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Georgetown's Noise Control ordinance (Chapter 8.16) sets lower maximum decibel limits during nighttime than daytime, so sound that is allowed by day can become a violation after hours. The lowest applicable limit in residential areas is 56 decibels at night.
Georgetown's Noise Control ordinance (Chapter 8.16) historically required a permit for nighttime construction but did not set explicit daytime construction hours. In 2025 the City proposed amending the exemptions in Section 8.16.080 to permit construction and landscaping between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Georgetown treats a persistently barking dog as a reportable noise nuisance. The City lists barking dogs among examples of noise complaints handled by the non-emergency police line, and animal noise can also fall under the Chapter 8.16 decibel limits and Texas disorderly-conduct law.
Georgetown does not ban gas leaf blowers, but lawn-care equipment noise is regulated under Chapter 8.16. After residents complained about daytime lawn-care noise, the City in 2025 proposed exempting landscaping equipment from noise limits between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Amplified sound in Georgetown must comply with the Chapter 8.16 decibel limits, and for organized events it must be covered by a valid Special Event Permit. Amplified music is measured against the same Section 8.16.030 maximums that apply to other noise.
Georgetown lists loud vehicle exhaust and car alarms among reportable noise complaints, and vehicle noise is subject to the Chapter 8.16 decibel limits. Texas Transportation Code Section 547.604 separately requires a working muffler and bans muffler cutouts and bypasses statewide.
Georgetown Section 8.16.030 sets maximum decibel levels by zoning and time of day: 63 dB day / 56 dB night in residential areas, 70/63 on commercial property, and 72/65 on industrial property. Where property falls under more than one category, the lowest maximum applies.
Outdoor and event music in Georgetown must meet the Chapter 8.16 decibel limits and, for organized events, be covered by a valid Special Event Permit that complies with Section 8.16.030. Downtown's Square and patios are popular venues, so the City ties event sound to permit conditions.
Georgetown's Section 8.16.030 sets the highest decibel allowances for industrial and commercial property: 72 dB day / 65 dB night on industrial-zoned land and 70/63 on commercial property. But where industrial use abuts a quieter zone, the lowest applicable maximum governs.
Aircraft noise around Georgetown Executive Airport is regulated primarily by the FAA, not the City. Federal law preempts most local authority over aircraft-generated noise. The City accepts noise complaints through the airport but cannot ban or fine aircraft for noise the way it does ground noise.
Georgetown's Code of Ordinances makes it unlawful and a nuisance for the owner of any animal other than a cat to allow it to run at large within the City. A dog off the owner's premises must be physically restrained and under the immediate control of a person able to restrain it.
Georgetown allows backyard hens. Code Section 7.06.010.B limits keeping to no more than eight hens in residential zoning districts, requires a coop located at least 20 feet from another person's residence, requires hens to stay in the owner's backyard, and prohibits roosters.
Georgetown does not ban or restrict any dog breed. Its dangerous-dog rules in Chapter 7.05 incorporate Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 822 and classify dogs by behavior, not breed. Texas law (Sec. 822.047) prohibits cities from adopting breed-specific regulation.
Georgetown allows beekeeping under Chapter 7.08. Hives must sit at least 10 feet from a property line, at least 50 feet from another person's residence, and colony counts are capped by lot size (e.g., two colonies on a quarter-acre or smaller). Owners notify the Chief of Police.
Georgetown bans many exotic and dangerous animals. Code Section 7.06.020 makes it unlawful to keep species such as big cats, bears, primates, venomous reptiles, non-venomous reptiles over six feet, alligators, skunks, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, wolves and pot-bellied pigs, with narrow exceptions for accredited zoos and licensed institutions.
Georgetown restricts livestock near homes. Code Section 7.06.010.A makes it a nuisance to keep livestock within 200 feet of any private residence or within 500 feet of any building open to the public, unless the property is zoned Agricultural or Residential Estate or used as a vet clinic or boarding kennel.
Georgetown allows up to five cats or dogs (or any combination) per household without a special permit. Keeping more than five requires a multi-pet permit under Section 7.02.030 (or a kennel permit if for boarding, training or breeding). Puppies and kittens under four months are not counted.
Georgetown's at-large rule treats cats differently from dogs. Under Section 7.04.010, only a cat that has not been altered or vaccinated for rabies is barred from running at large. Altered, rabies-vaccinated cats are not prohibited from roaming, but all cats over four months must be vaccinated.
Georgetown has no standalone ban on feeding wildlife, but Code Section 7.04.090.9 makes it a nuisance to allow food to remain outside unattended for an extended period so as to attract nuisance animals. Unattended pet food and similar attractants can therefore draw enforcement.
Georgetown does not use the word 'hoarding,' but its pet limits, permit conditions and care standards function as anti-hoarding controls. More than five cats or dogs requires a permit (Sec. 7.02.030), animals must receive proper care (Ch. 7.03), and Texas Penal Code 42.092 criminalizes animal cruelty.
Georgetown requires a city permit to operate any short-term rental within the city limits. The STR program, adopted by ordinance on Sept. 24, 2024 (Chapter 6.70), took effect Nov. 1, 2024. An STR is any residential unit rented for tenancies of 30 or fewer consecutive days for a fee.
STR operators register online with the City, submitting owner and 24/7 local contact information, property details, and listing-platform information. Permits are valid one year from issuance and expire when ownership changes. Operators must also notify neighbors within a 200-foot radius within 10 days of approval.
Georgetown charges a $100 initial STR registration fee and a $50 annual renewal. Operators must collect and remit the City's 7% local hotel occupancy tax (HOT) monthly, due by the 20th of the following month, in addition to the 6% Texas state HOT.
Georgetown's STR program does NOT mandate liability insurance as a condition of permitting. Required application items are ID, contact and 24/7 local-contact information, property and parking details, and listing-platform information — insurance is not listed. Operators should still carry coverage as a best practice.
Georgetown's STR program limits guest occupancy and requires the limit to be disclosed in the occupant brochure. Reported guidance sets a cap of roughly two adults per bedroom plus two additional guests, and operators must comply with all applicable city building and life-safety codes.
Georgetown's STR application requires operators to report the number of off-street parking spaces, and STRs must comply with all city parking ordinances. The occupant brochure must disclose parking restrictions to guests so that guest vehicles don't create neighborhood nuisances.
Georgetown STRs must comply with the city's general noise ordinance, and the STR program requires operators to disclose noise rules to guests in the occupant brochure. A 24/7 local contact must be reachable to respond to noise and nuisance complaints.
Georgetown does NOT limit short-term rentals to an owner's primary residence. Chapter 6.70 permits both owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied (investor) STRs citywide, requiring only registration, a 24/7 local contact, and tax compliance — not proof that the home is the owner's primary residence.
Georgetown does NOT require a host to be present or to live on-site during stays. Instead, the ordinance requires a designated 24-hour local contact who can respond to issues during a guest's stay. Whole-home, unhosted rentals are permitted under Chapter 6.70.
Georgetown imposes NO annual cap on the number of nights a short-term rental may operate. Permits authorize year-round rental, with the only duration rule being that an individual stay must be 30 or fewer consecutive days to qualify as a short-term rental.
Georgetown does not publish a dedicated Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) overlay ordinance. Wildfire risk is managed through Williamson County burn bans, the city's fire code burning permits, and vegetation-maintenance rules. During a county burn ban, outdoor burning is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $500.
Georgetown bans fireworks within the city limits and in unincorporated areas within 5,000 feet of the city limits under Chapter 8.08 of the Code of Ordinances. Only professional, licensed displays are allowed. The maximum fine is $2,000, and parents may be cited for letting minors use fireworks.
Georgetown allows backyard fire pits and chimeneas without a separate permit, but the Fire Department sets clearance distances. Portable outdoor fires (fire pits and chimeneas) must keep 15 feet of clearance from structures; recreational fires built directly on the ground must be 25 feet away. A burn ban suspends recreational fires.
Open burning inside Georgetown requires an operational permit under Sec. 8.04.050, which amends Section 105.5.34 of the adopted fire code. The Fire Department offers residential, commercial, bonfire and prescribed-burn permits with varying fees. Prohibited materials include tires, plastics and treated lumber, and burning is barred during a burn ban.
Georgetown Code Compliance enforces weed and grass limits under Sec. 8.20.0100: grass or weeds taller than 6 inches on a developed lot, or 12 inches on an undeveloped lot, are a violation. Owners must keep the area from their property line to the curb clear of tall vegetation and brush.
Small backyard recreational fires for warmth, cooking or ceremony are allowed in Georgetown without a permit if kept to 3 feet or less in diameter and 2 feet or less in height, with 25 feet of clearance from structures. Larger open burns need a permit, and all recreational fires are barred during a burn ban.
Georgetown enforces smoke alarm requirements through its adopted International Fire Code and building codes, layered on top of Texas Property Code rental requirements. Texas law requires landlords to install and maintain working smoke alarms outside each bedroom in rental units; new construction follows the adopted fire and building codes.
Propane and LP-gas storage in Georgetown is governed primarily by the Texas Railroad Commission's statewide LP-Gas safety rules (based on NFPA 58) and by the city's adopted International Fire Code. Larger installations require permits and Fire Marshal review; the city directs commercial projects to coordinate with Georgetown Fire.
Georgetown controls where vehicles may stop, stand or park through posted signs and designated zones under Chapter 10.16 rather than a published color-coded curb-paint system. No-parking, limited-time, loading and accessible zones are established by city designation and marked with signage and curb markings.
Georgetown does not publish a blanket citywide overnight on-street parking ban. Downtown time limits run during daytime hours, and public parking lots restrict vehicles left for extended periods. Vehicles left too long can be treated as abandoned under city code and Texas law.
Georgetown's Code of Ordinances bars parking travel trailers, camper trailers, boat trailers, motor homes, buses and similar large vehicles on any street or right-of-way within a residential district, or within 300 feet of a residence in a residential district.
Georgetown regulates on-street parking through Chapter 10.16 of its Code of Ordinances. Downtown Square streets carry a 3-hour limit from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, while residential streets restrict large and commercial vehicles within 300 feet of a residence.
Georgetown Code Section 10.16.080.A prohibits parking commercial vehicles, truck tractors, road tractors, semi-trailers, buses and special mobile equipment on any street or right-of-way within a residential district, or within 300 feet of a residence in a residential district.
Georgetown enforces both its own junked-vehicle code (Chapter 8.28) and the Texas abandoned-vehicle law (Transportation Code Chapter 683). A vehicle inoperable more than 72 hours on public property or 30 days on private property may be declared junked; state law treats vehicles left illegally on public property over 48 hours as abandoned.
Georgetown Code Section 10.16.085 prohibits parking a vehicle in the front or side yard of a residential property except on a driveway or other approved surface. Driveways and access connections are also regulated by the city's right-of-way and development standards.
Georgetown Code Section 10.16.080.A keeps oversized vehicles - buses, motor homes, special mobile equipment, truck tractors and large trailers - off any street or right-of-way in a residential district or within 300 feet of a residence. Yard parking of these vehicles is also barred under Section 10.16.085.
Georgetown Code Section 10.16.090 reserves spaces designated for electric vehicle charging for that purpose only. No vehicle may stop, stand or park in an EV charging space except to charge an electric vehicle, and only while it is actively charging; violators are subject to a fine.
Georgetown designates loading zones, accessible spaces and bus stops downtown, and regulates stopping, standing and parking in restricted zones under Chapter 10.16. Off-street loading for new development is set by the Unified Development Code, Chapter 9 (Off-Street Parking and Loading).
Georgetown UDC Section 8.07.040 limits single-family front-yard fences to four feet (and at least 50% transparent), while side and rear fences in all other locations are limited to six feet, with increases to eight feet allowed only in specific listed circumstances. Height is measured from the higher side.
Georgetown UDC Section 8.07.020 requires a fence permit to erect any fence within the city limits, with limited exceptions for agricultural uses, interior pet/garden fencing, and minor alterations replacing less than one-third of the fence facing. The city aims to process fence permits within about 10 business days.
Georgetown's UDC requires the finished side of a fence to face public streets and parkland (Sec. 8.07.030.E) and lets neighbors jointly consent to a taller rear fence (Sec. 8.07.040.C). Cost-sharing and boundary disputes are governed by Texas property law, not city ordinance, since Texas has no general fence-sharing statute.
Georgetown's UDC fence section does not set a retaining-wall height limit; instead, retaining walls follow the adopted building code. Per the city's permit guidance, a permit is not required for retaining walls four feet or less measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless the wall supports a surcharge.
Georgetown UDC Section 8.07.030 sets general fence requirements: structural integrity against weather, ongoing maintenance, finished side facing streets and parkland, sight-triangle clearance, and limits on signs, temporary fences, and electric fences. Certain subdivisions must also build a masonry boundary wall along major roadways under Sec. 8.07.060.
Georgetown UDC Section 8.07.030.C allows wood, stone, rock, brick, fencecrete, decorative wrought iron, chain link and welded wire, and prohibits makeshift materials like plywood, plastic, fiberglass panels, chicken wire and corrugated metal. Barbed wire, razor wire and electric fencing are allowed only under narrow limits set elsewhere in Section 8.07.
Georgetown UDC Section 8.07.030.C lets property owners use a broad range of durable fence materials by right, including wood, stone, brick, fencecrete, decorative wrought iron, chain link and welded wire, plus vinyl or PVC subject to staff approval. All fences must keep structural integrity and show their finished side to streets and parkland.
Georgetown Code of Ordinances Section 8.20.100 caps grass and weeds at six inches on developed property and 12 inches on undeveloped tracts. Owners must also keep the strip from the property line to the curb clear. Violations are a nuisance the city can abate and lien.
Routine pruning of ordinary yard trees is unregulated in Georgetown, but pruning of a Heritage Tree (26-inch DBH protected species) requires city review under Unified Development Code Chapter 8. Heritage tree pruning requests are submitted online through the Planning Department.
Georgetown's UDC Chapter 8 protects Protected Trees (12-inch DBH) and Heritage Trees (26-inch DBH listed species). Removal requires city approval and mitigation, but residential lots platted before February 13, 2007 are exempt. Dead and hazardous trees are also exempt.
Georgetown Code of Ordinances Section 8.20.100 declares weeds and grasses over six inches (developed) or 12 inches (undeveloped) a nuisance. Owners must also clear the property-line-to-curb strip. The city can abate uncorrected nuisances and lien the property under Texas Health & Safety Code Ch. 342.
Georgetown Water Utility customers follow year-round watering rules. Irrigation systems run only on assigned days (by address last digit), never Monday, and never between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Hand watering is allowed any day. Restrictions apply to commercial customers too.
Georgetown encourages rainwater harvesting and offers a utility rebate of $0.50 per gallon covering half the materials cost, up to $600 a year, for tanks up to 400 gallons. Statewide, Texas Property Code 202.007 bars HOAs from banning rain barrels and rainwater systems.
Georgetown promotes native landscaping with a Texas Grown rebate up to $3,000 (residential) per year for converting turf to native, water-wise plants. Statewide, Texas Property Code 202.007 prevents HOAs from banning drought-resistant landscaping, subject to reasonable plan review.
Georgetown publishes no specific ordinance banning or permitting residential artificial turf, so installation is generally allowed subject to general property-maintenance rules. Statewide, Texas Property Code 202.007 limits HOAs from banning water-conserving turf, with reasonable plan review allowed.
Georgetown has no ordinance prohibiting backyard composting; residents may compost as long as the pile does not become a nuisance under Code of Ordinances Chapter 8.20. Statewide, Texas Property Code 202.007 bars HOAs from banning composting of vegetation.
Georgetown requires a fence, wall, or barrier that completely surrounds a swimming pool, with a self-latching gate, in accordance with the adopted code. The City's residential permit guidance ties pool barriers to the International Residential Code, and Georgetown enforces the 2021 Swimming Pool and Spa Code for pool/spa construction.
Georgetown requires a building permit for in-ground or prefabricated pools deeper than 24 inches, plus spas and hot tubs, in both residential and commercial use. Prefabricated pools under 24 inches deep are exempt. The City enforces the 2021 Swimming Pool and Spa Code, and as of August 1, 2024 all pools must be engineered.
Beyond the perimeter barrier, Georgetown requires that all doors with direct access to the pool be equipped with an alarm that produces an audible signal when the door is opened. Pool construction follows the City-adopted 2021 Swimming Pool and Spa Code, including barrier, electrical bonding, and inspection requirements.
Georgetown treats prefabricated (above-ground) pools the same as in-ground pools once they exceed 24 inches in depth: a permit is required, and the same barrier, alarm, setback, and inspection rules apply. Prefabricated pools less than 24 inches deep do not require a permit.
Georgetown requires a permit for spas and hot tubs, in residential and commercial use, under the City-adopted 2021 Swimming Pool and Spa Code. Spas and hot tubs are reviewed for electrical bonding and safety, and the City's barrier and door-alarm provisions apply to pool/spa installations.
Home occupations in Georgetown are an accessory use governed by the Unified Development Code's zoning use regulations (Chapter 5). The business must remain secondary to residential use. Texas law (HB 2464, the Home-Based Business Fairness Act) also bars cities from prohibiting a no-impact home-based business.
Georgetown's home-occupation rules require the business to remain secondary to residential use and preserve neighborhood character, which limits or prohibits commercial signage in residential zones. Texas HB 2464 protects no-impact home-based businesses only when their activities are not visible from the street, reinforcing the no-visible-signage expectation.
Georgetown regulates home occupations through its Unified Development Code (Chapter 5). Texas HB 2464, however, bars cities from requiring a license, permit, or other approval to operate a no-impact home-based business, so a qualifying low-impact home office generally does not need a City home-occupation permit, though it must still meet other codes.
Cottage food in Georgetown is governed by Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 437, which preempts local permitting. A cottage food production operation can earn up to $150,000 in annual gross income selling allowed shelf-stable foods from home, and no city or local health department may require a permit, license, or fee for direct-to-consumer sales.
Home child care in Georgetown is licensed by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), not the City. A Listed Family Home cares for one to three unrelated children, a Registered Child-Care Home for up to 12 children total, and larger operations require a separate child-care license. Georgetown's UDC home-occupation rules still apply to the residence.
Georgetown permits accessory dwelling units (garage apartments, casitas) as a subordinate use limited to 25% of the primary dwelling. ADUs are allowed in AG, RE, RL, RS, and MU-DT districts, must share the primary residence's electric and water meters, and renting one requires the property to be owner-occupied.
Georgetown requires a permit for accessory (non-habitable) storage buildings under UDC Chapter 6, Section 6.06. An accessory structure may not exceed 25% of the principal structure's square footage, no more than 30% of the rear yard may be covered, and structures over 200 sq ft generally require an engineer's certification.
Georgetown treats garage conversions as a distinct permit type. A garage converted into habitable space with a kitchen becomes an accessory dwelling unit subject to the UDC ADU rules (25% size cap, shared meters, SUP for rental). All conversions require a building permit and must meet the adopted 2021 building codes.
Georgetown requires a permit for carports under UDC Chapter 6, Section 6.06. Garages and carports must be set back at least 20-25 feet from the street where the driveway takes access, or 10 feet from a public alley. A carport may be placed on an existing driveway if it meets the required street setback.
Georgetown has no separate 'tiny home' ordinance. A habitable tiny home on a permanent foundation is regulated as a dwelling/ADU under the UDC (25% size cap, shared meters, SUP for rental) and must meet the adopted 2021 International Residential Code. A tiny home on wheels is treated as an RV, not a permanent dwelling.
Barbecue grilling is allowed in Georgetown without a burn permit. The Fire Department treats cooking fires as exempt from permitting but requires grills and BBQ pits to keep 10 feet of clearance from structures. Propane cylinders for grills are governed by the adopted fire code and state LP-gas rules.
Backyard smokers and BBQ pits are treated as cooking fires in Georgetown and need no burn permit, but must keep 10 feet of clearance from structures. Smoke that becomes excessive can fall under nuisance rules, and smokers should burn only clean wood, not prohibited materials like treated lumber.
Georgetown regulates lot coverage through impervious-cover limits in UDC Section 11.02. Residential maximums range from 40% in RE up to 70% in TH, with RS at 55%; properties over the Edwards Aquifer follow a separate 70%/55% subdivision calculation. Section 6.05 also caps accessory-structure coverage at 30% of the rear yard.
Georgetown UDC Chapter 6 caps building height at 35 feet in most residential districts (RE, RL, RS, TF, TH and MF-1) and 45 feet in the MF-2 high-density district. Detached accessory structures eight feet or less may sit within rear setbacks. Height is measured to the roof midpoint, with several exceptions for chimneys, spires and mechanical appurtenances.
Georgetown UDC Chapter 6 sets minimum front, side and rear setbacks by zoning district. In the common RS single-family district the front setback is 20 feet, side 6 feet and rear 10 feet, with a 25-foot street-facing garage setback. Setbacks and corner-lot front-line rules are detailed in Sections 6.02 and 6.04.
Georgetown residents use carts provided through Texas Disposal Systems in 95-, 65-, or 35-gallon sizes. All materials must fit inside the cart; extra bags or bundles outside the cart require a $5.20 Bag Tag. Refuse left outside a building other than in approved containers violates Sec. 8.20.080.
Georgetown does not require a permit for a garage or yard sale. Sale signs are limited to 4 square feet on-site, off-site signs must be within 1,000 feet of the sale, and no signs may be attached to utility poles, street signs, or traffic devices under UDC Sec. 10.03.020.
Georgetown's Code Compliance division enforces Chapter 8.20 (Nuisances) and Chapter 8.28 (junked vehicles). Refuse, brush, and unsightly accumulations outside a building are prohibited, and inoperable, wrecked, or unregistered vehicles on private property are declared a nuisance subject to removal.
On an undeveloped (vacant) lot in Georgetown, weeds and grass become a violation when they exceed 12 inches, versus 6 inches on a developed lot, under Sec. 8.20.100. Owners must also keep the strip from the property line to the curb clear of tall vegetation and brush.
Georgetown caps grass and weeds at 6 inches on developed lots and 12 inches on undeveloped lots under Sec. 8.20.100. Owners must also keep the area from their property line to the curb free of tall weeds, grass, brush, and unsightly vegetation.
Georgetown carts must be at the curb before collection begins, which means by 7 a.m. most of the year and 6 a.m. during summer hours. All materials must fit inside the cart, and refuse left outside a building other than in approved containers is a nuisance under Sec. 8.20.080.
Georgetown residents get four free curbside bulky-waste pickups per year through Texas Disposal Systems for items too large for the cart, such as furniture, mattresses, toilets, washers, and dryers. Pickups must be scheduled in advance by calling TDS, and items go out by 7 a.m. on the regular trash day.
Georgetown provides weekly curbside trash and every-other-week recycling through Texas Disposal Systems. Collection runs 7 a.m.-7 p.m. (6 a.m.-7 p.m. in summer). No pickup occurs on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, or Christmas, and pickups slide one day after those holidays.
Georgetown offers single-stream recycling every other week through Texas Disposal Systems, so residents can mix accepted recyclables in one cart with no sorting. Recycling participation is a city-provided service; Texas has no statewide curbside recycling mandate.
Dumping garbage, brush, or refuse on public or private property outside a building violates Georgetown Sec. 8.20.080. Illegal dumping is also a state crime under Tex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 365.012, ranging from a Class C misdemeanor for under 5 pounds to a state-jail felony for 1,000 pounds or more.
Texas law sharply limits how cities can regulate political signs on private property. Under Election Code Chapter 259, Georgetown cannot require a permit, charge a fee, or restrict the size of a qualifying political sign placed on private property with the owner's consent. Signs over 36 sq ft, taller than 8 ft, illuminated, or with moving parts lose that protection.
Georgetown allows garage and yard sale signs no larger than four square feet on the sale site, and off-site within 1,000 feet with the property owner's permission. Signs must be on private property only — not in the public right-of-way — and may not be attached to utility poles, street signs, stop signs, or other traffic-control devices.
Georgetown's UDC lighting standards (Section 7.04.010) apply mainly to non-residential development. They require outdoor light sources to be completely concealed and fully shielded within opaque housing so they are not visible from any street right-of-way, with limited exceptions for low-wattage residential-style fixtures.
Georgetown's UDC requires non-residential outdoor light sources to be fully shielded within opaque housing and not visible from any street right-of-way (Section 7.04.010), which limits light spillover. The city does not publish a specific residential light-trespass foot-candle limit; excessive residential lighting is addressed as a nuisance.
Georgetown city parks are open to the public between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. unless other hours are posted. After-hours use requires posted alternative hours, a lease or rental agreement, or a permit issued by the Parks Director under Chapter 12.20 of the City Code of Ordinances.
Texas HB 1819 (88th Legislature, 2023), codified at Local Government Code 341.906 / 351.906 / 370.004, prohibits all Texas municipalities and counties from adopting or enforcing juvenile curfew ordinances. Existing local curfews expired automatically and are unenforceable across Texas.
Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 487 limits cannabis dispensing to a small number of state-licensed Compassionate Use Program providers. There are no recreational dispensaries anywhere in Texas, and cities cannot license additional ones.
Texas Health & Safety Code 481.121 makes it a crime to possess or grow marijuana anywhere in the state. Home cultivation is illegal in every Texas city and county regardless of plant count or medical status.
Texas Government Code Chapter 423 preempts local commercial drone rules and FAA Part 107 governs commercial flight nationwide. Texas cities cannot require their own drone permits or fees for Part 107 operators delivering or surveying.
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.
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 Property Code Chapter 24 sets the exclusive procedure for residential evictions statewide. Cities cannot require landlords to show 'just cause' to terminate a month-to-month tenancy or refuse renewal, beyond the state's notice rules.
Texas Local Government Code 214.902 forbids cities from adopting rent control ordinances except in narrow disaster-related circumstances approved by the governor. Statewide, no Texas city can cap residential rent increases or set base rents.
Texas Local Government Code 214.902 caps rental registration and inspection programs, and Property Code Chapter 92 sets statewide landlord-tenant disclosure and habitability rules. Texas cities may register rental units only within state limits, and tenant protections apply universally.
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.