Dallas County does not regulate residential planting choices in unincorporated areas, and Texas Property Code 202.007 bars HOAs from banning drought-tolerant landscaping, including many Texas native plants, when part of an approved plan.
Dallas County imposes no landscaping ordinance on single-family residential lots in unincorporated territory; there is no required plant list, minimum turf area, or native-species mandate at the county level. Property owners may freely plant Texas natives such as live oak, cedar elm, Mexican plum, bluebonnet, Texas sage, Gregg's mistflower, big bluestem, and Blackland Prairie grasses. State law provides strong protection against HOA interference: Texas Property Code 202.007 prevents property owners' associations from prohibiting drought-resistant landscaping or water-conserving turf, though HOAs may still require homeowners to submit a landscape plan for aesthetic review and may set reasonable standards so long as those standards do not effectively prohibit xeriscaping. The North Central Texas Council of Governments and Dallas County Master Gardeners promote native planting through the Texas SmartScape program, which emphasizes regionally adapted species suited to Blackland Prairie and Cross Timbers ecoregions. Properties near waterways may fall within floodplain management areas administered by Dallas County Public Works; vegetation changes inside a regulatory floodway require a floodplain development permit to ensure no rise in base flood elevation. Removal of large protected trees is not regulated countywide, but some cities in the ETJ (such as Dallas and Irving) apply tree preservation rules after annexation. No watering schedule is set by the county, though most municipal water providers in Dallas County enforce year-round twice-per-week outdoor watering limits.
Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact Dallas County code enforcement directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.
Dallas County, TX
Outdoor burning is prohibited in unincorporated Dallas County unless a daily burn permit is issued by the Dallas County Fire Marshal. Burns must be at least ...
Dallas County, TX
Dallas County Fire Marshal enforces the International Fire Code Chapter 61 for propane and liquefied petroleum gas storage in unincorporated areas. Cylinders...
Dallas County, TX
Dallas County is inland β no Gulf coast, no Texas Open Beaches Act jurisdiction, and no GLO coastal-construction rules apply. The relevant inland program is ...
Dallas County, TX
Dallas County does not license or zone home daycares β child-care regulation is handled by Texas DFPS / HHSC under Tex. Human Resources Code Ch. 42. Care for...
Dallas County, TX
Drone flights near DFW International, Dallas Love Field, and Addison Airport require FAA authorization through LAANC or DroneZone. Controlled airspace covers...
Dallas County, TX
Dallas County Parks generally prohibit recreational drone takeoff and landing without authorization. The FAA preempts airspace regulation, but counties may r...
See how Dallas County's native plants rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.