Local Rules Near Downtown Fort Worth

Fort Worth caps when aircraft engine run-ups can happen at its airports: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday. Running an engine outside those hours, or off a designated run-up spot, is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500 fine.

Fort Worth does not impose a dedicated leaf blower ordinance. Gas and electric blowers are allowed, but operation must stay within citywide noise and construction-hour limits under Chapter 23 of the City Code.

Fort Worth City Code Sec. 23-8 restricts construction noise that disturbs neighboring properties, with heavy equipment such as pile drivers prohibited between 10 PM and 7 AM. Standard residential noise limits resume at 10 PM, effectively capping most construction at that hour.

Fort Worth's noise ordinance, City Code Section 23-8, makes it unlawful to run a vehicle so out of repair or loaded that it creates loud grating, grinding or rattling noise, or to sound a horn except as a danger or warning signal.

Fort Worth City Code Chapter 23 sets numeric decibel limits at residential property lines, generally 65 dB(A) during the day and 58 dB(A) at night, measured from the receiving property.

Outdoor music in Fort Worth must stay within Chapter 23 decibel limits and end by 10:00 PM Sunday through Thursday and midnight on Friday and Saturday unless a special event permit is obtained.

Fort Worth Sec. 23-8 (Ord. 24752-03-2021) sets quiet hours 10 PM-7 AM. Residential: 70 dBA daytime, 60 dBA nighttime. Central Business/Trinity Uptown: extended to 2 AM (80 dBA). Where ambient exceeds limits, ambient +3 dBA applies. Measurement from complainant's property line.

Fort Worth Sec. 23-8 and Sec. 6-12 make it unlawful to keep dogs or roosters creating bark, cry, crow, or other sound on frequent, repetitive, or continuous basis for 10 minutes or longer. No decibel meter required. Up to $500 fine.

Fort Worth charges a 9% Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) on stays under 30 days (7% city tax plus 2% special venue district tax). STR registration costs $150 initial and $100 annual renewal under Ordinance 26005-02-2023. State HOT of 6% applies separately.

Fort Worth caps short-term rental occupancy at two guests per bedroom plus two additional, with a firm maximum often set at 10 guests per property regardless of bedroom count.

Fort Worth's short-term rental ordinance (Ord. 26005-02-2023, codified as Article XIII of the registration chapter) requires operators to carry liability insurance and provide proof to the city as part of registration.

Fort Worth STRs must provide off-street parking equal to the number of bedrooms, and overflow onto neighboring streets is a common trigger for complaints and enforcement.

Fort Worth requires every short-term rental to be registered with the City under Code of Ordinances Chapter 7, Article XIII (Short-Term Rental Registration), adopted February 14, 2023. Initial registration is $150 with a $100 annual renewal. STRs are prohibited in residential zoning districts and only permitted in mixed-use, form-based, commercial, and industrial zones. Operating in a residential zone is a citable Class C misdemeanor.

Fort Worth's short-term rental ordinance sets no separate decibel or curfew number of its own. Instead it makes it unlawful for an STR owner or occupant to violate the city's general noise ordinance under Chapter 23-8, folds noise limits into the mandatory guest "host rules" notice, and treats repeat noise citations as grounds to revoke the STR registration.

Fort Worth's Fire Code amendments require an operational permit for LP-gas storage and use citywide under City Code § 13-2, which amends IFC § 105.5.29. Homes are exempt up to 500 gallons of aggregate container capacity, and temporary containers of 125 gallons or less never need a permit.

Open burning of yard waste is prohibited inside Fort Worth city limits, but contained recreational fires in approved pits under three feet across and using clean wood are allowed.

Fort Worth bans burning combustibles like grass, weeds, rubbish and leaves on any street, alley, lot or premises, including bonfires and ceremonial fires, under Fire Code § 307.1 as amended by City Code § 13-2. Cooking or heating fires in a manufacturer-approved device using only seasoned wood or charcoal, and permitted trench burns, are the only exceptions.

Fort Worth requires working smoke alarms in every sleeping area and on every floor under the adopted International Fire Code and Texas Property Code Section 92.251 for rentals.

Fort Worth caps passenger loading zones at five minutes and bars unpermitted commercial vehicles from marked commercial loading zones entirely. Both rules run daily from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except Sundays and city-designated exceptions, and are enforced as civil parking offenses citywide.

Fort Worth bars parking in front of a driveway, within 15 feet of a fire hydrant or 20 feet of a crosswalk, and requires every parked car's curbside wheels within 18 inches of the curb, headed with the flow of traffic. Enforcement runs through Chapter 10's civil parking-violation process.

Fort Worth Sec. 22-159 defines abandoned vehicles as stored on public street 5+ days at same location. Abandoned Vehicle Enforcement (AVE) unit stickers with warning. On private property: Code Compliance 817-392-1234. Police non-emergency: 817-335-4222.

Fort Worth does not impose a citywide overnight street parking ban. Most residential streets allow overnight parking, but oversized vehicles, RVs, and commercial vehicles face restrictions.

Fort Worth bans parking a boat, trailer, motorhome, camper or other vehicle in the front or side yard of one-family and two-family zoned property unless it sits on a hard-surfaced or curbed driveway or is screened by a six-foot fence. Large RVs and boat trailers over 26 feet face extra city-code limits.

Fort Worth Sec. 22-162.2 bans commercial vehicles over 15,000 lbs GVW or 15+ passengers on residential streets (loading/unloading excepted). Max 2 hours on non-residential streets. Sec. 22-162 prohibits them in front, side, or rear yards of residential zones.

Fort Worth exempts retaining walls up to four feet tall, measured footing to top, from a building permit, unless the wall holds back a surcharge or Class I-III-A liquids. Anything taller needs a permit with plans sealed by a Texas-licensed engineer, and wood walls over four feet must use new, properly treated lumber.

Fort Worth Zoning Sec. 5.305 limits front-yard fences to open designs with at least 50% transparency, effectively barring solid wood, masonry, or vinyl panels in the front yard of one- and two-family lots. Barbed wire and electric fences are restricted in residential districts.

Fort Worth has no city ordinance requiring neighbors to share fence costs or notify each other before building. The city only enforces fence height, location, and material standards under zoning Sec. 5.305. Cost-sharing is a private civil matter.

Fort Worth Zoning Ordinance §5.305 caps residential front-yard fences at 4 feet with open design (max 50% density), and behind the front building line allows solid fences up to 7 feet and open fences up to 8 feet without a permit. Corner-lot sight triangles cap fences at 2 feet within a 20-foot triangle, and the Texas Local Government Code Chapter 211 authorizes the city's zoning enforcement.

Fort Worth exempts most residential fences from a building permit, but only up to a specific height: the Building Administrative Code excuses fences seven feet or shorter, and open wire fences without slats up to eight feet, from permit review. Taller fences, and any fence classified as a required barrier under the Electrical Code, need a permit before installation.

Fort Worth requires every dog and cat to be implanted with a registered microchip before it turns four months old, unless the owner instead buys and displays a city dog/cat license. Owners must also keep the microchip's contact registration current, updating it within 30 days of any address, phone or ownership change.

Fort Worth zoning splits veterinary clinics by district: in commercial zones under § 5.142 the whole operation, kennels included, must run inside a soundproofed, air-conditioned building with no animals ever kept outside; in industrial zones outdoor kennels are allowed but must sit at least 100 feet from any residential use.

Fort Worth Animal Care and Control investigates suspected hoarding under City Code Chapter 6 and Texas Penal Code 42.092. Officers may seize neglected animals, file misdemeanor or felony charges, and seek court-ordered relinquishment of all animals.

Fort Worth City Code Chapter 6 requires dogs and cats over six months old to be spayed or neutered unless the owner obtains an annual intact-animal permit from Animal Care and Control. The rule aims to reduce shelter intake and euthanasia citywide.

Fort Worth does not restrict dogs by breed. Instead, City Code §§ 6-14.1 through 6-15.8 use behavior, not breed, to declare a dog 'aggressive' or 'dangerous' after an unprovoked bite or attack. A dangerous-dog owner must register the dog for $500 a year, carry $100,000 in liability coverage, muzzle it off-property, and post warning signs.

Fort Worth Code Sec. 11A-22 allows fowl on residential property with caps tied to lot size: 12 fowl (max two roosters) on lots up to 1/2 acre, 25 fowl over 1/2 acre but under 1 acre, and 50 fowl on 1+ acre lots. Coops must be at least 50 feet from any neighbor's residence.

Fort Worth City Code Chapter 6 regulates pet shops through licensing, sourcing disclosure, and humane handling standards. Unlike Dallas, Fort Worth has not adopted a strict shelter-only sourcing ban for retail dogs and cats as of 2026.

Fort Worth City Code Chapter 6 requires cats over four months old to be registered with Animal Care and Control and vaccinated against rabies. Owners must keep proof of current vaccination, and feral colony caretakers may participate in trap-neuter-return programs.

Fort Worth allows beekeeping on residential property under Chapter 6 of the Code. If hive entrances are perpendicular to and within 25 feet of a property line, the keeper must install a solid 6-foot-tall wall, fence, or hedge between the hives and the property line as a flyway barrier.

Fort Worth Sec. 6-62 prohibits dangerous animals and TX HSC §822.102 Dangerous Wild Animals (lions, tigers, bears, primates, etc.). Exemptions for zoos, circuses, educational institutions, licensed labs, and wildlife rehabilitators. Miniature swine addressed separately.

Fort Worth requires every dog and cat owner to keep the animal under restraint at all times, either on a leash or inside an adequate, code-compliant enclosure. Chaining a dog to a stake, tree or trolley line is banned outright. Violations are a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $2,000, charged separately for each dog involved.

Fort Worth limits sprinkler and irrigation-system watering to two designated days a week tied to street address, and bans watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. year-round. Hand watering, drip irrigation, soaker hoses and tree bubblers are exempt and allowed any day, any time.

Fort Worth allows artificial turf in residential front and backyards with no permit required, though HOAs may impose reasonable quality and appearance standards.

Fort Worth's park and recreation department controls all trimming, pruning and removal of trees on city streets, alleys and public grounds, and can even enter private property to deal with a diseased or dangerous tree. A permit from the city forester is required before anyone else prunes, plants or removes a tree on public property.

Fort Worth allows and encourages native xeriscape landscaping, and Texas Property Code Section 202.007 prevents HOAs from prohibiting drought-resistant plants and water-conserving turf.

Fort Worth City Code declares any property where weeds or grass exceed 12 inches a nuisance. Owners must cut it, including the adjacent parkway; the city abates after notice and bills the owner.

Fort Worth Zoning Ordinance § 6.302 requires developers to preserve significant trees, replant trees removed during development, and meet minimum canopy targets toward a citywide 30% goal, enforced through urban forestry plans and permits by the Development Services Department.

Rainwater harvesting is encouraged in Fort Worth and specifically protected from HOA restriction by Texas Property Code Section 202.007, with no city permit required for typical residential systems.

Fort Worth allows home occupations by right inside a dwelling, garage or one accessory building under Zoning Ordinance § 5.116.A, but caps them tightly: the business must stay invisible from the street, employees plus customers can't exceed the dwelling's permitted occupancy, and any structural change to fit the business is banned outside accessibility work.

Fort Worth Zoning Sec. 5.116.A prohibits exterior signs and any visible evidence of a home occupation from the street. No on-premises commercial signs are allowed for businesses operated from a residential dwelling.

Fort Worth's home-occupation traffic standard bans anything beyond what a normal residential street would see: parking or vehicle traffic that substantially interferes with neighbors' enjoyment of their homes is unreasonable and enforceable. Employees plus customers on-site also can't exceed the dwelling's permitted occupancy under § 5.116.A.

Texas Cottage Food Law allows Fort Worth residents to sell non-potentially-hazardous homemade foods with no city permit, up to $50,000 per year in gross sales with labeling requirements.

Home daycares in Fort Worth must obtain a state HHSC permit and may operate under the home occupation standard in Zoning Sec. 5.116.A. Family Day Homes (caring for 4 or more unrelated children) require a registered or licensed status from Texas HHSC and zoning sign-off from Fort Worth Development Services.

Fort Worth requires a barrier of at least 48 inches around any residential swimming pool, spa, or hot tub under Appendix Q of the adopted 2021 International Residential Code (Fort Worth Construction Code). Openings cannot allow a 4-inch sphere to pass; the gap below the barrier cannot exceed 2 inches; gates must open outward away from the pool and be self-closing and self-latching. Multifamily and HOA-owned pools are additionally subject to Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 757.

Above-ground pools in Fort Worth are treated as residential pools under Chapter 7 and 2021 IRC Appendix Q. A building permit is required when the pool exceeds 24 inches in water depth or contains 5,000+ gallons, and barrier and ladder-removal rules apply.

Fort Worth lets homeowners build a habitable accessory structure, a garage apartment or casita, but Zoning Ordinance § 5.301(c)(3) limits what it can be used for: only as an accessory dwelling unit, never as a separate independent residence in one-family districts. That single sentence is the legal barrier to renting the unit out on its own.

An accessory dwelling unit in Fort Worth is a habitable accessory structure under Zoning Ordinance § 5.301, and it has to clear three hurdles before anyone can move in: the same side and rear setback and lot-coverage limits that apply to every accessory building, the City's building code for habitable space, and a height cap that never exceeds the primary house.

Fort Worth requires a building permit for all sheds regardless of size per the Development Services Department. Sheds must comply with Zoning Ordinance Section 5.301 setback requirements for accessory structures and cannot exceed the height of the primary structure.

Fort Worth zones a built-in outdoor kitchen as an accessory structure under Zoning Ordinance § 5.300, not as furniture you can place anywhere. It must sit outside the required front yard, stay within the accessory-structure size and height caps, and a construction or gas-hookup permit is required under Building Administrative Code § 105.1 before a contractor pours the slab or runs a gas line.

Fort Worth's amended Fire Code bars charcoal and propane grills, and any other open-flame cooking device, from combustible balconies and decks, and from operating within 10 feet of combustible construction, under Section 308.1.4. One- and two-family homes, sprinkler-protected buildings, and small tabletop LP-gas devices are exempt.

Fort Worth bars charcoal and propane grills from combustible balconies and decks, and requires ten feet of clearance from combustible construction, under Fire Code § 308.1.4 as amended by City Code § 13-2. One- and two-family homes are exempt, as are sprinklered balconies and mini LP-gas grills using containers of 2.5 pounds water capacity or less.

Anyone building, enlarging or moving a dock, pier or boathouse on Fort Worth-controlled water, chiefly Lake Worth, needs a permit under Chapter 36 of the Building Administrative Code before work starts. The Lake Worth Management Office reviews plans, the Water Department controls variances on safety-related sections, and a licensed engineer must design the structure to specific wave-action and anchoring load standards.

Fort Worth requires new and substantially improved homes to raise their lowest floor at least two feet above the base flood elevation, not just meet it. The Transportation and Public Works Director enforces the standard through the floodplain development permit.

Fort Worth requires a CFRA Certificate of Compliance, or a full Stormwater Drainage Study for one-acre-plus projects, before anyone builds within a City Flood Risk Area, drainage-prone land upstream of FEMA's mapped floodplains. New structures must reach the design flood elevation, the 100-year flood plus two feet of freeboard, and building permits are denied without approval.

Fort Worth sits inside the Dallas-Fort Worth ozone nonattainment area, so TCEQ Rule 30 TAC 114.512 caps heavy-duty diesel idling at five consecutive minutes. The city has no separate municipal idling ordinance and defers enforcement to TCEQ.

Fort Worth's adopted International Energy Conservation Code, with local amendments, requires reflective roofing or compliant alternatives on most low-slope commercial roofs and sets reflectivity options for residential reroof projects. The provisions support Climate Action Plan heat-island goals.

Fort Worth regulates grading and drainage through the Development Code and the Storm Water Management Design Manual. A grading permit is required for earthwork exceeding specified thresholds. Drainage plans must demonstrate that post-development runoff does not exceed pre-development rates for the 25-year storm event. Fill placement must not redirect drainage onto adjacent properties. The Public Works Department reviews grading plans as part of the development permitting process.

Fort Worth requires a floodplain development permit before any building, fill, or use change in a FEMA-mapped special flood hazard area. The floodplain administrator issues permits under City Code § 7-318; work must start within six months, and new residential structures must sit at least two feet above the base flood elevation. Violators face fines up to $2,000 per day.

Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 481 makes growing any marijuana plant a felony statewide. Fort Worth residents have no legal personal cultivation allowance. Even one plant can support a state jail felony charge regardless of intent or location.

Texas does not permit recreational cannabis dispensaries, so Fort Worth has no cannabis commercial zoning category. Hemp-derived CBD retailers operate under standard Fort Worth zoning rules subject to Texas Agriculture Code Chapter 122 product restrictions.

Solar panel installations in Fort Worth need a standard building/mechanical permit, priced at $59.18 under the city's Table 1-H fee schedule, rather than a separate fire-code construction permit: the city deleted the fire code's specific solar-photovoltaic permit section. The rule sits in the general Building Administrative Code and its local fire code amendments.

Fort Worth caps window signs at 25% of the window area on each building facade, under Zoning Ordinance Section 6.403(f), and lets them go up without a sign permit at all. Signs covering more than 10% of the window area, though, count against the building's total allowed on-premise signage.

Fort Worth limits freeway signs to property immediately adjacent to a designated freeway, under Zoning Ordinance Section 6.409. Height tops out at 25 feet at the right-of-way (up to 35 with setback, or 50 with administrative approval), and the message area is capped at 320 square feet.

Fort Worth Code Chapter 29 regulates temporary signs including garage sale signs. Garage sale signs are generally allowed on private property during the sale but signs placed on public right-of-way, utility poles, or traffic signs are prohibited. Signs in the right-of-way are subject to removal by Code Compliance without notice. Sec. 6.403 of the Zoning Ordinance lists signs not requiring a permit, which includes certain small temporary signs on residential property.

Fort Worth prohibits new off-premise (billboard) signs outright. Electronic changeable copy is allowed only by special exception of the Board of Adjustment, capped at 25% of the sign face, with one message change every 20 seconds and no animation or flashing.

Fort Worth Code Chapter 29 regulates signs but must comply with Texas Election Code Sec. 259.002 which protects the right to display political signs. Property owners may display political signs on their property without a permit. Signs may be placed beginning 90 days before an election and must be removed 10 days after. Texas law prohibits HOAs from restricting political signs during the permitted period. Fort Worth's sign ordinance exempts political signs from most size and permit requirements on residential property.

Fort Worth does not heavily regulate seasonal or holiday displays on residential property. Holiday decorations and displays are generally considered temporary and exempt from the sign permit requirements under Chapter 29 and Sec. 6.403 of the Zoning Ordinance. Displays must not obstruct public sidewalks or rights-of-way and should not create traffic hazards. HOAs in Texas may impose reasonable guidelines on holiday decorations but cannot impose outright bans under general reasonableness standards.

Fort Worth requires owners of vacant lots to maintain their property. Chapter 10 of the Code of Ordinances requires that vacant lots be kept free of high weeds (over 12 inches), accumulated trash, debris, and standing water. The city can mow or clean vacant lots after providing notice to the owner and place a lien on the property for the cost of abatement. Code Compliance conducts proactive sweeps of vacant lots in targeted neighborhoods through the Neighborhood Improvement Program.

Fort Worth aggressively enforces property maintenance standards through Code Compliance. Chapter 10 of the Code of Ordinances (Housing Standards) and Chapter 7½ (Building Standards) address substandard buildings and property blight. Properties with accumulated rubbish, junk vehicles, tall weeds, or deteriorated structures can be cited. The Building Standards Commission holds hearings on substandard properties and can order repairs, demolition, or impose liens. Fort Worth's Neighborhood Improvement Program targets blighted areas with concentrated enforcement.

Fort Worth's Sign Code bars any sign, including billboards, from being lit to an intensity that causes glare or impairs vision. Lighting must be shielded upward so beams do not hit roadways or homes, per Fort Worth Sign Code Section 4.03.1(g).

Fort Worth doesn't cap ordinary yard or porch lighting citywide, but its zoning ordinance regulates light spilling onto homes from big-box stores: § 5.134(b)(8) caps bufferyard lighting at one foot-candle at ground level and forces light poles within 140 feet of residential property down to 20 feet, shielded away from the homes.

Fort Worth has NO local just-cause eviction ordinance. Texas is a no-cause termination state under Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001: a month-to-month tenancy may be ended by either party on 30 days' written notice without stating a reason. Fixed-term leases may be terminated for breach under Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 24.

Fort Worth's minimum building standards code makes owners and landlords responsible for keeping every rental in livable condition, covering structural soundness, working plumbing and hot water, electrical safety, and floor-area minimums for bedrooms, regardless of when the building was built.

Texas allows Fort Worth landlords to end fixed-term leases at expiration and to terminate month-to-month tenancies with at least 30 days written notice for any lawful reason. Fort Worth has no just-cause requirement and no ordinance restricting end-of-lease nonrenewal.

Unlike Dallas and Austin, Fort Worth has not amended its Human Relations ordinance to prohibit housing discrimination based on lawful source of income. Landlords may legally refuse Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers in Fort Worth, with no Texas state protection either.

Fort Worth does not require a general rental property registration or licensing program. Unlike some Texas cities, Fort Worth does not mandate that landlords register residential rental properties with the city. Rental properties must comply with the Building Code and Housing Standards under Chapter 10. Code Compliance can inspect rental properties in response to complaints about substandard conditions. The city's Rental Property Crime Reduction Program works with landlords in high-crime areas on a voluntary basis.

Fort Worth has no comprehensive tenant anti-harassment ordinance. Tenants rely on Texas Property Code Section 92.331 retaliation rules and Section 92.0081 lockout protections, plus federal Fair Housing Act and Fort Worth's Human Relations ordinance for harassment based on protected characteristics.

Texas Property Code Sections 92.101 through 92.110 set statewide security-deposit rules. Fort Worth landlords must return the deposit within 30 days of move-out with an itemized list of deductions. The city has not adopted stricter local limits; state law preempts most local deposit regulation.

Texas has no statewide tenant relocation assistance statute, and Fort Worth has not adopted a relocation-payment ordinance. Tenants displaced by no-fault terminations or condemnation receive no city-mandated payment, though the federal Uniform Relocation Act may apply when federal funds are involved.

Fort Worth requires every commercial waste container, the dumpster used for business and multifamily garbage, to be emptied at least once every seven days, kept mechanically sound, and positioned so its lids and doors are never blocked. Code compliance and environmental staff can order more frequent pickups.

Fort Worth requires yard trimmings to go out in kraft paper bags or an optional yard-trimmings cart, never plastic, under City Code § 12.5-823. Small bundled brush tied with twine is unlimited, but loose brush piles are capped at ten cubic yards per household per collection day under § 12.5-823.5.

Fort Worth requires owners and occupants of single-family homes, duplexes, garage apartments and occupied mobile homes to use the city's household collection service under City Code § 12.5-821. Residents may haul their own waste instead, but the code specifically denies them any billing credit for doing so. Larger multifamily buildings, certain mobile home parks and approved private communities can opt out.

Landlords of Fort Worth multifamily complexes with eight or more units must file and carry out a written recycling plan under City Code § 7-411(c), spelling out materials collected, container placement and hauler pickup frequency. Skipping the plan is a misdemeanor citywide under the multifamily article's enforcement section, punishable up to $2,000 with each day counted separately.

Fort Worth Code § 16-294 makes it a criminal offense to deposit or discharge solid waste, dead animals, foul water, or noxious liquid waste onto any public or private property; both the police department and the Department of Public Health enforce it.

Fort Worth requires carts to hit the curb no earlier than 6:00 p.m. the night before pickup and no later than 7:00 a.m. on collection day, then come back in by midnight, under City Code § 12.5-825. Carts need two feet of clearance on each side and a half foot to the rear from meters, hydrants and trees.

Fort Worth collects garbage and recycling weekly on the same day, with bulk waste monthly. Find your day with the city's Garbage & Recycling app or lookup tool. Only Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day push collection one day later.

Fort Worth runs its curbside recycling program to help meet the state-mandated 40% recycling goal under City Code § 12.5-824. Recyclables must go only in city-issued recycling carts, and only approved paper, metal, glass and #1-7 plastic items qualify; the director can add or drop accepted materials as recycling markets change.

Fort Worth provides scheduled bulk trash collection for large items that do not fit in the standard cart. Bulk collection is available on a scheduled basis: residents can schedule a pickup through the city's 311 system or the myFW app. Accepted items include furniture, appliances (with Freon removed), mattresses, and large household items. Construction debris, tires, and hazardous materials are not accepted for bulk pickup. The city also operates the Environmental Collection Center for drop-off disposal.

Recreational drone use in Fort Worth is primarily governed by FAA regulations under 14 CFR Part 107 and the Exception for Recreational Flyers (49 USC 44809). Fort Worth does not have a standalone municipal drone ordinance but restricts drone operations in city parks and near city facilities. Recreational pilots must follow the FAA TRUST (The Recreational UAS Safety Test) requirement, fly below 400 feet AGL, maintain visual line of sight, and avoid flying over people and moving vehicles. Fort Worth is near restricted airspace including NAS JRB Fort Worth (Carswell Field).

Fort Worth requires every mobile food unit to hold a valid Food Establishment permit from the Environmental Services Department and to operate from an approved Central Preparation Facility, reporting there at least once a day to clean and service the unit.

Fort Worth requires mobile food vendors to obtain a Mobile Food Unit permit from the Fort Worth/Tarrant County Health Department. Operators must also have a valid Texas sales tax permit and meet all Tarrant County food safety requirements including passing a health inspection. Chapter 18 of the Fort Worth Code of Ordinances regulates peddlers and vendors. Food trucks must operate from approved locations and comply with the city's zoning requirements for mobile vending. Annual permit renewal and routine inspections are required.

Fort Worth restricts where mobile food vendors can set up: no operating within 50 feet of single-family or multifamily homes, no parking on vacant lots or unimproved surfaces, and no selling from public streets or sidewalks under the zoning ordinance.

Fort Worth bars door-to-door vendors from any residence or business posting a 'No Soliciting' or 'No Trespassing' sign, or from returning after a verbal no. Solicitation is also barred before 9 a.m. and after 7 p.m. (8 p.m. during Daylight Saving Time) under City Code § 20-145, unless the occupant asked for the visit.

Fort Worth requires every door-to-door vendor, anyone going house to house selling goods or services, to register with the city and carry a registration certificate before knocking on a single door. Registration is free, but vendors must disclose their vehicle, ID and what they're selling under City Code § 20-143 and § 20-144.

Fort Worth parks, recreation areas, and community centers close to the public overnight. Section 24-8 sets default hours of 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and entering or remaining in a park during closed hours, in a restricted area, or during a seasonal closure without a permit is a misdemeanor.

In Fort Worth's One-Family ("A-7.5") zoning district, the most common single-family classification, buildings and structures cannot cover more than 45% of the lot. The cap applies alongside a 7,500-square-foot minimum lot size and controls how much of a standard suburban lot a house, garage and accessory buildings can occupy together.

Fort Worth's One-Family ("A-7.5") zoning district requires a front yard of 20 feet on local streets (15 feet on limited local streets), a 5-foot minimum rear yard, and 5-foot interior side yards with 10 feet on the street side of a corner lot. These are the baseline setbacks for the city's most common single-family lot size.

Fort Worth caps building height at 35 feet in the One-Family ("A-7.5") zoning district, the city's most common single-family classification. A citywide height rule also lets a builder exceed that limit by adding one extra foot of yard setback for every foot over the cap.

In Fort Worth, trees growing in the parkway between the sidewalk and curb are city property under Chapter 33, and it is unlawful to plant, prune, remove, paint or spray any tree, plant or shrub on a public street or public place without a permit from the city forester. The Park and Recreation Department supervises all street trees under City Code §§ 33-1 through 33-7.

Fort Worth requires a permit from the urban forestry administrator before removing a Table B protected tree once it reaches 24 inches in diameter, or 18 inches for post oak and blackjack oak, under Zoning Ordinance Section 6.302(g)(5). Removal is allowed only through one of four listed mitigation paths.

Fort Worth limits the frequency of garage sales to prevent residential properties from operating as commercial retail operations. While the city does not specify an exact number of sales per year in a single ordinance section, frequent or continuous sales at the same address trigger enforcement as an unlicensed commercial activity. Generally, two to four garage sales per year is considered reasonable. Code Compliance may investigate properties with frequent sales based on neighbor complaints.

A Fort Worth HOA can fine an owner only after certified-mail notice and a chance to cure, and Texas Property Code Chapter 209 bars it from foreclosing on a lien built solely from fines.

TX Property Code Sec. 209.006 requires HOAs to send certified mail notice before enforcement actions including fines, suspension of common area rights, or lawsuits. Notice must describe the violation, state amounts due, provide a cure period for curable violations, and inform the owner of their right to a Sec. 209.007 hearing.

TX Property Code Sec. 209.0051 requires HOA board meetings to be open to all members. Regular meetings need 144-hour (6-day) notice; special meetings need 72-hour (3-day) notice. Board elections must occur at open meetings with prior notice. Secret ballots required for contested races. Minutes must be kept for all meetings.

Texas Property Code Chapter 209 governs Fort Worth HOA architectural review, requiring written standards, notice of denial, and a hearing right before enforcement.

TX Property Code Sec. 209.0062-209.0064 require HOAs to offer payment plans of at least 3 months for delinquent assessments. Before foreclosure, the HOA must send certified mail notice with amount owed, 30-day cure period, and right to a hearing. HOAs cannot foreclose on liens consisting solely of fines or attorney fees.

TX Property Code Sec. 209.007 entitles HOA members to a hearing before the board to resolve disputes. The board must hold hearings within 30 days of a written request and provide 10 days' notice. Either party may request one postponement of up to 10 days. Sec. 209.00593 allows owners to use alternative dispute resolution including mediation.

Fort Worth requires a building permit before any electrical system is installed, altered, repaired, removed, converted or replaced, under Building Administrative Code § 105.1. The city's electrical code is the 2023 National Electrical Code, adopted by City Code § 11-1. Ten narrow electrical tasks are permit-exempt, and permit-tied electrical inspections expire after just 30 days.

Fort Worth landlords must equip every leased dwelling with a keyed dead bolt or doorknob lock plus a keyless bolting device and door viewer on each exterior door, all installed at the landlord's expense within set height and throw specifications.

Fort Worth's amended Fire Code requires carbon monoxide alarms in every rented or leased dwelling unit where CO detection applies under Section 915, and in every Group E school classroom under Section 915.2.3. Landlords install and initially test CO alarms before occupancy, and the property owner must replace any unit that fails or signals end-of-life.

Fort Worth regulates plumbing work under Chapter 26 of the City Code, which adopts the 2021 International Plumbing Code and 2021 International Fuel Gas Code with local amendments. Anyone doing plumbing work in the city, including a plumber holding a city plumbing permit, must comply with these adopted codes and the Fort Worth Building Administrative Code.

Fort Worth's Building Administrative Code sets the minimum inspection stages a project must pass, footing, slab, framing, energy efficiency, parkway and final, before the Building Official signs off. Work covered up before its required inspection is treated as an unsafe structure, and covering it before approval is a code violation in its own right.

Fort Worth implements green-building policy primarily through adopted IECC energy code amendments and Climate Action Plan benchmarks rather than a free-standing mandatory green-building ordinance. City facilities pursue LEED certification, and incentives encourage private green construction.

Fort Worth childcare centers must meet Texas Health and Human Services Commission licensing standards under 26 TAC Chapter 744 and pass local building, fire, and zoning approvals. Family home daycares face lighter zoning requirements but still need HHSC permits.

Fort Worth's building code requires fire sprinklers in commercial occupancies based on IBC Chapter 9 thresholds. Single-family homes use the IRC R313 default which Texas allows local jurisdictions to opt out of, and Fort Worth has not generally mandated sprinklers in detached homes.

Texas TDLR regulates all elevators, escalators, and related equipment statewide under TX Health & Safety Code Ch. 754. Annual inspections are mandatory. Building owners must obtain a Certificate of Compliance for each elevator and post it conspicuously. Inspections follow ASME A17.1 Safety Code. Fort Worth building code (Ord. 25382) adopts IBC Chapter 30 elevator provisions.

Fort Worth requires a building permit for decks over 6 inches above grade. Concrete patios at grade level generally do not require permits. Covered patios and attached decks always require permits with plans showing structural details.

Fort Worth requires a special event permit from the outdoor events manager before anyone can hold a street fair, festival or similar outdoor event in the city. Applications must be filed 60 to 210 days ahead depending on location and expected attendance, pay a nonrefundable fee, and include a site plan, noise mitigation plan and insurance.

Fort Worth requires a parade permit from the outdoor events manager before any group can march city streets; sidewalks need none. Applications follow the same 60-to-210-day tiered deadlines as special events, and the city can deny a permit if the parade would endanger public safety or overwhelm police and fire resources.

Fort Worth requires a sidewalk café permit from the director of planning and development before any restaurant can serve food or drinks on the adjoining public sidewalk. Cafés must preserve at least 8 feet of clear pedestrian walkway, carry $500,000 in liability insurance, and operate only during the attached restaurant's normal hours.

Fort Worth Outdoor Events Ordinance No. 1925-08-2010 requires neighborhood events to obtain a permit from the Office of Outdoor Events. At least 50% plus one of affected street residents must sign a petition. Petition filed 15-60 days before event. Events with 500+ attendance are treated as Special Events with additional fees. Barricades must be staffed by adults 18+.

Fort Worth Parks & Recreation requires permits for events in city parks. Sec. 20-405 requires permits for outdoor gatherings on public property with 500+ attendees, street closures, food/beverage sales, or use of tents, stages, fireworks, or portable toilets. Applications required 60-210 days in advance depending on size and location.

Fort Worth requires an Encroachment Permit before anyone occupies city street, alley or sidewalk space, whether for a construction fence or a permanent building projection. Temporary uses need a Building Official permit backed by liability insurance; permanent encroachments need a Development Services agreement, with the largest 'Tier III' projects going to City Council. Chapter 32 of the Building Administrative Code, adopted at City Code § 7-1, sets the tiers, fees and setbacks.

Fort Worth City Code Section 30-1 declares a defective, unsafe or hazardous sidewalk a nuisance and puts the repair duty on the abutting property owner, agent or tenant, giving 30 days from written notice before failure to repair becomes a misdemeanor.

Fort Worth lets bars, restaurants and music venues in the CBD, Panther Island and West 7th Village run louder and later than anywhere else in the city. Under City Code § 23-8(c)(1)c, the 80 dBA daytime ceiling that applies Sunday through Thursday extends until 2:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights before dropping to a 70 dBA overnight cap.

Fort Worth's noise ordinance carves HVAC and building-maintenance sound out of every limit it sets. Section 23-8(e)(1) exempts noise from normal building conditioning and ventilation and from property maintenance, so a compressor, rooftop unit or furnace running at any hour cannot support a citation under the decibel or nuisance standards that otherwise govern the rest of § 23-8.

Fort Worth requires every apartment landlord to register each multifamily complex annually with Code Compliance and submit to periodic city inspections at least once every two years. Knowingly operating an unregistered complex is a criminal offense.

Fort Worth's Code Compliance Department has authority under City Code § 11A-6 to enforce eight named categories: minimum building standards, multifamily dwelling registration/inspection, solid waste and recycling, front and side yard vehicle parking, oversize vehicle parking, junked vehicles, zoning, and the Chapter 11A nuisance provisions themselves.

Fort Worth gives a property owner seven days from receiving a nuisance abatement notice to fix the problem before the city can enter, do the work, and bill the owner. Notice by mail counts as received three days after mailing; posted notice, ten days after posting.

Fort Worth's Urban Forestry Ordinance places Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) on Table A, the 'unprotected tree species' list, under Zoning Ordinance Section 6.302(n). Unlike the protected trees in Table B, it earns no preservation credit, does not trigger the 24-inch significant-tree removal permit, and does not count toward required canopy planting.

Fort Worth allows front yard vegetable gardens. Texas HB 1643 (2023) prohibits HOAs from banning vegetable gardens, and city code does not restrict edible plants in residential front yards. Gardens must be maintained and not create a nuisance.

Fort Worth follows the Texas Department of Agriculture's noxious weed list under Texas Agriculture Code Chapter 71. Prohibited species include giant salvinia, water hyacinth, and several thistle species. The city also discourages invasive species like Chinese tallow and ligustrum.

Fort Worth does not have a specific ordinance banning or restricting bamboo planting. However, bamboo that spreads onto neighboring properties or public rights-of-way may trigger nuisance complaints under Chapter 11 property maintenance codes.

Fort Worth has no specific ordinance regulating residential security cameras. Texas law permits recording video on your own property and in public areas. Cameras must not record areas where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy (TX Penal Code §21.15).

Texas is a one-party consent state for audio recording (TX Penal Code §16.02). Video recording in public is legal. Recording private conversations without consent of at least one party is a felony. Doorbell cameras and dashcams are legal.

Texas allows permitless open carry of handguns in shoulder or belt holsters for adults 21 and older. Fort Worth cannot restrict open carry beyond state law except on city property and posted private property.

Texas House Bill 1927 allows most adults 21 and older to carry handguns concealed without a permit. Fort Worth follows state rules; the License to Carry under Texas Government Code Chapter 411 remains available for reciprocity benefits.

Texas Penal Code Section 46.02 allows lawful adults to carry handguns in private vehicles or watercraft if not in plain view, gang-related, or possessed by a prohibited person. Fort Worth cannot impose additional vehicle restrictions.

Texas House Bill 1771 and Health and Safety Code provisions preempt cities from banning the sale of flavored tobacco or e-cigarette products. Fort Worth cannot adopt menthol or flavored vape prohibitions enforced by other states or cities.

Federal Tobacco 21 law and Texas Health and Safety Code Section 161.082 prohibit selling tobacco, e-cigarettes, or vape products to anyone under 21. Fort Worth enforces compliance through Code Compliance and undercover sting operations.

Texas Health and Safety Code Section 361.0961 preempts municipal regulation of foam food containers as solid waste. Fort Worth has no polystyrene ban and cannot lawfully prohibit expanded polystyrene cups, plates, or takeout containers.

Texas state law preempts local regulation of single-use food service items including plastic straws. Fort Worth has no straw ban or upon-request rule; restaurants distribute plastic straws freely without local penalties or fees.

Texas Labor Code Chapter 62 reserves minimum-wage authority to the state and ties Texas to the federal $7.25 floor. Fort Worth cannot enact a higher city minimum, so federal Fair Labor Standards Act rules govern private employers operating in the city.

Fort Worth's Agricultural ("AG") zoning district lets landowners keep farming, ranching, orchards and nurseries indefinitely, with one-family homes allowed only as accessories to the operation. It is the default classification the city applies whenever a parcel's zoning is unclear or was never assigned after annexation.

Texas Agriculture Code Chapter 251 protects farms operating one year or longer from nuisance suits based on changed surrounding conditions. The state shield applies in Fort Worth but mostly affects edge-of-city and Tarrant County agricultural parcels facing residential encroachment.

Texas SB 4 (2017), codified in Government Code Chapter 752, prohibits any Texas city from adopting sanctuary policies. Fort Worth is not a sanctuary city; police must honor ICE detainers and may inquire about immigration status during lawful stops, detentions, or arrests.

Fort Worth bans unauthorized camping on private property citywide. Section 23-21 makes it a misdemeanor, punishable by up to a $500 fine, to camp on residential or non-residential private property, in a vehicle, tent, or any other form of transitory shelter, without the property owner's written authorization.

Fort Worth does not ban sitting or lying on sidewalks outright. Under City Code § 30-5, blocking a street or sidewalk becomes unlawful only when a group refuses a police officer's order to move on or disperse.

Rideshare and other for-hire vehicles picking up or dropping off in Fort Worth must use marked passenger loading zones and cannot stop, stand or park there longer than five minutes, or leave a vehicle unattended at all. The traffic engineer designates and signs these curb zones under Chapter 22.

Fort Worth treats bicycles as vehicles under Chapter 22 traffic rules and Texas Transportation Code Chapter 551. The Fort Worth Active Transportation Plan expands striped, buffered, and protected bike lanes; motor vehicles must yield within marked bike lanes.

Fort Worth's zoning ordinance defines 'data center' as its own land use and permits it by right only in the city's three industrial districts: Light Industrial (I), Medium Industrial (J) and Heavy Industrial (K). Every commercial, special-purpose and residential district leaves the use blank, meaning it is not allowed there without a case-by-case determination.

Fort Worth sells treated wastewater as reclaimed water only inside its designated service area and only under a signed reclaimed water service agreement approved by the water department director. Section 35-182 limits use to seven listed purposes, mainly landscape irrigation, non-food industrial process, nonresidential flushing, construction and vehicle washing, and bars any other use, resale or discharge without written approval.

Fort Worth Water Department offers conservation rebates that can include turf reduction, irrigation upgrades, and rain barrels for residential customers. The voluntary program supports the Climate Action Plan and complements year-round watering rules.

Fort Worth City Code § 35-26 defines wasting water as strictly prohibited and requires property owners to repair any leak in a private plumbing or irrigation system within five working days of discovering or being notified of it.

Fort Worth requires a certificate of appropriateness before any new construction, expansion, or exterior renovation inside the Urban Design District-Downtown zoning overlay. The downtown design review board enforces the Downtown Urban Design Standards and Guidelines, which the city council adopted into the zoning ordinance by reference under Appendix A, Section 4.402.

Fort Worth land use is governed by the Zoning Ordinance in Appendix A of the City Code, paired with the annually updated Comprehensive Plan. Form-based districts and overlay zones tailor standards in places like the Stockyards, Near Southside, and downtown.

Texas Food Handler Education Act requires anyone who handles unpackaged food to complete an accredited food handler training course within sixty days of hire. Fort Worth restaurants must keep certificates on file for inspection by Consumer Health.

Fort Worth follows Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 728 and Tarrant County Public Health guidance for safe sharps disposal. Used syringes must go in approved sharps containers, never loose in household trash or recycling bins.

Fort Worth Code Ch. 10 (Minimum Urban Rehabilitation Standards) requires property owners to maintain structures free from rodent and insect infestation. TX Property Code Sec. 92.052-92.056 requires landlords to address pest infestations affecting habitability after written tenant notice. TX Occupations Code Ch. 1951 requires commercial pest applicators to be licensed by TDLR.

Hotel and short-term rental operators in Fort Worth must register with Fort Worth Finance and the Texas Comptroller, collect the city's 9 percent Hotel Occupancy Tax plus the 6 percent state HOT, file periodic returns, retain records for four years, and prepare for revenue audits.

Fort Worth designates historically, culturally, architecturally, or archeologically significant properties as Highly Significant Endangered, Historic and Cultural Landmark, or Demolition Delay under Zoning Ordinance § 4.401. Once designated, owners must obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission before altering, demolishing, or relocating the property.

Fort Worth's zoning ordinance flatly bans running an auto repair, detail, paint or body shop out of a home. Section 5.116.A(b) names boat, motorcycle and trailer shops too: none of them qualify as a home occupation, so there's no home-based path to a variance or exception for this business type.

Fort Worth regulates sexually oriented businesses (SOBs) under City Code Chapter 5 and the Unified Development Code, requiring annual licensing, criminal-history screening of operators, mandatory zoning buffers from sensitive uses, and detailed interior layout standards aimed at limiting secondary effects on neighborhoods.

Texas Comptroller licenses tobacco and e-cigarette retailers statewide under Tax Code Chapters 154 and 155. Fort Worth Code Chapter 8 layers local oversight, with the FW Code Compliance Department conducting age-verification compliance checks.

Tow truck operators and companies serving Fort Worth must hold Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) credentials under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 2308, comply with Fort Worth City Code rules on nonconsent towing, follow posted-rate schedules, and use city-approved storage facilities.

Secondhand dealers operating in Fort Worth must register with the Fort Worth Police Department, follow Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1956 reporting on metal and used goods, hold purchases for mandatory waiting periods, and report transactions through state-mandated electronic reporting systems for theft recovery.

Massage therapists and establishments operating in Fort Worth must hold Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) credentials under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 455, plus comply with Fort Worth City Code permitting, zoning, and inspections aimed at curbing illicit massage operations.

Pawnshops in Fort Worth are licensed by the Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner under Texas Finance Code Chapter 371, which caps pawn finance charges, sets redemption periods, requires daily transaction reporting to police, and mandates holding periods that aid theft recovery.

Fort Worth bans bicycles, roller blades, skateboards and other wheeled equipment in city parks and recreation areas wherever the Park and Recreation Department has posted signs prohibiting that use, under City Code § 24-18. Riding is fine in parks that carry no such signage.

Fort Worth does not have a general anti-loitering ordinance; its only standing loitering law targets solicitation for prostitution. Section 23-11 makes it an offense to loiter in a public place under circumstances that manifest an intent to induce, entice or procure another to commit prostitution, punishable by a fine of up to $500.

Fort Worth City Code Chapter 23 prohibits aggressive solicitation that involves intimidation, blocking pathways, or harassing pedestrians and motorists, while passive panhandling remains protected speech under the First Amendment, with Texas Penal Code Section 22.06 covering related assault-by-threat conduct.

Pedestrian crossing rules in Fort Worth are governed by Texas Transportation Code Section 552.005, which requires pedestrians to yield to vehicles when crossing outside marked crosswalks and to use crosswalks where signals are present, with FWPD typically enforcing through warnings rather than aggressive citations.

Public urination and defecation in Fort Worth are prosecuted as disorderly conduct under Texas Penal Code Section 42.01 and Fort Worth City Code public-decency provisions, with penalties scaling from Class C citations to higher charges if the act exposes anatomy intentionally.

Fort Worth bans possessing an open container or drinking alcohol on any public street, sidewalk, alley or pedestrian way inside the West 7th entertainment district. Everywhere else in the city, including the Stockyards, public drinking stays legal under Texas law.

Fort Worth City Code Chapter 11.5 (Smoke-Free Air ordinance) has restricted smoking and vaping in indoor public places and many outdoor areas since 2007, including bars, restaurants, parks, sports venues, and within 20 feet of building entrances at public facilities, with FWPD and Code Compliance enforcement.

Fort Worth City Code Chapter 23 prohibits loud and disorderly gatherings that disturb neighbors, and the city's noise and nuisance provisions allow Fort Worth Police Department to issue citations, disperse parties, and pursue cost recovery against repeat offenders for second-response calls.

Fort Worth never decriminalized marijuana. Possessing two ounces or less is a Class B misdemeanor under Texas law, and the city council rejected a proposed civil-citation ordinance. Fort Worth police can cite-and-release small amounts at an officer's discretion, but jail arrests still happen.

Fort Worth does not run its own business tax classification system. City Code § 20-1 lets the council levy an occupation tax only on occupations the State of Texas already taxes, and City Charter § 17 caps any such local tax at half the state's rate. In practice this leaves almost no general local business tax.

Fort Worth levies a 50% tax on parking charges, capped at $5 per vehicle, at parking facilities inside the Will Rogers Memorial Center venue project. Parking facility operators must collect, report and remit the tax to the city's Financial Management Services Department.

Fort Worth bans game rooms outright, city-wide. Section 23-22, adopted in October 2024, makes it a criminal offense to operate any game room, defined as a place where amusement redemption machines or gambling devices are present, and specifies that no zoning district permits one, closing off any zoning workaround.