Houston, TX

Houston adopted STR regulations in April 2025 (Ord. 2025-322), effective January 1, 2026. All STRs require a Certificate of Registration ($275 fee plus $33.10 admin fee). As of April…

Houston can revoke every short-term rental certificate an owner or operator holds citywide if three or more of their individual certificates are revoked within any 24-month period.

Houston STR operators owe a combined 17% hotel occupancy tax: 6% state, 7% city, 2% Harris County, and 2% Harris County-Houston Sports Authority. Major platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo…

Texas does not impose statutory liability on Airbnb, Vrbo, or similar platforms for unregistered host listings. Houston's 2024 STR ordinance regulates operators directly, not the…

Houston's STR ordinance (Ord. 2025-322) does not impose specific off-street parking requirements for STRs beyond standard residential parking rules. Street parking is subject to the…

STR guests must comply with Chapter 30 sound limits (58 dBA nighttime residential). Two or more noise citations within 12 months may result in the operator's Certificate of…

Houston's 2025 STR ordinance (Chapter 28, Art. XXIII) regulates short-term rentals citywide. The ordinance defines STRs as dwellings rented for less than 30 consecutive days and…

Houston Chapter 6 treats cats as companion animals subject to rabies vaccination, BARC licensing, and humane care. Free-roaming cats may be impounded; community cat caretakers should…

Houston has no broad mandatory spay-neuter ordinance. Sterilization is required for shelter-adopted animals and free-roaming cats in TNR programs. BARC and partners run low-cost and…

Houston requires every dog or cat four months of age or older to be implanted with a microchip, then registered with BARC Animal Services and the chip manufacturer before the animal…

Houston's Parks and Recreation Department bans feeding wildlife in every city-owned nature preserve, from Blackhawk Park to Lake Houston Wilderness Park. Code of Ordinances §…

Houston bars keeping four or more adult dogs, four or more adult cats, or a mixed combination above three of each on residential property within 100 feet of another home.

Houston has no traditional zoning, so veterinary clinics open citywide subject to deed restrictions, parking, noise, and waste-disposal rules. State licensure through the Texas Board…

Texas has no statewide ban on pet store sales of dogs and cats, and Houston has not adopted a humane retail pet ordinance. Stores must follow USDA, state animal welfare, and basic…

Most native birds in Houston are protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Texas Parks and Wildlife Code Chapter 64. Killing, capturing, or disturbing nests, eggs, or…

Houston Code Chapter 6, Art. III prohibits the possession of wild or exotic animals within city limits. It is unlawful for any person to keep any wild or exotic animal upon any…

Houston requires dogs to be leashed or under physical control in all public spaces under Chapter 6. Fines range from $500 to $2,000 per violation. Mandatory microchipping required…

Houston has no breed-specific legislation. Texas prohibits BSL statewide under Health and Safety Code Chapter 822. Houston uses behavior-based dangerous dog determinations under…

Houston has no city-specific beekeeping ban. The Texas Apiary Inspection Service (TAIS) regulates bees at the state level under Agriculture Code Chapter 131. Deed restrictions and HOAs…

Houston allows up to 30 domestic fowl per lot with no roosters and a 100-foot setback from neighboring buildings under Chapter 6. No permit is required. Texas HB 1750 prevents cities…

Houston's minimum property-maintenance code requires owners to clear dead trees, limbs, and other debris that could injure someone or shelter insects and rodents, but it expressly…

When Houston declares a water shortage stage, irrigation drops to two nights a week on a set schedule tied to whether your address ends in an odd or even number, escalating to a full…

Houston bans weeds and grass taller than nine inches on any lot. If you don't cut it, the Neighborhood Protection Division will, then file a lien for the cost plus ten percent…

Houston does not restrict residential rainwater harvesting. Texas Property Code Sec. 202.007 protects homeowners' right to install rain barrels and rainwater harvesting systems…

Houston has no municipal restrictions on residential artificial turf installation. Texas Property Code Sec. 202.007 protects 'water-conserving natural turf' but is ambiguous on…

Remove a tree rooted in a Houston street or pedestrian realm and you must replant caliper inch-for-inch or pay into the city's tree fund.

Texas Property Code Sec. 202.007 protects homeowners' rights to install drought-resistant landscaping and water-conserving natural turf. Houston does not restrict native plant…

Houston requires property owners to trim street trees so limbs overhanging sidewalks clear at least eight feet above the ground, per City Code Section 40-14.

Houston bans noisy vehicles with broken exhausts and mufflers, and bans vehicle stereo or speaker sound that is plainly audible 50 feet away or disturbs neighbors, under Chapter 30.

Houston exempts construction and demolition work, including all tools and equipment, from its noise ordinance only between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., and only if sound stays under 85 dB(A) at…

Houston's noise ordinance carves out aircraft noise: Sec. 30-16(6) makes it an affirmative defense that a sound was produced by aircraft in flight or in operation at an airport, so…

Houston Code Chapter 30 regulates industrial noise through property-line decibel limits. Industrial and commercial properties must not exceed 68 dB(A) daytime and 58 dB(A) nighttime as…

Houston regulates barking dogs under both Chapter 6 (Animals and Fowl) and Chapter 30 (Noise). Persistent barking that disturbs neighbors constitutes a nuisance. BARC and HPD both…

Houston Code of Ordinances Chapter 30 sets residential sound limits of 65 dBA daytime and 58 dBA nighttime, measured at the property line. Quiet hours run from 10 PM to 8 AM. The 2022…

Houston does not ban gas-powered leaf blowers. Leaf blower noise must comply with Chapter 30 sound limits of 65 dBA residential daytime and 58 dBA nighttime. Use during quiet hours (10…

Houston requires amplified sound permits for outdoor music within 300 feet of a residence. Permits allow up to 75 dBA. Options include Daily, Extended Daily, Annual, and Commercial…

Houston posts commercial vehicle loading zones with set hours; only commercial vehicles may park there, and only to load or unload, under a permit or by paying the meter.

Houston City Council can designate residential blocks with chronic commuter parking problems as Residential Parking Permit Areas, letting only permitted vehicles park curbside during…

Houston bans leaving any vehicle parked or standing on a public street, alley, or other public right-of-way for more than 24 continuous hours. Section 26-93 applies citywide to any…

Only the City of Houston, through Public Works traffic engineering and Chapter 26 of the Code, may paint or authorize curb-color markings such as red (no parking), yellow (loading)…

Houston defines an abandoned vehicle under City Code Chapter 8 and Texas Transportation Code §683 as one left on a public right-of-way more than 48 hours (inoperable) or 7 days…

Houston's Chapter 26, §26-93 limits street parking to 24 hours. Vehicles left for 48+ hours are subject to towing. Cars must park with the flow of traffic. Fire zones and driveways…

In residential areas that petition the city to opt in, parking an RV, boat, trailer or motor home on bare dirt or grass in a front or side yard is a misdemeanor under Sec. 28-303…

In neighborhoods that petition and are designated by city council, Houston Code § 28-303 makes it a misdemeanor to park vehicles or equipment on any unpaved surface in a front or side…

Houston bans commercial and large vehicles from parking on residential streets from 2 AM to 6 AM under Chapter 26. Large vehicles (over 8 ft tall or 22 ft long) have a 2-hour limit…

Harris County's tow truck ordinance, Subchapter 28G, covers only tows a law enforcement officer initiates, and only in the unincorporated parts of the county. It does not reach a…

Houston requires a building permit and code-compliance review to construct any retaining wall, and walls eight feet or taller also need a development plat under Chapter 42's…

Houston allows wood, PVC vinyl, composite, metal ornamental, and chain link fences. Barbed wire, razor wire, and electrified fences are prohibited for residential use. Masonry or…

Houston has no zoning-based height limit for backyard privacy fences. Build one over eight feet, though, and the Code of Ordinances routes your building permit through a mandatory…

Houston requires code compliance review under Section 10-2 whenever a fence exceeds eight feet in height, adding a Planning and Development check plus a fee to the building permit…

Harris County has no shared fence ordinance for unincorporated areas. Texas does not have a statutory 'Good Neighbor Fence Law.' Fence disputes are resolved under common law, deed…

Houston limits LP-gas containers at manufactured home sites to 5-25 water-gallon capacity, requires secure but non-permanent anchoring, and bans storing tanks inside or under any…

Smoke alarms in Houston dwellings are governed by Tex. Health & Safety Code Chapter 766 and the Houston Fire Code, which adopts the International Fire Code (2021 edition) with local…

Houston law treats weeds or brush taller than 48 inches as an immediate danger to health, life, or safety, letting the city clear it and bill the owner without giving notice first.

All consumer fireworks are illegal within Houston city limits including sparklers. Fines are $500 to $2,000 per firework with no warnings issued. Parents are liable for minors'…

All outdoor burning in unincorporated Harris County is prohibited during active burn bans enacted by Commissioners Court. Exceptions exist for enclosed fires, non-commercial cooking…

Harris County is not in a designated wildfire risk zone. The humid Gulf Coast climate and urban development minimize wildfire risk. Periodic burn bans are enacted during drought…

Before building, remodeling, or altering a residential pool or spa in Houston, owners must submit plans and specifications with a nonrefundable review fee to the Health Department for…

Houston requires a minimum 48-inch barrier around all pools holding 24+ inches of water. Gates must be self-closing, self-latching with latches at 54 inches. Chain link is prohibited…

Home daycares in Houston are regulated by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHS) under Human Resources Code Chapter 42, not by city ordinance. Three permit tiers exist…

Houston's Chapter 46 Sign Code regulates all signage within city limits. Home-based businesses generally cannot display commercial signage without a Certificate of Occupancy. Each…

Texas Cottage Food Law (HSC §437.001) allows home-based food sales up to $75,000 per year without a food establishment permit. Harris County has no additional cottage food…

Houston has no zoning, so it does not regulate accessory dwelling units citywide by right, setback, or unit cap; a garage apartment outside a historic district needs only a building…

Houston has no zoning code, so there is no shed size cap or district setback. Chapter 42's building-line rule instead bars any structure needing a building permit from sitting inside…

Texas has no tiny-home-specific statute. Any transportable, chassis-mounted dwelling that reaches 320 square feet is manufactured housing under Occupations Code Chapter 1201, built to…

Houston ties your water bill relief directly to how fast you report and fix a line leak: full credit inside 30 days, shrinking credit after that.

Houston prohibits construction of new off-premise signs, billboards visible from freeways and streets, under Sign Code Section 4612(b); the city treats any unauthorized new billboard…

Houston prohibits placing garage sale signs on public property under the bandit sign provisions of Chapter 28 and Chapter 46 (Sign Code). Signs on public streets, sidewalks, utility…

Houston regulates political signs under content-neutral temporary sign rules in Chapter 28 of the Code of Ordinances. Residential properties may display temporary signs up to 36 square…

Harris County bans inflatable displays and similar carnival-style devices used as signs visible from its toll roads, but exempts in-season holiday decorations if they're removed within…

Off-premise signs, including billboards, are barred from toll-road frontage in Harris County, and electronic 'spectacular' displays are limited to slow-changing time, weather, or stock…

Along a Harris County toll road, most signs visible from the main-traveled way need a written permit from the County Engineer. Ch. 41, Subchapter 41F, Sec 5 carves out an exception for…

Houston bans sound that makes neighbors feel vibrations or resonance, even when it stays under the chapter's dB(A) limits: the rule that reaches thumping bass and subwoofers.

Houston's burglar-alarm permit article, Chapter 11, expressly excludes vehicle alarms: Section 11-50 says the article covers burglar, holdup, and panic alarms but "not audible alarms…

Bars and nightclubs within 300 feet of a home need a City sound permit to run amplified music past 10 or 11 p.m., and all outdoor sound cuts off at 2 a.m.

Under Houston's noise ordinance, an air conditioning unit that stays at or below 65 dB(A) on residential property or 75 dB(A) on nonresidential property is a legal defense to a Chapter…

Houston enforces its own City of Houston Electrical Code, one of the construction-code volumes the city council adopts and amends by ordinance, and the building official enforces it…

Houston's fire department must inspect every licensed and registered child-care home in the city at least once every 12 months under Chapter 10, Article XIX. The department mails…

Houston enforces plumbing work through its own Plumbing Code, one of several volumes making up the city's Construction Code, which the city council keeps continuously in force citywide.

Houston requires boarding homes, lodging facilities and correctional/alternate-housing facilities to install a working carbon monoxide detector in every sleeping area, kitchen and…

Houston has not adopted a mandatory green building code. Voluntary programs include the Houston Green Office Challenge, energy code updates, and LEED certification incentives offered…

Houston Chapter 28 building amendments adopt the IRC sprinkler trigger thresholds for new commercial and multifamily construction. Texas state law preempts mandatory sprinklers in one…

Houston's building official can order construction work stopped in writing whenever it violates the Construction Code, Fire Code, or city Code, or is being done unsafely: work must…

Texas TDLR requires annual inspections of all elevators, escalators, and related equipment. Building owners must register equipment and maintain current certificates of compliance…

Houston follows federal EPA lead-based paint disclosure rules for pre-1978 housing and requires asbestos surveys before demolition or renovation. The Houston Health Department handles…

Harris County requires boarding home facilities to fit interior doors properly, install locking hardware for resident privacy, and make sure closet and bathroom locks release from…

Harris County requires staged elevation inspections for floodplain development permits: a pre-framing elevation certificate, then a final elevation certificate before habitation…

Licensed boarding homes in unincorporated Harris County must hard-wire smoke detectors in every bedroom, hallway, corridor, laundry room and basement area. The county's Boarding Home…

Every Harris County floodplain development permit holder in the unincorporated county must post the permit at the jobsite, keep the road clear of construction soil, and let the County…

Houston bans setting garbage or trash at the curb before 6:00 p.m. the day before your scheduled pickup, and collection begins at 7:00 a.m. on collection day itself.

Houston's chief solid waste officer, not a fixed statute, decides which materials the curbside program accepts, tying the list to state and federal law and the city's active…

Houston's Solid Waste Management Department collects heavy trash every other month: up to six curbside pickups a year. Set items behind the curb line between 6:00 p.m. the Friday…

Houston requires new developments to place bulk containers, i.e. dumpsters, out of view from public streets and screen them with fences at least six to eight feet high, or face…

Houston requires yard waste in biodegradable bags or reusable containers under 50 pounds, with tree trimmings tied in limited bundles for weekly automated pickup.

Depositing solid waste anywhere it doesn't conform to Chapter 39's pickup rules is an unlawful deposit of litter in Houston. A first conviction runs $50 to $2,000, repeat offenders…

Houston requires garbage and recycling carts to be stored out of street view until pickup day, placed at the curbline no earlier than 6 p.m. the night before, and removed once the…

Houston provides curbside bulk waste collection for large items like furniture and appliances on a scheduled basis. Chapter 39 governs solid waste disposal. Certain items like…

Houston Public Works' Solid Waste Management division supplies one automated recycling cart per residential unit customer under City Code § 39-62, bundling the cost into the monthly…

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

Texas House Bill 1927 allows most adults 21 and older to carry handguns concealed without a permit. Houston follows state rules; License to Carry under Texas Government Code Chapter…

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. Houston…

Texas Local Government Code Section 229.001 broadly preempts municipal regulation of firearms, ammunition, knives, and related accessories. Cities cannot adopt or enforce ordinances…

Texas has no statewide E-Verify mandate for private employers. Houston has not adopted a city requirement either, so private employers may use E-Verify voluntarily. Only state agencies…

Houston Police Department must send every council member a quarterly public report on immigration enforcement activity, including status inquiries, ICE contacts, and anonymized…

Houston has not adopted a source-of-income antidiscrimination ordinance, so private landlords may legally refuse Section 8 vouchers, SSI, or housing-subsidy income; Texas state law…

City ordinance sets minimum habitability standards for multi-family rental buildings of three or more units, requiring Fire Code and life-safety compliance, building-numbering rules…

Texas Property Code Chapter 24 allows landlords to terminate month-to-month tenancies or refuse to renew fixed-term leases without cause, requiring only proper written notice; Houston…

Texas Property Code Section 92.331 prohibits landlord retaliation for a narrow set of tenant actions, but Houston has no Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance like Los Angeles or Seattle…

Texas Property Code Section 92.103 requires landlords to refund a tenant's security deposit within 30 days of move-out, with itemized deductions for damage beyond normal wear and tear…

Houston 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…

Houston requires owners of multi-family rental buildings that rack up ten or more code citations in a six-month span to register in the city's High-Risk Rental Building Inspection…

Rent control is prohibited statewide in Texas under Texas Property Code Chapter 214. Harris County cannot impose rent control on any rental properties in unincorporated areas…

Under Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005, a Texas landlord must give a defaulting or holdover tenant at least three days' written notice to vacate before filing a forcible detainer (eviction)…

Under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.019 a residential late fee must be reasonable and may be charged only if written in the lease and the rent stays unpaid two full days after due. A fee is…

Under Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001, either party may end a month-to-month tenancy by giving notice, and the tenancy ends on the later of the date in the notice or one month after notice is…

In Texas a squatter can claim title only through adverse possession, with periods that shorten as the claim strengthens: 3 years under title or color of title (§ 16.024), 5 years with…

Houston Health Department food handler certificates are valid for two years, and the department accepts state-accredited food handler training under Texas Health and Safety Code…

Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 728 prohibits placing used needles and sharps in regular trash. Houston Solid Waste accepts properly contained household sharps at neighborhood…

Houston Code of Ordinances Chapter 10 requires property owners to keep premises free from insect and rodent infestation. The Houston Health Department runs Vector Control programs for…

Houston is the only major US city without traditional zoning. Land use is governed by Chapter 42 subdivision regulations, deed restrictions, historic district overlays, and…

Houston towing companies must hold a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation license under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 2308 and a Houston permit under Code Chapter 8…

Houston secondhand dealers, including used-jewelry buyers, used-merchandise stores, and metal recyclers, must register under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1956 and report transactions…

Houston's secondhand-dealer ordinance, Chapter 7, does not reach pawnbrokers at all: Sec. 7-2 excludes any pawnbroker licensed by the State of Texas from the chapter's license…

Every Houston retailer selling cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, e-cigarettes, or alternative nicotine products must hold an annual retailer permit from the Texas Comptroller…

Tattoo and body-piercing studios in Houston operate under a Texas Department of State Health Services license issued under Health and Safety Code Chapter 146, with the Houston Health…

Houston regulates sexually oriented businesses under Code of Ordinances Chapter 28, Article III, requiring annual permits, manager screening, 1,500-foot zoning buffers from churches…

Massage therapists and establishments in Houston must hold Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation credentials under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 455, with Houston police and…

Houston Code Chapter 28 bans open containers and public consumption in city parks and most public spaces, while Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code Section 109 governs statewide…

Houston does not have a general anti-loitering law that applies to standing around in public; the loitering offense in the Code of Ordinances is narrow and targets manifesting an…

Skateboarding and scooters are banned throughout Buffalo Bayou Park under Houston Code of Ordinances § 32-301(f), with one carve-out: the Lee and Joe Jamail Skateboard Park and…

The 2007 Houston Smoke-Free Air Ordinance, codified at Code of Ordinances Chapter 21, bans smoking in restaurants, bars, workplaces, sports venues, and within 25 feet of building…

Houston Code Chapter 28 and Texas Penal Code Section 42.01 (Disorderly Conduct) prohibit urinating or defecating in any public place. The act is a Class C misdemeanor, and aggravated…

Houston Code Chapter 30 caps residential noise at 65 dB(A) day and 58 dB(A) overnight, while Texas Local Government Code Section 250.008 backs city authority. HPD can cite hosts and…

Texas Transportation Code Section 552.005 requires pedestrians outside marked crosswalks to yield to oncoming vehicles. Houston Police continue to cite jaywalkers, unlike California's…

Houston Code Chapter 28, Article XV bans aggressive solicitation involving touching, blocking pedestrians, persistent following, threatening conduct, or solicitation near ATMs and bus…

Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 481 makes any marijuana possession or use illegal statewide, including in Houston. Harris County's diversion program treats two-ounce-or-less…

Houston has no cannabis dispensary buffer-zone rules because Texas does not authorize recreational dispensaries. Compassionate Use Program (CUP) sites operate as low-volume medical…

Texas has no recreational cannabis program, so Houston cannot create a social-equity license. The narrow Compassionate Use Program (CUP) licenses three statewide dispensing…

Houston has no traditional zoning code, so cannabis-style commercial siting rules do not exist. Recreational cannabis retail is illegal statewide. Hemp-derived CBD retailers operate…

Texas prohibits personal cannabis cultivation entirely. Houston cannot authorize home grows under home-rule authority while state law treats marijuana possession and manufacture as…

Texas prohibits all recreational cannabis delivery. Compassionate Use Program low-THC products may be delivered to qualifying patients only by the three licensed dispensing…

Home cultivation of marijuana is illegal in Houston and throughout Texas. Possession of any amount of marijuana is a criminal offense under the Texas Controlled Substances Act. Texas…

Houston cannot enforce a plastic bag ban or fee. Tex. Health & Safety Code § 361.0961 preempts local ordinances that prohibit or restrict the sale or use of any 'container or package'…

Texas Health and Safety Code Section 361.0961 preempts municipal regulation of foam food containers as solid waste. Houston has no polystyrene ban and cannot lawfully prohibit expanded…

Texas Health and Safety Code section 361.0961 and the 2018 Laredo Supreme Court decision preempt city and county regulation of single-use packaging, which restaurant lawyers extend to…

Houston does not ban drones at public gatherings outright, but any large outdoor music event must get a Mayor's Office of Special Events permit, and Section 25-163(c)(16) requires the…

Houston permits recreational drones subject to FAA rules and limited park bans. Pilots must register drones over 0.55 lbs with the FAA ($5/3 years), complete the TRUST test, fly below…

Flying a drone or model aircraft in a Harris County park is banned outside specifically designated areas, and even there the aircraft must stay within the operator's line of sight…

Houston requires a city game room license before anyone opens a game room, defined as six or more amusement redemption machines, or any room where people pay to play dominoes, cards or…

Texas nonprofits can conduct bingo only under a license from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, which absorbed the Texas Lottery Commission's charitable bingo program on…

Texas Penal Code § 47.02(a) makes betting at cards, dice, or any game of chance a Class C misdemeanor. Section 47.02(b) supplies a defense: gambling that happens in a private place…

Texas licenses no retail sportsbook and no betting app. Placing a wager on the outcome of a game, contest, or a player's performance is a criminal offense under Penal Code §…

Because Houston has no zoning, recorded deed restrictions function as the city's de facto homeowners-association governance documents, and Code of Ordinances Chapter 10, Article XV…

When a Houston subdivision's deed restrictions are violated, an owner is not limited to a private lawsuit. Code of Ordinances Section 10-553 lets the city attorney file or join a…

A Houston-area HOA can fine you, but only if its dedicatory instrument authorizes it and the board has adopted a written fine schedule. Texas Property Code Section 209.0061 requires…

Texas Property Code Chapter 209 (TRPOPA) requires HOA boards to hold open meetings with advance notice to owners, conduct elections by secret ballot, and maintain detailed records…

Texas HOAs may require architectural review for exterior modifications per their CC&Rs, but state law limits HOA authority on solar panels, satellite dishes, and certain…

Texas Property Code governs HOA assessments, requiring notice before liens and limiting foreclosure. HOAs must send at least two written notices before filing a lien, and cannot…

Texas law provides a structured dispute resolution process for HOA conflicts. Property Code 209.00593 allows owners to request a hearing before the board, and disputes may be taken to…

Texas law requires HOAs to adopt a formal enforcement policy and send written violation notices before imposing fines. Owners must receive notice of the specific violation and an…

Property Code Section 202.007 voids any homeowners association rule that bans drought-resistant landscaping or water-conserving natural turf, and Section 202.008 bars fines for a brown…

Texas Property Code section 202.012 stops homeowners associations from banning display of the U.S. flag, the Texas flag, or an official U.S. armed forces flag. An association can…

A Texas property owners' association cannot sell your home at a trustee's sale the way a mortgage lender can. Tex. Prop. Code Section 209.0092 requires the association to obtain a…

Texas Property Code Section 209.016 sets no cap on how much of a subdivision an association can rent out, no minimum lease term, and no grandfather clause: a declaration can still ban…

Houston requires every mobile food unit to carry an individual medallion from the Health Department, issued only after a compliance inspection and renewed annually; operating without…

Houston requires street vendors to hold a location-specific permit valid only on non-residential property, limiting sales to 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. and barring vending from any public…

Houston requires street vendors selling goods from trucks, carts, or temporary sites on non-residential property to obtain a city permit, post a $10,000 bond, and limit sales to 8…

Houston's Chapter 28 curfew for minors under 18 remains in the Code of Ordinances, but Texas House Bill 1819 barred cities from enforcing juvenile curfews starting September 1, 2023…

City parks and park facilities are open to the public only from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily, and staying past closing after being told to leave is a criminal offense.

Camping, tents, and unauthorized personal-property piles in any public place, parks, sidewalks, rights-of-way, are a misdemeanor citywide under Chapter 21, enforced only after a…

Houston Code Chapter 40 restricts obstructing sidewalks and public rights-of-way. Enforcement against unhoused residents constrained by Martin v. Boise and federal Eighth Amendment…

Houston City Council may designate a tree as historically or arboriculturally significant by motion, but only if the property owner applies; once designated, the tree becomes a…

New and expanded commercial or multifamily buildings in Houston must plant street trees in the parkway strip along public streets, spaced and set back from the curb under Chapter 33's…

Houston, which has no zoning, protects trees within streets and parkways under Chapter 33, Article VI. Removing a covered street tree requires 20 days' written notice and a replacement…

Every new single-family lot platted in unincorporated Harris County must carry front-yard trees sized to the lot: one tree on lots of 5,000 square feet or less, two on anything larger…

Removing a specimen tree of 12 inches or larger in caliper from a Harris County road or flood-control right-of-way triggers a mandatory removal and replacement plan. Ch. 41, Subchapter…

Houston has no zoning setbacks; instead Chapter 42 platting sets minimum building lines: 25 feet on major thoroughfares, up to 25 feet on collector streets, and 20 feet on local…

Houston has no zoning height district, but its Multi-Unit Residential (MUR) performance standards under Chapter 42 cap any 3-to-8-unit residential development at 30 feet, measured from…

Parading on a Houston street without a MOSE-issued permit is unlawful under City Code Section 25-102, with permits covering security, traffic control, route restrictions, and required…

Houston restaurants must obtain a one-year license from the city traffic engineer before setting up an outdoor sidewalk cafe, with insurance, a bond, and strict placement rules.

Houston requires a permit before closing any public street for a festival, block party, street dance, or race; conducting one without MOSE approval is unlawful under Chapter 25.

Houston requires a park use permit before any group activity over 75 people, or any event reserving exclusive use of a park area, under Chapter 32 Article III of the City Code.

Houston requires a street function permit from the Mayor's Office of Special Events before closing any public street for a block party, street dance, or similar function.

Placing anything in a Houston sidewalk or roadway is illegal without a traffic engineer permit, including private building encroachments.

Blocking a Houston sidewalk or roadway without a permit is a criminal offense, punishable by a $200-$500 fine, with narrow exceptions for parked vehicles, utility work, and sidewalk…

Houston places the duty to build and repair sidewalks, driveways, curbs and gutters on the owner of the abutting property once the city engineer orders and notifies the work.

Houston requires a construction permit from Public Works before building, altering, or repairing any pier or boat dock on Lake Houston, plus a separate annual pier license limited to…

Houston bans discharging anything other than storm water into its municipal storm sewer system (MS4); construction and industrial sites need EPA/TCEQ permits plus city NOI filings…

Houston requires a floodplain development permit for any construction, fill, or land-disturbing activity inside a Houston special flood hazard area, separate from any building permit…

Houston falls within the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria ozone nonattainment area, where TCEQ Rule 30 TAC 114.512 limits heavy-duty vehicle idling to five minutes when ambient temperatures…

Houston Energy Code amendments to Chapter 28 require low-slope commercial roofs to meet minimum solar reflectance and thermal emittance values, reducing heat absorption and lowering…

In Houston's 0.2% annual chance (500-year) floodplain, new homes and substantial improvements must sit at the minimum flood protection elevation: the 500-year flood elevation plus two…

Houston's Chapter 19 and Design Manual Chapter 9 impose strict grading and drainage requirements. Detention is required for most new development. An engineered grading plan is…

Texas prohibits damaging, destroying, or removing a sand dune or its vegetation seaward of a dune protection line or within a critical dune area unless a permit authorizes the work…

Houston requires multi-family rental buildings to post a bilingual notice telling tenants to report hazardous conditions to the manager or owner, or call the city's 311 Service…

Every Houston apartment building with three or more units must register with the city building official and falls under the Multi-Family Rental Building Inspection Program, which…

Houston requires Uber and Lyft drivers picking up airport passengers to wait in a designated TNC waiting area and load only at airport-designated pickup and drop-off curbs, enforced…

Houston never authorized a dockless scooter-share program, and in November 2025 it tightened the screws: operating or renting a shared micromobility device between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. is…

Houston Bike Plan 2017 establishes a 1,800-mile bikeway network. Chapter 45 traffic rules govern bicycle operation and require motorists to provide three-foot passing distance, while…

Texas lets golf carts onto public roads in four defined situations rather than by general permission: inside a platted master planned community, on a beach open to vehicular traffic…

The Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission reviews applications to designate buildings, sites, or districts as landmarks based on cultural, ethnic, or historical…

Texas does not have a Mills Act-style property tax program. Instead, Texas Tax Code Section 11.24 lets local taxing units exempt part or all of a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark or…

Houston imposes no general local business license tax; the only citywide occupation tax under Chapter 44 is on coin-operated machines, set at one-fourth of the state occupation tax…

Texas House Bill 1771 and Health and Safety Code provisions preempt cities from banning the sale of flavored tobacco or e-cigarette products. Houston cannot adopt menthol or flavored…

Houston enforces the federal Tobacco 21 minimum age of 21 for all tobacco and vape sales, aligned with Texas SB 21 (2019). Texas state law preempts most local tobacco regulation, so…

Houston is the only major U.S. city without traditional zoning. Urban agriculture is governed by recorded deed restrictions, Code Chapter 42 subdivision rules, Chapter 7 animal limits…

Texas Agriculture Code Chapter 251, the Right to Farm Act, protects established agricultural operations from nuisance suits when neighbors arrive after farming began. Harris County…

Houston Code Chapter 44 imposes a 7% city Hotel Occupancy Tax on rooms costing $2 or more per night, stacked on the 6% Texas state HOT under Tax Code Chapter 156. Combined burden is…

Houston cannot set its own minimum wage. Tex. Lab. Code § 62.0515 preempts municipalities from regulating private-sector wages, so Houston workers are paid the Texas Minimum Wage Act…

Texas HB 2127, the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act effective September 2023, broadly preempts local labor regulation including paid sick leave. Harris County cannot mandate paid leave…

Houston Code Chapter 10, Art. XI (Neighborhood Nuisances) and Community Code Enforcement address property blight including overgrown lots, graffiti, trash accumulation, dangerous…

Houston requires vacant lot owners to maintain their property free of overgrown vegetation, trash accumulation, and nuisance conditions under Chapter 10, Art. XI. Weeds exceeding 48…

Texas Property Code Sec. 202.010 prohibits HOAs from banning solar energy devices. HOAs may impose limited aesthetic restrictions but cannot effectively prevent installation. HB 431…

Solar panel installations in unincorporated Harris County require electrical permits under the county fire code. The Harris County Fire Marshal's Office reviews commercial solar…

Houston Code Chapter 38 requires peddlers, solicitors, and itinerant merchants to obtain a city license through the Administration & Regulatory Affairs Department. Applicants submit…

Houston does not have a 'No-Knock' or 'No-Soliciting' enforcement ordinance. Unlike nearby cities such as West University Place, Houston does not maintain a do-not-disturb list or…

Houston does not limit how often you can hold a garage sale. Texas state law limits the occasional sales tax exemption to two sales per 12-month period or $3,000 in annual sales…

City code directs code-enforcement employees to report dangerous buildings to the 3-1-1 Houston Service Helpline, making 311 the city's official channel for flagging unsafe structures…

Harris County residents can report a suspected public nuisance in unincorporated areas by filing a written complaint with the county Administrator, who investigates and can order…

Unincorporated Harris County residents report nuisances in writing to the County Health Department Administrator, who logs and investigates each complaint, then must wait 30 days after…

Texas and Houston do not have specific bamboo-prohibiting laws. Running bamboo is legal to plant but can become a nuisance if it spreads to neighboring property. Houston's warm climate…

Houston permits front yard gardens including vegetable gardens on residential property. With no zoning ordinance, Houston has fewer land use restrictions than most cities. Deed…

Texas maintains a noxious weed list under the Texas Agriculture Code, and the Texas Invasive Species Institute tracks problematic plants. Harris County does not have its own prohibited…

Texas is a one-party consent state for recording under Texas Penal Code Section 16.02. You may record a conversation if you are a party to it or have consent from one party. Recording…

Texas is a one-party consent state for audio recording under Texas Penal Code Section 16.02. Video surveillance on your own property is generally lawful. Audio recording requires…

Electrical signs visible from Harris County toll roads are capped at 10 bulbs of 100 watts on a single 120-volt circuit, must carry a sunshade screen dimmer, and can't use…

New homes on non-conforming lots in unincorporated Harris County must set the finished floor at least 12 inches above the highest adjacent grade or street crown.

Pushcarts operating as mobile food units in unincorporated Harris County face hard size limits: no more than four feet wide, eight feet long, and eight feet tall including the shade…

Along Harris County toll roads, holiday decorations are exempt from the county's toll-road sign permit even though decorative displays are otherwise banned as carnival-type devices…

Inflatable displays, balloons, streamers, and similar carnival-style signage are barred along Harris County toll roads. Ch. 41, Subchapter 41F, Sec 5 carves out a seasonal exception…

In unincorporated Harris County, Section 308.1.4.1 of the Fire Code bans charcoal burners, LP-gas cooking appliances and any other open-flame cooking device in new or existing Group…

The Texas Legislature has authorized exactly one vehicle checkpoint program, and it has nothing to do with alcohol. Government Code Section 411.0095 lets the Department of Public…

Texas has never enacted an express statutory right to film police, so the legal boundary for a bystander with a phone is set by the offense of Interference with Public Duties, Texas…

Texas Penal Code Section 38.02 makes it a crime to refuse your name, residence address, or date of birth only after a peace officer has already lawfully arrested you. Being detained on…

No Texas statute obliges a driver to consent to a vehicle search, and none requires an officer to warn you that you may refuse. What Texas law does require is a paper trail: Article…

Texas regulates extra lighting by color, count, height and aim rather than by naming underglow. Transportation Code Section 547.305 bars any lamp showing red from directly in front of…

Texas grants no square inches of windshield to a camera. Transportation Code Section 547.613(a)(1) makes it a misdemeanor to operate a vehicle with an object or material placed on or…

Texas banned motorcycle lane splitting in plain words on September 1, 2023. Transportation Code Section 545.0605(a)(3)(B), added by House Bill 4122 of the 88th Legislature, says the…

Texas outlaws license plate covers in Transportation Code Section 504.945(a)(7), which makes it an offense to display a plate carrying a coating, covering, protective substance or…

Texas does not prohibit owning, mounting or using a radar detector in a private passenger vehicle. The one radar offense in the vehicle equipment chapter, Transportation Code Section…

Texas is one of the states that never wrote a studded tire calendar. Transportation Code Section 547.612(c) is the whole of the law: a tire on a moving vehicle may not carry a block…

Texas allows film down to 25 percent light transmission on both front side windows and on the windshield strip, with a matching ceiling of 25 percent luminous reflectance, and it sets…