Georgetown, TX Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)

Georgetown encourages native and drought-tolerant landscaping through its Water Utility's Texas Grown Native Landscaping rebate, which offsets the cost of converting irrigated turf grass to a lawn designed for Central Texas using native plants and xeriscaping. The utility notes that native plants use about 80 percent less water than non-native plants and turfgrass. The rebate covers labor and supplies, whether a homeowner does the work or hires a contractor, up to $3,000 per year for residential customers (commercial sites up to $5,000), and counts toward the utility's combined annual rebate cap (up to $5,000 residential per fiscal year). Applications run through EGIA (GTXWaterRebates@egia.org), and the city advises contacting the administrator before starting work. At the state level, Texas Property Code Section 202.007 protects a homeowner's right to use drought-resistant landscaping or water-conserving natural turf: an HOA may not adopt or enforce a rule that prohibits these features. An association may require the owner to submit a detailed plan or description for review and approval to ensure aesthetic compatibility with the surrounding subdivision, but it cannot unreasonably deny a plan centered on drought-tolerant native plants. Georgetown itself does not mandate any particular plant palette for private yards, leaving residents free to choose native species.