Fort Worth allows and encourages native xeriscape landscaping, and Texas Property Code Section 202.007 prevents HOAs from prohibiting drought-resistant plants and water-conserving turf.
Fort Worth Water's SmartFlex conservation program promotes native Texas plants such as Texas sage, Turk's cap, bluebonnet, Gulf muhly, and Lindheimer's muhly as alternatives to thirsty turfgrass. The city does not require a particular landscape style for single-family homes beyond general weed height rules. Texas Property Code Section 202.007 protects homeowners from HOA restrictions that prohibit drought-resistant landscaping or water-conserving natural turf installed in accordance with the HOA's reasonable aesthetic guidelines and any local ordinance. HOAs may regulate design review, plant selection from an approved list, and overall appearance, but cannot flatly ban xeriscape. New commercial developments are subject to landscape and open-space standards in the zoning ordinance, including preservation credits for native trees. Fort Worth Water offers rebates on removing water-thirsty St. Augustine lawns and replacing them with conservation landscapes.
Standard native plant installations have no city enforcement risk. HOA overreach contrary to 202.007 is enforced through civil suit, with prevailing homeowners eligible to recover attorney fees. Weed-height violations for unmaintained native yards can still apply.
Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Code Sec. 23-8 caps non-residential and commercial noise at 80 dBA during daytime hours (7 AM - 10 PM), measured at the source property line for a...
Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth City Code Sec. 23-8 restricts construction noise that disturbs neighboring properties, with heavy equipment such as pile drivers prohibited betwee...
Fort Worth, TX
Under Fort Worth Code Sec. 22-160, it is unlawful to park a vehicle on any unpaved portion of the front or side yard of a residential lot in A, A-R, B, R-1, ...
Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Zoning Sec. 5.305 limits front-yard fences to open designs with at least 50% transparency, effectively barring solid wood, masonry, or vinyl panel...
Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth has no city ordinance requiring neighbors to share fence costs or notify each other before building. The city only enforces fence height, location...
Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth requires building permits for fences over 6 feet tall and for masonry fences. Standard wood or chain-link fences up to 6 feet (8 feet behind the f...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Tarrant County.
See how other cities in Tarrant County handle native plants.
See how Fort Worth's native plants rules stack up against other locations.
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