant County.
Consumer fireworks are banned inside Euless city limits under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 2154 authority. Possession, sale, or discharge is a Class C misdemeanor with fines up to 2,000 dollars.
Euless follows the IRC and IFC for smoke alarms in dwellings. Alarms are required in each bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every floor. Landlords must provide working alarms at each tenancy.
Outdoor burning of trash, leaves, brush, and debris is prohibited in Euless under TCEQ rule 30 TAC 111.209 since Tarrant County is ozone non-attainment. Only cooking fires and permitted training burns are allowed.
Euless permits recreational fire pits up to 3 feet wide on private property, fueled by seasoned wood or charcoal only. Fires must sit 25 feet from structures and be attended at all times.
Euless in-home daycares must comply with Texas HHSC licensing and Chapter 82 home occupation rules. Informal care of 3 or fewer children may avoid state licensing but still follows zoning limits.
Home occupations in Euless may not display exterior signs, lighted displays, or window advertising visible from the street. Vehicle lettering on personal vehicles in a driveway is generally allowed.
Home occupations are allowed in Euless residential districts as accessory uses. They must stay secondary to the dwelling, use only household employees, and produce no external signs or excess customer traffic.
A home occupation in Euless may not generate more traffic than would normally occur in a residential neighborhood. Frequent client visits and commercial deliveries beyond normal levels are grounds for revocation.
Cottage food sales are allowed in Euless under the Texas Cottage Food Law (Health and Safety Code Chapter 437), which preempts local regulation. Home producers can sell up to 50,000 dollars in qualifying foods per year.
Euless allows home occupations under Chapter 82 Zoning. Activity must be incidental, inside the home, using under 25 percent of floor area, with no external evidence. No separate city permit is issued.
Euless has no specific STR occupancy cap. IPMC floor-area standards apply via Chapter 34, typically 2 per bedroom plus 2. Fire code occupant load applies for events. HOA rules may impose stricter caps.
Euless has no STR insurance mandate. Standard homeowner policies often exclude commercial use, so hosts should carry STR endorsements or rely on Airbnb AirCover (up to $1M) or Vrbo coverage. HOA may require GL.
Euless has no annual night cap or minimum-stay rule for STRs. Operators may host year-round subject to tax and nuisance rules. TX Tax Code 156.101 treats 30-plus day rentals as tax-exempt residential tenancies.
Euless has no STR registration program, but operators must register city HOT accounts with Euless Finance (7 percent) and state HOT with the TX Comptroller (6 percent). No city license or inspection program currently.
Euless STRs collect 6 percent state HOT plus 7 percent city HOT (13 percent total) on stays under 30 days. Airbnb and Vrbo remit state HOT but city HOT is typically manual via Euless Finance.
Euless STRs need 2 off-street spaces per Chapter 82 zoning. On-street parking is generally allowed but often restricted by HOA. Parking on lawns or blocking sidewalks is prohibited under Chapter 34.
Euless STRs must comply with Chapter 46 noise rules. Amplified music is restricted 8 PM to 7 AM. Guest-generated noise triggers code enforcement and PD response despite high DFW Airport ambient noise.
Euless has no dedicated STR registration program. Operators must follow zoning (Chapter 82), nuisance rules, and collect state and city hotel occupancy taxes. DFW Airport proximity drives strong STR demand.
Euless above-ground pools over 24 inches need a permit and must meet the same barrier and electrical rules as in-ground pools. The 48-inch pool wall can serve as the barrier if ladders are removable or lockable.
Euless hot tubs need a permit for permanent installation. Spas with ASTM F1346 locking covers are exempt from the 48-inch barrier rule. Electrical permits are required for 240V service per NEC Article 680.
Euless requires a building permit for any pool over 24 inches deep. Building Inspections reviews site plans, equipment, and barrier design. Multiple inspections cover steel, electrical, plumbing, and final stages.
Euless pools over 24 inches need a 48-inch barrier per the ISPSC. Gates must be self-closing and self-latching with latch 54 inches above grade. Door alarms required if a dwelling wall forms the barrier.
Euless pools must comply with the federal VGB Act for drain safety on public pools. NEC Article 680 requires bonding and GFCI. TX HSC 757 applies to multifamily. Residential pools follow ISPSC barrier rules.
Euless generally allows overnight on-street parking on residential streets, but vehicles cannot remain in the same spot longer than 48 hours, and commercial lots may tow without the owner permission.
Euless requires driveways to be paved with concrete or asphalt, limits curb cuts to approved widths, and prohibits parking on unimproved surfaces anywhere on a residential lot.
Euless allows on-street parking on most residential streets but prohibits parking against traffic flow, within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, or blocking mailboxes, driveways, or sidewalks.
Euless follows the adopted National Electrical Code for residential EV charger installs, requires a permit for hardwired Level 2 chargers, and does not restrict HOA EV charger rights under Texas Property Code 202.019.
Euless defines abandoned vehicles under Texas Transportation Code Chapter 683 and the city nuisance code; inoperable or unregistered vehicles left on private property in view, or on streets over 48 hours, may be towed.
Euless prohibits recreational vehicles, boats, and trailers from being stored on streets and in front yards; they must be parked on a paved surface in the side or rear yard behind the front building line.
Euless prohibits commercial vehicles over one-ton capacity and trailers used for business from being parked overnight in residential zones; work vans under that weight are allowed with restrictions.
Euless does not recognize ADUs in single-family districts. A second dwelling with its own kitchen is a duplex under the zoning code and requires multifamily zoning or a zoning change to build.
Storage sheds in Euless up to 200 square feet and one story are allowed without a building permit on single-family lots, subject to setback and height limits. Larger or plumbed sheds need a permit.
Carports in Euless are accessory structures allowed behind the front building line with standard setbacks. Front-yard driveway carports are typically prohibited or need a specific-use permit.
Converting a garage into living space in Euless needs building and electrical permits plus preserving the minimum enclosed parking required by the UDC. Converting the only covered parking typically triggers denial.
Euless does not allow tiny homes as a separate dwelling in single-family districts. Tiny homes on wheels are treated as RVs, and permanent tiny homes must meet the full residential code and minimum dwelling size.
Artificial turf is allowed in Euless residential yards subject to HOA design standards. Texas Property Code 202.007 bars HOAs from banning efficient landscaping, though specific products may be rejected on appearance.
Protected tree removal on undeveloped, multifamily, or commercial sites in Euless needs a permit and mitigation planting. Single-family homeowner removals on existing lots are typically exempt unless HOA rules apply.
Native-plant landscaping is allowed and encouraged in Euless as a water-conservation measure. Texas Property Code 202.007 bars HOAs from banning drought-resistant landscaping outright.
Euless caps grass, weeds, and rank vegetation at 12 inches on all improved and vacant lots. Violations trigger a notice, and failure to mow leads to city abatement plus fees recorded as a lien.
Euless enforces twice-weekly outdoor watering limits tied to Trinity River Authority and Tarrant Regional Water District rules. Watering is banned from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. April through October.
Euless owners must keep trees trimmed to 8 feet over sidewalks and 14 feet over streets, clear of signs and streetlights. Private yard trimming needs no permit unless the tree is in the right-of-way.
Rainwater harvesting is encouraged in Euless and protected under Texas Property Code 202.007, which bars HOAs from banning rain barrels. Outdoor systems need no permit; indoor use needs plumbing review.
Euless treats weeds, rank vegetation, and overgrown brush over 12 inches as a public nuisance subject to mandatory abatement. Property owners receive notice before the city mows, and costs become a lien on the property.
Euless HOA ARCs operate under TX Property Code 202. State law preempts bans on solar panels (202.010) and drought-resistant landscaping (202.007). ARCs must act in reasonable time or approval may be deemed granted.
Euless CCRs are enforced under TX Property Code Chs. 202 and 209. State law preempts bans on solar, xeriscaping, flags, and religious items. Owners may enforce CCRs against each other under TX PC 5.006.
Euless HOA boards follow TX Property Code Chapter 209 (POA Act): open meetings, 10-day annual notice, owner record inspection rights, and director fiduciary duties. SB 1588 (2021) strengthened owner protections.
Euless HOA assessments follow TX Property Code Ch. 209. Payment plans are required (209.0062). SB 1588 (2021) bars foreclosure on fines-only liens. Assessment liens remain foreclosable after 30-day demand.
Euless HOA disputes follow TX Property Code Ch. 209. Owners get written violation notice, 30-day cure, and hearing rights. Mediation is often required before suit. Tarrant County District Court hears unresolved disputes.
Euless limits single-family dwellings to 35 feet or 2.5 stories in most SF districts, with commercial heights set by district up to 60 feet or more along SH-183 and other corridors.
Euless single-family lots typically require a 25-foot front setback, 5-foot interior side (10-foot street side), and 20-foot rear setback, with accessory structures set back 3 feet from rear and side lines.
Euless single-family zones typically cap principal and accessory building footprint at 40 to 50 percent of the lot, with additional impervious-cover limits in stormwater-sensitive areas.
Euless requires a grading or drainage permit for earthwork that alters lot drainage patterns; finished grades must direct runoff to public drainage without impacting neighboring lots.
Euless enforces a stormwater ordinance and MS4 permit that prohibits non-stormwater discharges into the city storm system, with construction sites over one acre requiring a TCEQ TPDES general permit.
Euless participates in the NFIP and enforces FEMA flood hazard rules; construction in Special Flood Hazard Areas requires a floodplain development permit and elevation above the base flood elevation plus freeboard.
Euless requires silt fence, stabilized entrances, and inlet protection on construction sites with approved erosion and sediment control plans, in coordination with the TCEQ construction stormwater permit.
Tarrant County is inland — no coastal jurisdiction or Texas General Land Office Open Beaches Act rules apply. Waterfront development along the Trinity River, Eagle Mountain Lake, Lake Worth, and Lake Arlington is regulated through Tarrant County's NFIP floodplain permit program and the controlling lake authority (Tarrant Regional Water District or USACE).
Texas Property Code 202.010 prohibits HOAs in Euless from banning rooftop solar; associations may impose reasonable placement conditions but cannot make installation economically impractical.
Euless requires building and electrical permits for rooftop and ground-mount solar PV systems, with plan review by Building Inspections and inspections before system activation.
Euless has no snow removal ordinance because meaningful snowfall in DFW is rare. Sidewalks must be kept safe year-round under property maintenance code, but no mandatory ice clearing.
Euless requires a garage sale permit before advertising a sale, with caps on frequency per address per year. Sales must stay on owner property and merchandise removed within 24 hours after end.
Euless requires trash and recycling carts to be stored out of public view between collection days. Carts left at the curb beyond 24 hours after pickup are subject to citations.
Euless enforces property maintenance under Chapter 46 and the IPMC. Blight such as overgrowth, junk, dilapidated structures, and junked vehicles is abated under TX Local Gov Code 214.
Euless vacant lot owners must keep vegetation under 12 inches and remove debris. The city can cut lots and place liens for abatement costs under Texas Health and Safety Code 342.
Euless offers weekly single-stream recycling through Republic Services in a blue cart. Accepted: paper, cardboard, #1 and #2 plastics, metal cans, glass. Not mandatory by ordinance.
Euless contracts with Republic Services for weekly residential trash collection. Carts must be at the curb by 7 AM on the collection day and removed within 24 hours after pickup.
Euless requires trash and recycling carts out no earlier than 6 PM the night before collection and removed within 24 hours. Carts must be stored out of public view otherwise.
Euless residents receive scheduled bulk trash pickup through Republic Services, typically once or twice per month by zone. Items must be separated into yard waste, appliances, and general bulk categories.
Euless residents can post a No Soliciting sign to legally prohibit uninvited commercial solicitors. Ignoring a posted sign is a code violation and can escalate to criminal trespass under TX Penal Code 30.05.
Euless requires door-to-door commercial solicitors to obtain a permit from the Police Department, including ID, background check, and fee. Religious and political canvassing is First Amendment protected.
Euless parks are open from dawn to dusk or 11 PM depending on the park, with hours posted at each. After-hours presence is criminal trespass. Athletic fields need reservation permits.
Euless maintains a juvenile curfew under TX Local Gov Code 370.002 restricting minors under 17 from public places during late-night and school-day hours. Exceptions for parents, work, and school.
Political signs in Euless on private property are protected by TX Property Code 202.009 and the First Amendment. HOAs cannot prohibit ground-mounted signs up to 36 by 24 inches near elections.
Euless permits temporary holiday lights, inflatables, and decorations on private property without permit. Displays cannot obstruct sidewalks, create traffic hazards, or violate noise standards.
Euless allows garage sale signs on the seller's own property during the permitted sale window. Signs in the public right-of-way, on utility poles, or on traffic signs are prohibited and removed.
Euless regulates exterior lighting through its zoning and site plan standards, requiring shielded fixtures that do not spill onto adjacent properties and capping brightness along residential boundaries.
Euless treats excessive light spillover onto neighboring properties as a nuisance under the zoning code performance standards, enforced through warning notices and citations issued by Code Enforcement.
Euless does not operate a rental registration program. Rental properties must comply with building, property maintenance, and fire codes, plus Texas Property Code Chapter 92 habitability standards.
Texas law preempts rent control statewide and Euless imposes no rent caps; TX Local Government Code 214.902 allows rent regulation only after a housing emergency declared by the governor.
Euless has no just cause eviction ordinance. Landlord-tenant rules are governed by Texas Property Code Chapter 92. Texas permits no-cause non-renewal at lease end with proper notice.
Euless limits food truck vending to properly zoned commercial and industrial sites and approved special event areas; mobile vendors cannot stage in public right-of-way or residential areas.
Food trucks operating in Euless must hold a Tarrant County Public Health mobile food permit and register with the city, operating only on private property with owner permission unless in an approved event zone.
Euless requires scaffolding on commercial jobs and multi-story work to be erected per the adopted International Building Code and OSHA standards, with permits for sidewalk encroachment.
Euless elevators are regulated by TDLR under TX Occupations Code Ch. 754. Annual TDLR inspections plus 5-year full-load tests are required. Private-residence elevators are exempt from most TDLR rules but need permits.
Euless lead paint rules follow federal EPA RRP rules (40 CFR 745) for pre-1978 housing. Contractors disturbing over 6 sq ft interior or 20 sq ft exterior must be Lead-Safe Certified. Landlord disclosure required.
Euless property owners must keep structures free of rats, roaches, and other vermin under the adopted property maintenance code, and commercial applicators must hold a Texas Department of Agriculture license.
Recreational drones in Euless follow FAA rules. DFW Class B airspace covers the entire city, requiring LAANC authorization before flying. TX Gov Code 423 limits drone surveillance imagery.
Commercial drone pilots in Euless must hold an FAA Part 107 certificate, obtain LAANC authorization for DFW Class B airspace, and comply with Texas Gov Code 423 on surveillance and privacy.
Home cannabis cultivation is illegal in Euless because Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 481 prohibits cultivation statewide. Only the narrow state TCUP medical program allows licensed access.
Recreational cannabis dispensaries cannot operate in Euless because retail sale is illegal statewide under TX Health and Safety Code 481. Only state-licensed TCUP dispensaries exist and none are in DFW.
Unincorporated Tarrant County has no bar or nightclub noise ordinance. TABC license conditions and state disorderly conduct law are the only sound-related controls in rural areas.
Tarrant County has no generator noise ordinance. Standby and portable generators may run without time limits. TX Penal Code 42.01 is the only backstop for extreme persistent noise.
Tarrant County does not regulate HVAC condenser or chiller noise in unincorporated areas. The International Mechanical Code governs installation but noise output is not addressed.
Most unincorporated Tarrant County roads have no public sidewalks. Where sidewalks exist, repair responsibility typically falls to the adjacent property owner or the HOA under Texas common law.
Texas Transportation Code Section 552.006 prohibits obstructing sidewalks in unincorporated Tarrant County. Common violations include trash bins, vehicles, basketball goals, and overgrown vegetation.
Tarrant County code enforcement is handled by individual municipalities. In unincorporated areas, complaints go to Tarrant County Development Services. Fort Worth residents use the MyFW app or call 817-392-1234. Arlington uses the Arlington Cares app or 817-459-5474.
Code enforcement response times in Tarrant County vary by municipality and violation severity. Fort Worth prioritizes health and safety hazards for same-day response, while routine violations like tall grass are typically investigated within 3-7 business days.
The most common code violations in Tarrant County include tall grass and weeds exceeding 12 inches, junk vehicles, illegal dumping, substandard structures, and zoning violations such as unpermitted home businesses or accessory structures.
Tarrant County and its municipalities do not have specific ordinances banning or restricting bamboo. If bamboo spreads onto neighboring properties, it may be addressed under general nuisance ordinances or through civil action between neighbors.
Tarrant County defers to the Texas Department of Agriculture's noxious weed list for prohibited species. The state list includes giant salvinia, water hyacinth, and certain thistles. Local municipalities do not maintain separate prohibited plant lists.
Texas HB 1686 (effective 2023) prohibits HOAs and municipalities from banning front-yard vegetable gardens. Tarrant County residents can grow edible gardens in their front yards, though cities may still regulate height, maintenance, and setback standards.
Residential security cameras are legal in Tarrant County without a permit. Texas law allows recording video on your property and publicly visible areas. Cameras must not be directed into areas with a reasonable expectation of privacy such as neighbors' bedrooms or bathrooms.
Texas is a one-party consent state for audio recording. Only one party to a conversation must consent. Video recording in public spaces is legal, but recording in private areas where individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy is a state jail felony.
Privacy fences in Tarrant County are generally allowed up to 8 feet in rear and side yards and 4 feet in front yards. Fort Worth requires permits for solid fences over 6 feet. The finished side must face outward toward neighbors.
In most Tarrant County cities, storage sheds under 120 square feet do not require a building permit. Sheds over 120 square feet require a permit and must comply with setback requirements. All sheds must be in the rear yard.
Fence permits are required in Fort Worth for fences over 6 feet tall. Standard residential fences of 6 feet or less in rear and side yards do not require a permit but must comply with zoning setbacks and materials standards.
Decks over 30 inches above grade require a building permit in most Tarrant County cities. Ground-level patios on grade generally do not require a permit. Attached decks must comply with the building code for structural connections.
Most renovation work in Tarrant County requires a building permit if it involves structural changes, electrical, plumbing, or HVAC work. Cosmetic work like painting, flooring, and cabinetry typically does not require a permit.
Texas Labor Code Section 62.0515 expressly preempts municipal and county minimum wage ordinances. The state minimum wage equals the federal floor of $7.25 per hour, and political subdivisions cannot require private employers to pay more, except for their own contracts.
Texas appellate courts have struck down municipal paid sick leave ordinances in Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio as preempted under the Texas Minimum Wage Act. HB 2127 (2023) further codifies preemption by barring local regulation of employment benefits and leave policies.
HB 2127 (2023), the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act, preempts municipal predictive or fair workweek scheduling ordinances. Texas cities cannot require employers to provide advance schedule notice, predictability pay, or rest periods between shifts beyond state law.
Texas authorizes License to Carry (LTC) holders to carry concealed handguns statewide under Government Code Chapter 411. Since 2021, permitless constitutional carry under HB 1927 also allows most adults 21 and older to carry without a license, with municipalities preempted from added restrictions.
Texas Local Government Code Section 229.001 broadly preempts municipal regulation of firearms, ammunition, knives, and related accessories. Cities cannot adopt or enforce ordinances regulating the transfer, ownership, possession, transport, or discharge of firearms beyond narrow exceptions for discharge in densely populated areas.
Texas authorizes open carry of holstered handguns statewide for adults 21 and older under Penal Code 46.02 and HB 910 (2015). Long guns may be openly carried subject to disorderly conduct limits. Municipalities cannot impose additional open carry restrictions.
Texas Penal Code 46.02(a-1) lets any non-prohibited adult lawfully carry a handgun inside a personally-owned or leased motor vehicle or watercraft without a License to Carry, provided the firearm is not in plain view and the person is not engaged in criminal activity or gang membership.
Texas Government Code Chapter 673 requires every state agency and any business that contracts with a state agency to register for and use the federal E-Verify system to confirm the work eligibility of new employees. Private-sector E-Verify use is generally voluntary statewide.
Texas Government Code Chapter 752, enacted by Senate Bill 4 in 2017, prohibits any local entity, campus police department, or jail from adopting sanctuary policies. Local officials must honor federal immigration detainer requests and may not bar officers from inquiring about immigration status.
Texas Local Government Code Chapter 212 and Agriculture Code Chapter 251 limit municipal authority to zone or regulate land qualified for agricultural use appraisal. Counties have no general zoning authority, and cities face restrictions on annexing or imposing land use rules on established farms.
The Texas Right to Farm Act, Agriculture Code Chapter 251, protects established agricultural operations from nuisance lawsuits and local regulations after one year of operation. SB 1421 (2023) significantly strengthened protections, preempting municipal ordinances that restrict generally accepted agricultural practices.
The Texas Supreme Court in City of Laredo v. Laredo Merchants Association (2018) held that Health and Safety Code Section 361.0961 preempts municipal plastic bag bans. Cities and counties cannot prohibit or restrict retail use of plastic checkout bags as containers or packages.
Health and Safety Code Section 361.0961 also preempts municipal bans on polystyrene foam containers used for food service. The same statute that struck down plastic bag bans prevents Texas cities from prohibiting expanded polystyrene cups, plates, and takeout packaging.
Plastic straw bans by Texas municipalities are preempted under Health and Safety Code Section 361.0961 and reinforced by HB 2127 (2023). Cities cannot prohibit or restrict food service businesses from offering single-use plastic straws to customers.