Pop. 26,064 · Fort Bend County
Katy bans loudspeakers cast onto public streets for advertising and prohibits radios, stereos, and amplifiers loud enough to disturb neighbors, with a strict 11 p.m.-7 a.m. audibility threshold.
Katy declares it a nuisance for an animal to bark, howl, whine, or otherwise disturb neighbors, and requires the complainant to give the owner prior written notice before filing.
Katy's noise ordinance creates a prima facie nighttime quiet period from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. for amplified sound and prohibits any noise that disturbs neighbors at any hour.
Katy does not ban leaf blowers but requires noise-creating blowers, power fans, and internal combustion engines to be muffled enough to deaden the noise they produce.
Aircraft noise in flight is regulated exclusively by the FAA under federal law (49 U.S.C. 40103, 14 CFR Part 36, 91, 150). Texas cities and counties cannot impose noise limits on aircraft operations, though they may regulate ground-based airport activities through Texas Transportation Code Chapter 22.
Katy's zoning ordinance restricts where recreational vehicles, boats, and trailers may be parked in residential districts, generally requiring storage in the side or rear yard rather than the front yard or public street.
Katy's parking article designates specific no-parking zones along Franz Road and Katy-Hockley Road and authorizes posted tow-away signs, with violations punishable as misdemeanors.
Katy's nuisance code requires owners to keep property free of junked vehicles and authorizes police to impound abandoned vehicles, with a 45-day inoperability test and mandatory abatement orders.
Katy prohibits parking commercial vehicles exceeding 10,000 pounds gross weight on any city street, right-of-way, or alley for longer than one hour, with exceptions only for active deliveries.
Texas Property Code 202.019 prevents HOAs from prohibiting electric vehicle charging stations at a homeowner's dwelling. Owners across Texas may install Level 2 chargers in their garages or driveways subject only to reasonable conditions.
Katy prohibits grass and weeds growing taller than nine inches on any improved or unimproved lot within the city limits.
Katy treats uncultivated vegetation over nine inches, or any growth harboring rodents or vermin, as a public nuisance regardless of height.
Removing or destroying a tree on Katy public property without the public works director's permission is a misdemeanor with fines up to $200 per tree.
Katy enforces a multi-stage drought plan with mandatory twice-weekly outdoor watering windows tied to address numbers and land use.
Katy requires the public works director's approval before trimming, pruning, or otherwise altering any tree on city property, easements, or rights-of-way.
Texas Property Code 202.007 prohibits HOAs from banning rainwater harvesting systems, and Health & Safety Code 341.042 sets statewide standards for harvested rainwater used as a potable supply. Rainwater harvesting is broadly protected and encouraged in every Texas city and county.
Katy property owners must keep lots free of rubbish, brush, and other debris under Chapter 6 (Ordinance 01023). Weeds taller than nine inches, or any vegetation harboring rodents and pests, are declared a nuisance subject to abatement.
Katy prohibits the manufacture, sale, possession, and discharge of all fireworks inside city limits under Article 5.07 of its Code of Ordinances. Violators face fines from $25 to $200 per offense and the Fire Marshal will seize and destroy any fireworks found.
Katy bans construction or use of any barbecue pit or open flame within 10 feet of a multifamily building wall, or beneath a balcony, porch, roof overhang, or veranda. The rule was adopted under Ordinance 3123 amending the 2021 International Fire Code.
Fort Bend County enforces TCEQ outdoor burning rules and the county Fire Code, with Commissioners Court burn bans triggered during drought conditions.
Fort Bend County adopts the International Fire Code with local amendments, requiring Fire Marshal permits for LPG and propane storage in unincorporated areas.
Katy treats carports as accessory structures requiring a building permit, with placement governed by the same setback and height rules as other detached accessory buildings.
Katy requires a permit for storage sheds and other detached accessory buildings, with setback and height limits set by the city zoning ordinance and building code.
Katy requires a building permit for converting a garage to living space under the 2021 IRC and 2023 NEC adopted Jan 1, 2024. Conversions cannot create an unrelated rental unit, and HOA deed restrictions in master-planned subdivisions often prohibit the change.
Katy's Zoning Ordinance defines an Accessory Dwelling Unit as a unit accessory to a principal single-family residence, used only by family members, guests, or employees working within the residence; commercial use is prohibited.
Katy requires a building permit before construction or installation of any in-ground or above-ground residential swimming pool within city limits.
Above-ground pools in Katy must obtain the same building permit and meet the same 2021 ISPSC standards as in-ground residential pools.
Hot tubs and spas in Katy fall under the same adopted International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, with permit and safety cover or barrier requirements.
Katy adopted the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code and 2021 IRC (effective Jan 1, 2024), which require a 48-inch barrier with self-closing/self-latching gates around residential pools; a permit is required for all in-ground and above-ground pools.
Operators of public and semi-public pools must comply with Fort Bend County safety rules covering posted depth markings, lifesaving equipment, water quality, supervision signage, and proper drain covers compliant with the Virginia Graeme Baker Act.
Katy regulates signs through Article 3.06 of Chapter 3, restricting moving and intermittent lights and prohibiting unpermitted off-premises signs in residential districts where home occupations operate.
Katy's zoning ordinance separates commercial daycare from residential uses, classifying "Commercial Daycare, Pre-School, Childcare, Nursery" as a distinct category requiring proper zoning and compliance certificates.
Katy's zoning ordinance permits limited home occupations as a secondary residential use, restricting allowed activities to specific professional and craft trades while prohibiting retail and noxious operations.
Katy's zoning ordinance bars home occupations from creating noxious impacts including vibration, noise, odor, dust, smoke, gas, or unsightly appearance, effectively limiting customer traffic on residential streets.
The Texas Cottage Food Law (Health & Safety Code Chapter 437, Subchapter A) authorizes home-based production and sale of certain non-potentially-hazardous foods statewide. Cities and counties cannot prohibit cottage food operations or require permits for them.
Katy's Code of Ordinances and Zoning Ordinance (Exhibit 14A) do not set a numeric maximum fence height for residential lots and require no building permit for fence construction. Corner lots must preserve sightlines at intersections, and almost every Katy subdivision is governed by HOA deed restrictions that typically cap fences at 6 to 8 feet. Texas Local Government Code Chapter 211 authorizes Katy's zoning controls.
Fort Bend County requires semi-public and public swimming pools and spas to be enclosed by a barrier meeting county standards, but exempts private single-family and duplex residential pools from regulation.
Katy requires every permitted short-term rental to maintain qualifying general liability insurance and provide proof of coverage during the application and renewal process.
Katy imposes a 7% city hotel occupancy tax on short-term rentals, in addition to the 6% state HOT, with monthly reporting required from operators.
Katy requires every short-term rental operator to obtain a city-issued permit before listing or renting a dwelling for periods of less than thirty consecutive days.
Katy STR Article 4.10 requires parking to comply with the zoning ordinance, prohibits required parking in public right-of-way, alleys, or access easements, and bars yards from being used for the minimum required parking.
Katy STR Article 4.10 (adopted Mar 27, 2023) makes operators civilly and criminally liable for guest noise. Citywide Article 8.04 prohibits sound plainly audible 50 feet away between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
Fort Bend County imposes no STR-specific occupancy limits in unincorporated areas. Texas counties lack general police power to regulate STRs under Local Gov't Code Ch. 233. Practical limits derive from International Residential Code bedroom/egress rules and on-site septic system capacity (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality OSSF rules in 30 TAC Ch. 285).
Katy declares any livestock, fowl, or animal kept in conditions that disturb neighbors or create unsanitary conditions a public nuisance, allowing animal control to investigate and abate hoarding-type situations.
Katy classifies exotic animals as livestock subject to the one-acre rule and regulates dangerous wild animals under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 822, Subchapter E, with the city as the local enforcement authority.
Katy requires dogs to be on a leash or securely confined within a fence at all times, prohibits dogs from running at large, and authorizes animal control to impound any unrestrained dog found in the city.
Katy prohibits keeping chickens, fowl, or livestock on tracts smaller than one acre, caps the number per acre, and bans swine within city limits except for limited FFA or 4-H exemptions.
Fort Bend County follows Texas state law allowing beekeeping as a qualifying agricultural use on tracts of 5 to 20 acres, granting agricultural valuation for property tax purposes when minimum colony counts are maintained.
Fort Bend County prohibits feeding stray or feral animals in ways that create public health nuisances, and discourages wildlife feeding that attracts coyotes, hogs, and other species near residential areas.
Texas Health & Safety Code 822.047 prohibits any Texas city or county from regulating dogs based on breed. Local breed bans against pit bulls, Rottweilers, or other breeds are unenforceable in every Texas municipality.
Katy requires carts placed at the curb by 7 a.m. on collection day, and commercial dumpsters must sit on a screened, all-weather pad except when stored fully inside.
The City of Katy contracts with Texas Pride Disposal for residential trash and recycling collection, with set-out times, container standards, and routes governed by city ordinance.
Katy residents receive weekly bulk pickup of up to three bulky items plus quarterly Super Heavy Trash collection, with strict limits on prohibited materials.
Katy provides single-stream curbside recycling through Texas Pride Disposal, with accepted materials including paper, cardboard, metal cans, glass, and plastic bottles and jugs.
Katy requires a stormwater pollution prevention plan and TPDES coverage for any construction site disturbing one or more acres, including post-construction BMPs maintained by the property owner.
Katy requires erosion and sediment controls as part of the SWPPP for one-acre construction sites and incorporates Harris County PCPM design standards for stable channels and detention ponds.
Katy's minimum construction standards require storm sewers to contain a two-year storm without surcharging at minimum 0.1% gradient using Class III concrete pipe and follow Harris County PCPM hydrology standards.
Katy's flood damage prevention article requires anchoring, flood-resistant construction, and floodplain administrator approval for all new construction and substantial improvements in special and moderate flood hazard areas.
Katy requires trash containers to be marked with owner contact information, kept covered, and used only by the property they belong to.
Owners of vacant lots in Katy must keep weeds under nine inches and prevent rubbish, stagnant water, or pest harborage on the parcel.
Katy treats high weeds, accumulated rubbish, and unsanitary conditions as nuisances when weeds exceed nine inches or harbor pests.
The City of Katy enforces nighttime and daytime juvenile curfews under Chapter 8, prohibiting minors from being in public during specified hours absent statutory exceptions.
City of Katy parks operate under park rules that limit access to posted hours, with the dog park open dawn to dusk and other facilities generally closed late at night.
Katy Ordinance No. 2243 lets residents block solicitors by posting a weatherproof no-solicitation sign at least one inch tall in bold print near the main entrance, making any further solicitation a code violation.
Under Ordinance No. 2243, anyone engaged in home solicitation, charitable solicitation, or itinerant peddling in Katy must obtain a permit and register with the Katy Police Department before knocking on doors.
Christmas displays and similar non-advertising holiday decorations are expressly exempt from Katy's sign regulations but must comply with fire safety rules.
Katy prohibits posting garage sale signs and other bandit signs in public rights-of-way, on utility poles, traffic signs, or attached to public infrastructure.
Texas Election Code Chapter 259 and Property Code 202.009 protect the display of political signs on private residential property. Cities, counties, and HOAs cannot prohibit residents from displaying political signs subject only to narrow time, size, and safety limits.
Katy requires every food truck and mobile food unit to obtain a city Mobile Food Vendor permit under Ordinance 3086, valid for one year. Operators must also display a current Harris County or Fort Bend County health permit before selling food in the city.
Katy limits stationary food truck operation to the M industrial district, with additional accessory-use allowances in the OKD Old Katy district. No more than two mobile food establishments may share a single location, and OKD trucks must sit behind a building and stay 300 feet from other vending sites.
Katy makes it a misdemeanor to damage, cut, or remove vegetation on public parks, easements, rights-of-way, or other city property, with fines up to $200 per violation.
Katy requires two replacement trees for every living tree removed during development and obligates owners to replace dead landscaping within 60 days of city notice.
Katy's R-1 single-family district requires a 25-foot front yard, side yard adjacent to streets on corner lots, and a minimum 15-foot rear yard depth measured from any structure.
Katy zoning limits residential structures to 32 feet measured from the highest natural grade under the slab, excluding chimneys, attic ventilators, and plumbing vent stacks from the height calculation.
Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 487 limits cannabis dispensing to a small number of state-licensed Compassionate Use Program providers. There are no recreational dispensaries anywhere in Texas, and cities cannot license additional ones.
Texas Health & Safety Code 481.121 makes it a crime to possess or grow marijuana anywhere in the state. Home cultivation is illegal in every Texas city and county regardless of plant count or medical status.
Texas Government Code Chapter 423 preempts local commercial drone rules and FAA Part 107 governs commercial flight nationwide. Texas cities cannot require their own drone permits or fees for Part 107 operators delivering or surveying.
Texas Government Code Chapter 423 occupies the field of unmanned aircraft regulation. Cities and counties cannot adopt their own recreational drone ordinances, though limited municipal rules over takeoff and landing on public property remain.
Texas Labor Code Section 62.0515 expressly preempts municipal and county minimum wage ordinances. The state minimum wage equals the federal floor of $7.25 per hour, and political subdivisions cannot require private employers to pay more, except for their own contracts.
Texas appellate courts have struck down municipal paid sick leave ordinances in Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio as preempted under the Texas Minimum Wage Act. HB 2127 (2023) further codifies preemption by barring local regulation of employment benefits and leave policies.
HB 2127 (2023), the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act, preempts municipal predictive or fair workweek scheduling ordinances. Texas cities cannot require employers to provide advance schedule notice, predictability pay, or rest periods between shifts beyond state law.
Texas authorizes License to Carry (LTC) holders to carry concealed handguns statewide under Government Code Chapter 411. Since 2021, permitless constitutional carry under HB 1927 also allows most adults 21 and older to carry without a license, with municipalities preempted from added restrictions.
Texas Local Government Code Section 229.001 broadly preempts municipal regulation of firearms, ammunition, knives, and related accessories. Cities cannot adopt or enforce ordinances regulating the transfer, ownership, possession, transport, or discharge of firearms beyond narrow exceptions for discharge in densely populated areas.
Texas authorizes open carry of holstered handguns statewide for adults 21 and older under Penal Code 46.02 and HB 910 (2015). Long guns may be openly carried subject to disorderly conduct limits. Municipalities cannot impose additional open carry restrictions.
Texas Penal Code 46.02(a-1) lets any non-prohibited adult lawfully carry a handgun inside a personally-owned or leased motor vehicle or watercraft without a License to Carry, provided the firearm is not in plain view and the person is not engaged in criminal activity or gang membership.
Texas Government Code Chapter 673 requires every state agency and any business that contracts with a state agency to register for and use the federal E-Verify system to confirm the work eligibility of new employees. Private-sector E-Verify use is generally voluntary statewide.
Texas Government Code Chapter 752, enacted by Senate Bill 4 in 2017, prohibits any local entity, campus police department, or jail from adopting sanctuary policies. Local officials must honor federal immigration detainer requests and may not bar officers from inquiring about immigration status.
Texas Property Code Chapter 24 sets the exclusive procedure for residential evictions statewide. Cities cannot require landlords to show 'just cause' to terminate a month-to-month tenancy or refuse renewal, beyond the state's notice rules.
Texas Local Government Code 214.902 forbids cities from adopting rent control ordinances except in narrow disaster-related circumstances approved by the governor. Statewide, no Texas city can cap residential rent increases or set base rents.
Texas Local Government Code 214.902 caps rental registration and inspection programs, and Property Code Chapter 92 sets statewide landlord-tenant disclosure and habitability rules. Texas cities may register rental units only within state limits, and tenant protections apply universally.
Texas Local Government Code Chapter 212 and Agriculture Code Chapter 251 limit municipal authority to zone or regulate land qualified for agricultural use appraisal. Counties have no general zoning authority, and cities face restrictions on annexing or imposing land use rules on established farms.
The Texas Right to Farm Act, Agriculture Code Chapter 251, protects established agricultural operations from nuisance lawsuits and local regulations after one year of operation. SB 1421 (2023) significantly strengthened protections, preempting municipal ordinances that restrict generally accepted agricultural practices.
The Texas Supreme Court in City of Laredo v. Laredo Merchants Association (2018) held that Health and Safety Code Section 361.0961 preempts municipal plastic bag bans. Cities and counties cannot prohibit or restrict retail use of plastic checkout bags as containers or packages.
Health and Safety Code Section 361.0961 also preempts municipal bans on polystyrene foam containers used for food service. The same statute that struck down plastic bag bans prevents Texas cities from prohibiting expanded polystyrene cups, plates, and takeout packaging.
Plastic straw bans by Texas municipalities are preempted under Health and Safety Code Section 361.0961 and reinforced by HB 2127 (2023). Cities cannot prohibit or restrict food service businesses from offering single-use plastic straws to customers.