Moving to Fulshear, TX?

Fulshear Code of Ordinances Chapter 18, Article VI (Noise) sets nighttime hours from 10:01 PM to 6:59 AM in residential areas, with daytime hours from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Nonresidential daytime extends to midnight on Friday and Saturday. Fulshear Police enforce as a Class C misdemeanor.

Fulshear restricts construction hours and requires written notice to neighbors within 200 feet before extended or off-hour activity occurs.

Fulshear has no STR-specific noise ordinance, so STR guests and hosts are bound by the generally applicable noise rules in Chapter 18, Article VI of the Code of Ordinances. Residential nighttime hours run 10:01 PM to 6:59 AM; daytime is 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Violations are Class C misdemeanors enforced by Fulshear Police.

The City of Fulshear has not adopted a dedicated short-term rental (STR) registration, licensing, or permit ordinance in its Code of Ordinances (available through Municode at library.municode.com/tx/fulshear). No city-level Airbnb or vacation-rental permit is currently required to operate an STR within Fulshear's corporate limits. Operators are still subject to Texas Tax Code Chapter 156 (state Hotel Occupancy Tax, 6% on stays under 30 days) and to the Fort Bend County hotel occupancy tax adopted under Tax Code Chapter 352 (effective October 1, 2024, with full enforcement of bookings beginning May 1, 2025). General Fulshear ordinances - zoning, nuisance, noise, parking, occupancy and building/fire codes - continue to apply to STR properties even though no STR-specific permit exists. HOA covenants in master-planned communities such as Cross Creek Ranch, Fulshear Run, Cross Creek West, and Tamarron frequently restrict or prohibit short-term rentals independently of city law.

Fulshear has not adopted a municipal Hotel Occupancy Tax under Texas Tax Code Chapter 351 and imposes no city STR registration fee. STR operators owe the 6% Texas state HOT (Tax Code Ch. 156) and the 2% Fort Bend County HOT (Ch. 352) for hotels inside city limits, effective October 1, 2024 with full enforcement beginning May 1, 2025.

Fulshear has no STR-specific parking standard or guest-vehicle cap. STR properties must satisfy the off-street parking minimums in the city's zoning appendix (Appendix A) for the underlying residential use, plus on-street parking rules in Chapter 22 (Traffic) and applicable HOA CC&Rs.

Fulshear property owners must keep lots clear of high weeds, grass, and accumulated brush that constitute a public nuisance, or face abatement and lien costs.

Fulshear's burn ban ordinance automatically adopts Fort Bend County's outdoor burning prohibition inside city limits, with violations punishable by fines up to $2,000.

Fulshear bans the sale, possession, and discharge of fireworks anywhere inside the city limits, with citations and fines issued by Fulshear Police year-round.

Fulshear treats inoperable vehicles with expired registration or inspection as junk motor vehicles, a code violation subject to certified-mail notice and abatement.

Fulshear Ordinance 2026-1533 prohibits parking commercial vehicles and large trailers on residential streets, with exemptions for pickups and active work trailers.

Fulshear regulates fences through Appendix A (Zoning) and Chapter 8 Article II (Construction Standards). Residential fences follow district rules with reduced heights in front yards and corner-lot visibility triangles. A permit is required from Fulshear Development Services before construction.

Fulshear requires property owners to obtain a permit before constructing a new fence or replacing more than fifty percent of an existing fence on residential or commercial property within city limits.

Fulshear Code of Ordinances Chapter 6 (Animals) governs dog restraint and running-at-large rules within city limits, layered with Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 822 on dangerous dogs and unlawful restraint. Dogs in public must be under physical control. Fort Bend County Animal Services responds to calls in Fulshear.

Fulshear Code Compliance enforces a public nuisance ordinance against high weeds, tall grass, and overgrown vegetation on residential and commercial property within city limits.

Fulshear's Drought Contingency Plan (Ordinance 2024-1456) sets address-based watering days, time-of-day limits, and graduated fines for irrigation violations during drought stages.

Fulshear strictly regulates signage citywide, banning snipe signs and signs on public property, and limiting banners and on-premise signs through its Coordinated Development Ordinance.

Fulshear permits home occupations in residential districts as accessory uses, subject to Coordinated Development Ordinance limits on scale, employees, and outward appearance.

Fulshear's home occupation rules require that businesses not generate traffic, parking demand, or activity beyond what is normal for a residence in the neighborhood.

Fulshear requires residential pools to be enclosed by a non-climbable barrier at least 48 inches high with self-closing, self-latching gates.

Fulshear requires a building permit for any swimming pool capable of holding 24 inches or more of water before construction begins.

Fulshear pool installations must include GFCI-protected outlets, proper bonding, and may not discharge pool water to streets or storm drains.

Fulshear regulates accessory dwelling units through its Coordinated Development Ordinance, requiring permits, zoning compliance, and conformance with district setback and lot coverage standards before construction or occupancy.

Fulshear requires building permits for accessory storage sheds and enforces zoning setbacks under its Coordinated Development Ordinance and adopted 2015 International Residential Code provisions.

Fulshear treats carports as accessory structures requiring permits, setback compliance, and zoning review under the Coordinated Development Ordinance before installation.

Fulshear requires building permits and inspections for converting garages into living space, with parking, egress, and code compliance reviewed by Building Services before occupancy.

Fulshear Ordinance 2025-1505 protects local waterways by regulating how residents drain pools and spas and prohibiting discharges to the sanitary sewer.

Fulshear requires permits for grading, drainage, and site work under its Construction Standards chapter, with city engineering review for lot drainage and infrastructure.

Fulshear regulates development in FEMA-designated special flood hazard areas using Fort Bend County FIRMs effective January 29, 2021, requiring permits for any work in floodplains.

Fulshear requires building and electrical permits through Building Services before residential rooftop solar photovoltaic systems can be installed, inspected, and connected.

Fulshear prohibits posting garage sale signs on utility poles, lampposts, shade trees, public structures, medians, or any city right-of-way, even though residential garage sales themselves are allowed.

Fulshear allows temporary political signs on private property but caps display duration at 90 days and prohibits placement in public rights-of-way, on utility poles, or on city property.

Fulshear residents must use the GFL-provided 95-gallon carts and place them at the curb by 7:00 AM on Wednesday collection day.

Fulshear has adopted the 2015 International Property Maintenance Code and enforces violations through its Code Compliance Division.

Fulshear prohibits posting garage sale signs on utility poles, lamp posts, trees, public structures, or in city rights-of-way and medians.

Fulshear's Coordinated Development Ordinance Division III-5 sets outdoor lighting standards for new development, requiring shielded fixtures and limits on glare for non-residential and multifamily sites.

Fulshear's Coordinated Development Ordinance limits light trespass onto adjoining properties through fixture shielding, cutoff requirements, and site-design rules administered by Development Services.

Fulshear provides each utility customer a 95-gallon single-stream recycling cart serviced weekly on Wednesdays, with accepted materials restricted to clean paper, cardboard, plastics, and metals.

Fulshear residents may set bulk items out next to their cart on Wednesday; oversized items receive a GFL yellow tag with arranged pickup instructions for the household.

Fulshear Ordinance 2023-1409 requires every utility customer to pay for solid waste service through GFL Environmental, with weekly Wednesday collection between 7 AM and 7 PM.

Fulshear residents must place 95-gallon GFL carts at the curb by 7:00 AM on Wednesday collection day, with carts kept clear of obstructions for the automated truck arm.

Mobile food vendors operating in Fulshear must hold a Fort Bend County health permit and comply with city peddler, zoning, and event-vending requirements.

Fulshear requires every person engaged in door-to-door commercial solicitation, peddling, or canvassing within city limits to obtain a city-issued solicitation permit before approaching residences.

Fulshear's site development regulations establish minimum front, side, and rear yard setbacks for structures, with specific dimensions tied to the underlying zoning district and approved subdivision plat for each property.

Fulshear prohibits posting garage sale signs on utility poles, public structures, trees, and city right-of-way under its sign code.

Fulshear limits each garage sale to three consecutive days under city code enforced by code compliance staff.