Tarrant County Zoning Restrictions Rules (2026) — What You Need to Know

Unincorporated Tarrant County does not have zoning regulations. Texas state law expressly prohibits counties from regulating the use of any building or property for business, industrial, or residential purposes. This means the county cannot restrict home-based businesses through zoning, land-use regulations, or occupancy type requirements in unincorporated areas.

This permissive environment makes unincorporated Tarrant County attractive for home business operators. Unlike cities within the county — such as Fort Worth, which requires home occupation permits and imposes conditions on signage, customer traffic, and employee limits — the county imposes no such requirements. Residents can operate home businesses without a county zoning permit, special use permit, or home occupation permit.

However, the Tarrant County Fire Code (adopted June 5, 2018 under Court Order 127763) does require construction permits for new construction or substantial improvements to commercial buildings, public access buildings, and multifamily dwellings of four or more units in unincorporated areas. A home-based business operating from an existing residence would generally not trigger this requirement. But if a business expands to require a separate commercial structure, the owner must obtain a construction permit from the Tarrant County Fire Marshal's Office before beginning construction. Third-party plan reviews for building and fire protection systems are also required. Properties in a city's extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) may be subject to additional municipal regulations. Residents should also check HOA deed restrictions, which frequently prohibit or limit commercial activity.