Rowlett's landscape standards favor native and adapted plants: required plant material must be native to or adaptable to the North Central Texas environment under the Development Code (Sec. 77-504) and the City's Approved Plant List. Statewide, Texas Property Code Sec. 202.007 stops HOAs from banning drought-resistant landscaping.
Rowlett's Plant Material/Protected Tree Guide and Development Code (Sec. 77-504, Landscaping) call for approved plant material consisting of species native to and/or adaptable to the North Central Texas environment and the particular project site, as determined by the Director of Planning and Community Development. The City publishes an Approved Plant List and a Plant Material/Protected Tree Guide to steer owners and developers toward climate-appropriate, water-thrifty species. As an NTMWD member city, Rowlett encourages drought-tolerant landscaping to reduce irrigation demand. For homeowners, Texas Property Code Sec. 202.007 voids any HOA covenant that prohibits drought-resistant landscaping or water-conserving natural turf; an HOA may require a landscape plan for review to ensure aesthetic compatibility but may not unreasonably deny approval or declare a compliant drought-resistant design aesthetically incompatible. Regulated development sites must still meet the City's minimum landscape-area and live-ground-cover standards in the Development Code, but those standards are designed around the native/adapted plant palette.
There are no City penalties for choosing native or drought-tolerant plants that comply with the Development Code and Approved Plant List. On regulated/commercial sites, failing to meet minimum landscape-area or required live plant material under Sec. 77-504 is a Development Code violation handled through plan review and code enforcement.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Rowlett effectively bars tiny homes in standard single-family districts through minimum dwelling-size rules. Even the smallest district, SF-5, requires a 1,5...
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