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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Texas has no right-to-charge statute. Property Code Chapter 202 protects solar panels, rain barrels, and standby generators from HOA bans, but the Legislature has not extended that…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Katy's zoning ordinance separates commercial daycare from residential uses, classifying "Commercial Daycare, Pre-School, Childcare, Nursery" as a distinct category requiring proper…
Katy's zoning ordinance permits limited home occupations as a secondary residential use, restricting allowed activities to specific professional and craft trades while prohibiting…
Katy's zoning ordinance bars home occupations from creating noxious impacts including vibration, noise, odor, dust, smoke, gas, or unsightly appearance, effectively limiting customer…
The Texas Cottage Food Law (Health & Safety Code Chapter 437) authorizes home-based production and sale of certain non-potentially-hazardous foods statewide. Cities and counties cannot…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.
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.
The City of Katy collects garbage and recycling weekly by color zone - Blue on Monday, Red on Tuesday, Yellow on Wednesday - through Texas Pride Disposal. Find your zone on the service…
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…
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…
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…
Katy's flood damage prevention article requires anchoring, flood-resistant construction, and floodplain administrator approval for all new construction and substantial improvements in…
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.
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…
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…
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 259.003 and Election Code Section 259.002 protect political signs on private residential property. Cities cannot regulate compliant signs at any time, and HOAs…
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…
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…
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.
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.
Texas prohibits juvenile curfews. Local Government Code section 370.008 bars any city or county from adopting or enforcing a curfew on anyone under 18, so no Texas municipality has an…
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…
Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 487 limits cannabis dispensing to state-licensed Compassionate Use Program providers — expanded to as many as 15 organizations by HB 46 (2025). There…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
HB 2127 (2023), the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act, preempts municipal predictive or fair workweek scheduling ordinances. Texas cities cannot require employers to provide advance…
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…
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 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…
Texas Penal Code 46.02(a-1) lets any non-prohibited adult carry a handgun inside a personally-owned or leased motor vehicle or watercraft without a License to Carry. Since HB 1927…
Under the Texas Residential Property Owners Protection Act, unpaid assessments become a lien (Tex. Prop. Code § 209.0094), but a Texas HOA may not foreclose that lien without first…
Texas requires open HOA governance: Tex. Prop. Code § 209.0051 makes board meetings open to owners with advance notice, § 209.005 gives owners the right to inspect association books…
A Texas HOA enforces its recorded restrictive covenants (Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 202), but Chapter 209 controls the procedure: § 209.006 requires certified-mail notice and a cure…
Before a Texas HOA may levy a fine, Tex. Prop. Code § 209.006 requires written notice by certified mail describing the violation and a reasonable time to cure. The owner may request a…
Texas law overrides HOA covenants on several fronts: Tex. Prop. Code § 202.010 bars associations from prohibiting solar energy devices, § 202.012 protects the U.S., Texas, and military…
Texas Government Code Chapter 673 requires every state agency to use the federal E-Verify system to confirm the work eligibility of new employees, and Executive Order RP-80 extends…
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…
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 § 92.052 a landlord must make a diligent effort to repair conditions that materially affect an ordinary tenant's health or safety after proper notice. Section…
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…
Texas has no statute requiring a landlord to give advance notice before entering a residential rental unit. Whether and how much notice is required is governed entirely by the lease…
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…
Texas law forbids cities from adopting rent control. A municipality may not establish rent control unless its governing body finds a housing emergency caused by a disaster and the…
Texas has no statute capping residential rent or requiring advance notice before a rent increase. Amount and timing are governed entirely by the lease. On a month-to-month tenancy a…
Texas has no statewide rental registration system and no statute capping what cities charge for local programs. Cities adopt their own registration and inspection ordinances under…
Texas places no statutory limit on how much a landlord can charge for a security deposit. However, the landlord must refund the deposit within 30 days after the tenant surrenders the…
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…
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…
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. HB…
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…
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…
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…