Leander, TX Landscaping Rules: Rainwater Harvesting (2026)

Leander has no city rule prohibiting rainwater collection, and Texas law strongly favors it. Texas Local Government Code Section 580.004 encourages each municipality to promote rainwater harvesting and provides that a city "may not deny a building permit solely because the facility will implement rainwater harvesting," though it may require the system to meet minimum state standards. For homeowners in subdivisions, Texas Property Code Section 202.007 prohibits a property owners' association from enforcing any covenant that bars installing "rain barrels or a rainwater harvesting system"; an HOA may regulate appearance and location (for example, screening or placement out of view from the street) but cannot impose a blanket ban. Rainwater harvesting also dovetails with Leander's water-conservation goals, since collected rain can be used for landscape irrigation without counting against the Drought Contingency Plan's potable-water watering days. Texas additionally exempts rainwater-harvesting equipment from state sales tax. Leander's published water-efficiency rebate program (administered through LCRA WaterSmart) centers on irrigation upgrades, turf conversion, and composting rather than rain barrels specifically, so check current LCRA and city offerings for any rainwater incentives before purchasing equipment.