Lewisville, TX Landscaping Rules: Rainwater Harvesting (2026)

Rainwater harvesting is expressly protected under Texas law. Texas Property Code Section 202.007 prohibits property owners associations from banning or restricting rainwater harvesting systems or the use of drought-resistant landscaping on residential property. HOAs may impose reasonable design and aesthetic requirements on the appearance of collection equipment but cannot prohibit the practice. Lewisville does not have a municipal ordinance restricting rainwater collection on residential property. Barrels, cisterns, and above-ground tanks are permitted. For large systems (typically above 500 gallons), the installation should comply with local building codes for structural support and should not create standing water that breeds mosquitoes (covered or screened containers required). Texas Tax Code provides a sales tax exemption for rainwater harvesting equipment and supplies, making collection systems more affordable. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has published guidelines for rainwater harvesting systems. Water collected from rooftops is suitable for landscape irrigation, which helps residents comply with the city twice-per-week watering restrictions since rainwater irrigation is not counted against the watering schedule. Given Lewisville Lake's drought vulnerability, the city generally encourages conservation practices including rainwater collection.