Texas Government Code chapter 236 bars Harris County Commissioners from regulating firearm ownership, transfer, transport, or carry. Government Code section 229.001 imposes parallel city preemption. The Harris County Sheriff Office offers License to Carry fingerprint services and enforces only state firearm law countywide.
Texas Government Code chapter 236, enacted in 2021, expressly preempts counties from regulating the transfer, possession, ownership, transport, licensing, registration, or discharge of firearms beyond what state law permits. Harris County Commissioners Court cannot impose permit requirements, registries, taxes, or local background-check rules. The Texas Attorney General may sue noncompliant counties under chapter 2160 and recover civil penalties. The Harris County Sheriff Office offers LTC fingerprinting and enforces state firearm law in unincorporated areas, jails, and county buildings. Counties retain narrow authority under Local Government Code 235.022 to limit firearm discharge in certain unincorporated platted subdivisions. Harris County has no countywide firearm ordinance.
Unlawful discharge in unincorporated platted subdivisions under Local Government Code 235.022 is a Class C misdemeanor with fines up to five hundred dollars; state Penal Code chapter 46 violations carry higher Class A misdemeanor or felony penalties.
See how Bellaire's local firearms preemption rules stack up against other locations.
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