McKinney, TX Holiday Decorations: Lawn Ornament Rules (2026)

The City of McKinney does not regulate the number, size, or style of decorative lawn ornaments, statuary, fountains, or religious yard displays at single-family or duplex properties through municipal ordinance. Political signs are protected as First Amendment speech and additionally protected by Texas Election Code §259.002 (which limits regulation of political signs on private property during election periods); the McKinney sign provisions govern only size and placement — not content. McKinney's general property maintenance and nuisance provisions can address damaged or deteriorated ornaments only when they have become a blight condition, enforced by Code Services. Within the Historic Preservation Overlay (covering historic downtown McKinney and several adjacent residential heritage areas), the Historic Preservation Advisory Board reviews permanent exterior changes through Certificates of Appropriateness — typically focused on structures, paint colors, and architectural elements rather than removable lawn ornaments, though large permanent statuary in the public view could trigger review. HOA and condo associations retain authority under the Texas Residential Property Owners Protection Act (Texas Property Code Ch. 209) to regulate exterior decorations through their declarations — and most McKinney master-planned communities (Stonebridge Ranch, Craig Ranch, Tucker Hill) do exactly that. Texas Property Code §202.011 protects display of certain religious symbols on entry doors/door frames against HOA regulation. Texas Property Code §202.018 and the federal Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005 protect reasonable U.S., Texas, and military service flag displays from HOA bans.