Pop. 56,014 · Denton County
Residential pools require VGB Act-compliant drain covers, GFCI protection within 20 feet, and building inspection before use per TX H&S Code Ch. 757.
Building permit required for all pool construction through Development Services. Plans must include barrier fencing, bonding, drainage, and setbacks. Multiple inspections before pool can be filled.
Pool barriers must be 48 inches high with self-closing, self-latching gates per the 2018 IRC Appendix G and TX Health and Safety Code Ch. 757.
Above-ground pools need a building permit and 48-inch barriers per the 2018 IRC. Pool walls may count if non-climbable. Most HOAs prohibit them.
Hot tubs holding 18+ inches of water require a building permit and 48-inch barrier unless equipped with an ASTM F1346 locking cover.
Little Elm does not impose an annual night cap or limit on the number of nights a property may be rented as a short-term rental. There is no maximum rental frequency restriction in Ordinance 1673. Properties may be rented year-round as long as registration is current and all other STR requirements are met.
Little Elm requires all short-term rental operators to complete annual registration through the town portal before listing their property. Registration costs $200 per year and must be renewed annually. Late registration incurs a $400 fee. Hosts must maintain records of reservations, guest counts, vehicle counts, and tax filings. Progressive enforcement escalates from warnings to permanent bans.
Little Elm imposes specific quiet hours for short-term rentals: 10 PM to 8 AM on work nights (Monday through Thursday) and 11 PM to 8 AM on weekends (Friday and Saturday). Rentals are expressly prohibited from being used as party venues. Hosts must include a written party prohibition in all advertisements and listings.
Little Elm limits short-term rental properties to a maximum of five additional guest vehicles on-site, not including any vehicles owned by the property owner. This vehicle cap applies at all times during a rental period. Street parking restrictions and other town parking ordinances also apply to STR guests.
Little Elm's short-term rental ordinance (Ordinance 1673) does not specify minimum insurance requirements for STR operators. The town does not mandate liability insurance, property damage coverage, or specific policy minimums as a condition of registration. Hosts should verify coverage through their homeowners insurance and rental platform policies.
Little Elm caps short-term rental occupancy at two adult guests per bedroom plus no more than two additional adults, with an absolute maximum of ten persons including adults and children. This limit applies regardless of property size. Violations are cited daily as separate offenses with fines up to $500 per day.
Little Elm imposes a 7% local hotel occupancy tax on all short-term rentals, collected from guests and remitted to the town. The state of Texas adds a 6% hotel occupancy tax under TX Tax Code Chapter 156, bringing the combined rate to 13%. Monthly or quarterly filing is required depending on tax volume. Late payment triggers a 5% penalty plus 10% annual interest after 60 days.
Little Elm requires mandatory annual registration before listing or operating any short-term rental property. Registration costs $200 per year with a $400 late fee. Advertising a property without registration is a violation. The ordinance was established May 5, 2020 under Ordinance 1673 and applies to any residential property rented for fewer than 30 days.
Carports require a building permit with a 5-foot setback from interior property lines. Maximum height is 14 feet. Most HOAs restrict carports.
No tiny home provisions exist in the zoning code. Homes on wheels are classified as RVs and cannot serve as permanent residences.
Sheds over 200 sq ft require a permit. All sheds need a 5-foot setback from property lines. Structures over 120 sq ft must match the primary dwelling.
ADUs are not permitted by-right in residential zones under Chapter 106. A zoning variance or special use permit from the Town Council is required.
Garage conversions require a permit and must maintain minimum two-car enclosed parking per Chapter 106. ADU conversion is not permitted.
Little Elm allows overnight street parking for passenger vehicles. Commercial vehicles restricted 10 PM-6 AM in posted subdivisions. Extended parking may trigger abandoned vehicle rules.
Little Elm has no specific EV charging ordinance. Level 2 charger installation requires a building permit. HOAs cannot block EV chargers under TX Property Code 202.023.
Little Elm Ch. 98 governs street parking: no parking within 15 ft of hydrants, 30 ft of stop signs. Rapid growth creates heavy demand in newer subdivisions with narrow lots.
TX Transportation Code Ch. 683 governs abandoned vehicles. Little Elm Ch. 98 requires inoperable vehicles on residential property to be enclosed in a garage or removed from the property.
Little Elm requires vehicles on improved surfaces only. Parking on grass or dirt in front yards is prohibited. Driveway construction and widening require a building permit under Ch. 106.
Little Elm requires RVs, boats, and trailers behind the front building line. Temporary driveway loading allowed for 48 hours. HOAs in newer lakeside subdivisions often add screening rules.
TX Transportation Code 545.307 prohibits overnight commercial vehicle parking (10 PM-6 AM) in posted residential subdivisions. Little Elm Ch. 98 enforces locally. Pickups generally exempt.
Little Elm requires permits for retaining walls over 4 ft or those supporting surcharges. Engineered drawings from a TX-licensed PE required. Drainage must not redirect to neighbors.
Little Elm requires a building permit for all fence construction through the Building Safety Division. A site plan showing property lines and fence location is required with the application.
Little Elm Ch. 106 limits front yard fences to 4 ft and side/rear to 6-8 ft by zoning district. Corner lots require 18-ft setback from side street curb for visibility.
Little Elm Ch. 106 governs fence materials. Barbed wire and electric fences prohibited in residential zones. Chain link banned for pool enclosures. HOAs often specify approved materials.
Little Elm Ch. 106 Div. 6 sets fence standards: permits required, 3-ft masonry setback from property lines, maintenance obligations enforced. HOAs often add material and style rules.
Little Elm requires 48-inch non-climbable pool barriers per 2018 IRC Appendix G AG105. Chain link prohibited for new enclosures. Self-closing, self-latching gates mandatory.
TX Property Code Ch. 26 governs boundary fences statewide. Cost-sharing is customary but not required. Little Elm has no local ordinance beyond state law. Civil mediation recommended.
Little Elm Ch. 18 Animals requires dogs to be leashed or confined at all times. Running at large is prohibited. Denton County Animal Services handles strays. Fine up to $500.
No local beekeeping ordinance. TX Ag Code Ch. 131 requires free annual apiary registration with TAIS. Movable-frame hives required. HOA deed restrictions may apply.
No standalone wildlife feeding ban, but Ch. 18 nuisance rules apply when feeding attracts vermin or creates health hazards. Corps of Engineers may prohibit feeding near Lewisville Lake.
Little Elm has no breed-specific bans. TX Health and Safety Code Ch. 822 governs dangerous dogs based on behavior, not breed. Dangerous dogs require registration and $100K insurance.
Livestock prohibited on residential lots under Ch. 18 Animals and zoning ordinance. Only agricultural-zoned properties may keep farm animals. Backyard chickens generally not permitted.
Little Elm Ch. 18 and Ch. 106 Zoning govern chickens and livestock by zoning district. TX HB 1750 (2023) protects backyard poultry. Most newer HOAs prohibit livestock entirely.
Little Elm Ch. 18 prohibits wild, exotic, or dangerous animals in town limits. TX P&W Code Ch. 63 governs non-game wildlife. Venomous snakes require TPWD permits.
Year-round twice-weekly watering by address number per NTMWD plan. No sprinklers 10 AM-6 PM Apr-Oct. Drought stages escalate to once-weekly or total outdoor bans.
Ch. 34 Health and Sanitation requires grass and weeds below 12 inches. Violations trigger a 10-day abatement notice. Town may mow and lien costs to property.
Property owners must maintain 14-foot clearance over streets and 8-foot over sidewalks. No permit needed for routine private trimming. Avoid oak pruning Feb-Jun for oak wilt prevention.
No general tree removal permit for homeowners on established lots. Development sites require tree surveys for trees 6-inch caliper or larger. HOA approval may be required.
No local prohibition on artificial turf. TX Property Code 202.007 limits HOA authority over water-conserving landscaping. No permit required. Eliminates irrigation demand.
Rainwater harvesting legal and encouraged. TX Property Code 202.007 bars HOA bans on collection systems. TX HSC 341.042 permits potable use. No local permit needed for rain barrels.
No restrictions on native plants. TX Property Code 202.007 limits HOA bans on xeriscaping. Native and drought-adapted plants encouraged under NTMWD water conservation.
Ch. 34 declares weeds and brush over 12 inches a public nuisance. Ten-day abatement notice issued. Town clears and liens cost if owner does not comply. Vacant lots included.
Little Elm does not have a standalone leaf blower ordinance or ban on gas-powered blowers. Leaf blowers are regulated under the general power equipment provisions of Sec. 70-55, which prohibit operation between sundown or 8 PM (whichever is later) and 8 AM in residential districts or within 500 feet of a residence. There is no decibel-specific limit for leaf blowers.
Little Elm does not establish specific numeric decibel limits in its noise ordinance. Instead, Sec. 70-55 uses a reasonable-person standard, prohibiting noise that is unreasonably loud or disturbing and offensive to the ordinary sensibilities of a neighboring person. Texas Penal Code 42.01 provides a statewide 85 dBA threshold for disorderly conduct enforcement.
Little Elm regulates industrial and commercial noise through the general noise ordinance in Sec. 70-55. Industrial operations in nonresidential districts must not create unreasonably loud or disturbing noise offensive to neighboring persons. Operations within 500 feet of a residential district or quiet zone face the same residential time restrictions.
Little Elm regulates amplified music through Sec. 70-55, restricting radios, TVs, musical instruments, loudspeakers, and similar devices in residential areas. Sound devices must stop by 10 PM on work nights and 11 PM on weekends. The town manager may authorize special event variances extending to midnight. Outdoor music in parks requires a town-approved special event permit.
Little Elm specifically prohibits outdoor music in parks, public places, and nonresidential districts without a town-approved special event permit or facility rental agreement under Sec. 70-55. In residential areas, outdoor music must stop by 10 PM on work nights and 11 PM on weekends. The town manager may authorize variances for events extending to midnight.
Little Elm addresses barking dogs under both Chapter 18 (Animals) and Chapter 70 (Noise). Under Sec. 18-42, any animal noise exceeding 15 minutes, even in sporadic bursts, is prima facie evidence of a nuisance. Pet owners notified by animal control or police who fail to correct the disturbance are in willful violation. Fines up to $500 per offense apply.
Little Elm restricts construction, maintenance, repair, alteration, and demolition work in residential districts and quiet zones to daytime hours. Under Sec. 70-55, construction equipment is prohibited from operating between 8 PM and 7 AM within residential areas or within 500 feet of any residence. Emergency utility work is exempt.
Little Elm enforces noise restrictions under Chapter 70, Article III of the Town Code. Sound devices including radios, TVs, and musical instruments are prohibited after 10 PM Sunday through Thursday and after 11 PM Friday and Saturday. Morning quiet extends until 8 AM following any night. Violations are a misdemeanor punishable by fines up to $500 per day.
Little Elm does not have a local aircraft noise ordinance. The town is not adjacent to a major commercial airport, though it is within the broader DFW metroplex airspace. Aircraft noise is regulated at the federal level by the FAA under 14 CFR Part 150. Nearby Denton Enterprise Airport is approximately 15 miles east, and DFW International Airport is about 25 miles southeast.
Little Elm prohibits the sale, possession, and use of fireworks within town limits and within 5,000 feet of town boundaries. This is a comprehensive ban with no holiday exceptions. Violations can result in fines up to $2,000. Texas Occupations Code Chapter 2154 governs fireworks at the state level, but municipalities retain authority to impose stricter local bans.
Little Elm adopts the 2018 IFC (Ordinance 1494) requiring smoke alarms in every bedroom, hallway, and level. CO detectors required near fuel-burning appliances. TX H&S Code Ch. 766 covers rentals.
Little Elm requires an annual burn permit ($25) from the Fire Department for any outdoor burning including brush and vegetation clearing. Open burning for land clearing must maintain 300-foot clearance from any structure. Burning is only allowed on designated burn days set by the Denton County Fire Marshal. All open burns must be constantly attended and must comply with TCEQ outdoor burning regulations.
Little Elm is a developed lakeside community with low wildfire risk along Lewisville Lake. Denton County burn bans apply during drought. No locally designated wildfire zones.
Wood-burning fire pits and bonfires in Little Elm require a burn permit from the Fire Department. Gas/propane fire pits with enclosed flames may be exempt. Grills allowed without permit.
Little Elm regulates fire pits under the 2018 International Fire Code adopted with local amendments in Sec. 50-108. Portable outdoor fireplaces are allowed at one- and two-family dwellings on non-combustible surfaces like concrete pads or maintained lawns. Permanent fire pits must maintain a minimum 10-foot clearance from any structure or combustible material. Recreational fires must be constantly attended.
Little Elm requires a $25 annual burn permit from the Fire Department via the MyGov portal before any outdoor burning. Denton County burn bans override town permits during drought.
Home occupations permitted as accessory use in residential zones. Must operate entirely indoors, use under 25 percent of floor area, and have no non-resident employees or external evidence.
Home occupation signage effectively prohibited under no-external-evidence standard. Small non-illuminated nameplate up to 2 sq ft may be allowed. No freestanding or illuminated signs.
Customer traffic must not exceed normal residential levels. Frequent walk-in visits, parking overflow, and delivery truck traffic are grounds for code enforcement action.
No home occupation permit required. Compliance with zoning standards is self-certified and enforced on a complaint basis by Code Enforcement. State licenses apply separately.
Home daycares require HHSC licensing under 40 TAC Ch. 745 plus home occupation zoning compliance. Listed Homes: 1-3 children. Registered: up to 6. Licensed: up to 12.
TX HSC Ch. 437 allows home kitchen food sales up to $50,000/year without permits. TX LGC 250.008 bars cities from banning cottage food. Direct-to-consumer sales only with required labeling.
Little Elm does not impose a mandatory snow or ice removal ordinance on residential property owners. North Texas receives limited snowfall, and the town handles public road clearing through its public works department.
Little Elm enforces strict property maintenance standards under the IPMC and local code. Properties must be free of junk, debris, broken windows, peeling paint, and other blight conditions.
Little Elm requires trash and recycling carts stored out of public view except on collection days. Bins go out no earlier than 6 PM the night before and must be retrieved by midnight.
Little Elm permits garage and yard sales but limits each household to a set number of sales per year. Signs must comply with the town sign ordinance and may not be placed on utility poles or in public rights-of-way.
Little Elm requires vacant lot owners to keep vegetation below 12 inches and prevent dumping. The town can mow and abate at the owner's expense after notice.
Ordinance 1087 established the stormwater program to protect Lewisville Lake. A TCEQ MS4 permit and monthly drainage fee apply townwide.
Site grading must direct drainage away from foundations with 6 inches of fall in 10 feet. Altering drainage that floods neighbors is prohibited.
Extensive FEMA flood zones exist downstream of Lewisville Lake Dam. New construction must be elevated above the Base Flood Elevation under NFIP rules.
Sites disturbing 1+ acres must file a TCEQ Notice of Intent and implement a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan with silt fence and inlet protection.
TX Property Code 202.010 bars HOAs from banning solar devices. Rules cannot raise cost or cut efficiency by more than 10 percent each.
Solar panels require building and electrical permits. Grid-connected systems need CoServ Electric interconnection approval. HOAs cannot ban solar.
Political signs are allowed on private property without a permit per Chapter 86 and TX Election Code Ch. 259. Public right-of-way placement is prohibited.
Holiday decorations are exempt from sign permits. The town sets no date limits. Most timing restrictions come from HOA covenants.
Garage sale signs are regulated under Chapter 86. Signs are prohibited on public property and must be removed promptly after the sale ends.
Little Elm has no just-cause eviction ordinance. Texas law allows landlords to end a tenancy at lease expiration or with proper notice for month-to-month agreements without giving a reason.
Little Elm does not currently require landlords to register rental properties with the town. There is no mandatory rental registration program, rental licensing fee, or periodic rental inspection requirement.
Little Elm has no rent control. Texas state law preempts all municipalities from enacting ordinances that regulate the amount of rent charged for private residential property.
Under Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005, a Texas landlord must give a defaulting or holdover tenant at least three days' written notice to vacate before filing a forcible detainer (eviction) suit, unless the lease sets a different period. After the notice expires the landlord files in justice court; only a court-ordered writ of possession can remove the tenant.
Under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.052 a landlord must make a diligent effort to repair conditions that materially affect an ordinary tenant's health or safety after proper notice. Section 92.056 sets the notice process and a rebuttable presumption that seven days is reasonable; § 92.0561 lets a tenant repair and deduct, capped at one month's rent or $500.
Texas has no statute requiring a landlord to give advance notice before entering a residential rental unit. Whether and how much notice is required is governed entirely by the lease. If the lease is silent, no advance notice is statutorily mandated, though landlords cannot use entry to harass or retaliate under Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 92.
Under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.019 a residential late fee must be reasonable and may be charged only if written in the lease and the rent stays unpaid two full days after due. A fee is deemed reasonable at up to 12% of rent for a structure with four or fewer units, or 10% for larger structures.
Under Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001, either party may end a month-to-month tenancy by giving notice, and the tenancy ends on the later of the date in the notice or one month after notice is given. Shorter rent-paying periods need notice equal to that period. A written lease may set a different period, and fixed terms simply expire.
Texas has no statute capping residential rent or requiring advance notice before a rent increase. Amount and timing are governed entirely by the lease. On a month-to-month tenancy a landlord changes rent by serving the one-month notice under Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001. Fixed-term rent is locked until the term ends.
Texas places no statutory limit on how much a landlord can charge for a security deposit. However, the landlord must refund the deposit within 30 days after the tenant surrenders the premises. A landlord who keeps a deposit in bad faith faces $100 plus three times the wrongfully withheld amount, plus the tenant's attorney's fees.
In Texas a squatter can claim title only through adverse possession, with periods that shorten as the claim strengthens: 3 years under title or color of title (§ 16.024), 5 years with a registered deed plus paid taxes (§ 16.025), 10 years for bare possession capped at 160 acres (§ 16.026), and 25 years under a recorded instrument (§ 16.028).
Little Elm requires shielded outdoor lighting fixtures and limits glare through its zoning standards. Light at residential property boundaries must not exceed one foot-candle.
Little Elm prohibits outdoor lighting from casting excessive illumination onto neighboring properties. Light at residential property lines must not exceed one foot-candle.
Little Elm offers periodic bulk item pickup for large items that do not fit in standard trash carts. Residents must schedule bulk pickups in advance through the town or its contracted waste hauler.
Little Elm provides weekly trash and every-other-week recycling pickup. Carts must be at the curb by 7 AM on collection day with lids closed and handles facing the house.
Little Elm requires trash and recycling carts to be placed at the curb with handles facing the house, lids closed, and at least three feet of clearance from any obstructions for automated collection.
Little Elm provides single-stream recycling collection every other week. Residents receive a 96-gallon recycling cart and are encouraged but not mandated to recycle accepted materials.
Recreational drone use in Little Elm is governed by FAA rules and Texas Government Code Chapter 423, which restricts surveillance over private property. DFW Class B airspace applies.
Commercial drones in Little Elm require an FAA Part 107 certificate and must comply with TX Govt Code Chapter 423 privacy rules. DFW Class B airspace authorization is needed.
Little Elm allows food trucks on private commercial property with owner consent but restricts vending in residential zones and public rights-of-way without town approval.
Food trucks in Little Elm must obtain a mobile food vendor permit from the town and meet Denton County health department requirements. Permits specify approved locations and hours.
Little Elm enforces no-soliciting signs on residential properties and penalizes solicitors who ignore them. The town may maintain a do-not-knock registry for opt-out residents.
Little Elm requires door-to-door solicitors and peddlers to obtain a town permit before going door to door. Applicants must submit to a background check and comply with designated solicitation hours.
No cannabis dispensaries are permitted in Little Elm. Texas authorizes only three Compassionate Use dispensaries statewide for low-THC products.
Cannabis cultivation is completely prohibited under TX Health and Safety Code Ch. 481. Possession of any amount is a criminal offense in Texas.
Texas Labor Code Section 62.0515 expressly preempts municipal and county minimum wage ordinances. The state minimum wage equals the federal floor of $7.25 per hour, and political subdivisions cannot require private employers to pay more, except for their own contracts.
Texas appellate courts have struck down municipal paid sick leave ordinances in Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio as preempted under the Texas Minimum Wage Act. HB 2127 (2023) further codifies preemption by barring local regulation of employment benefits and leave policies.
HB 2127 (2023), the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act, preempts municipal predictive or fair workweek scheduling ordinances. Texas cities cannot require employers to provide advance schedule notice, predictability pay, or rest periods between shifts beyond state law.
Texas authorizes License to Carry (LTC) holders to carry concealed handguns statewide under Government Code Chapter 411. Since 2021, permitless constitutional carry under HB 1927 also allows most adults 21 and older to carry without a license, with municipalities preempted from added restrictions.
Texas Local Government Code Section 229.001 broadly preempts municipal regulation of firearms, ammunition, knives, and related accessories. Cities cannot adopt or enforce ordinances regulating the transfer, ownership, possession, transport, or discharge of firearms beyond narrow exceptions for discharge in densely populated areas.
Texas authorizes open carry of holstered handguns statewide for adults 21 and older under Penal Code 46.02 and HB 910 (2015). Long guns may be openly carried subject to disorderly conduct limits. Municipalities cannot impose additional open carry restrictions.
Texas Penal Code 46.02(a-1) lets any non-prohibited adult lawfully carry a handgun inside a personally-owned or leased motor vehicle or watercraft without a License to Carry, provided the firearm is not in plain view and the person is not engaged in criminal activity or gang membership.
Under the Texas Residential Property Owners Protection Act, unpaid assessments become a lien (Tex. Prop. Code § 209.0094), but a Texas HOA may not foreclose that lien without first obtaining a court order (§ 209.0092). Owners can demand an alternative payment plan of at least three months under § 209.0062 before collection proceeds.
Texas requires open HOA governance: Tex. Prop. Code § 209.0051 makes board meetings open to owners with advance notice, § 209.005 gives owners the right to inspect association books and records, and § 209.00591 protects owners' right to run for and elect the board, voiding covenants that restrict candidacy.
A Texas HOA enforces its recorded restrictive covenants (Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 202), but Chapter 209 controls the procedure: § 209.006 requires certified-mail notice and a cure opportunity before most enforcement, and § 209.007 gives the owner a hearing. Section 202.003 directs that covenants 'shall be liberally construed' to give effect to their purpose.
Before a Texas HOA may levy a fine, Tex. Prop. Code § 209.006 requires written notice by certified mail describing the violation and a reasonable time to cure. The owner may request a hearing under § 209.007 within 30 days, and § 209.0061 requires a published fine schedule. Texas sets no statutory dollar cap on fines.
Texas law overrides HOA covenants on several fronts: Tex. Prop. Code § 202.010 bars associations from prohibiting solar energy devices, § 202.012 protects the U.S., Texas, and military flags, § 202.009 protects political signs in the pre-election window, and § 202.018 protects religious items at a dwelling's entry. Each allows only limited, reasonable restrictions.
Texas Government Code Chapter 673 requires every state agency and any business that contracts with a state agency to register for and use the federal E-Verify system to confirm the work eligibility of new employees. Private-sector E-Verify use is generally voluntary statewide.
Texas Government Code Chapter 752, enacted by Senate Bill 4 in 2017, prohibits any local entity, campus police department, or jail from adopting sanctuary policies. Local officials must honor federal immigration detainer requests and may not bar officers from inquiring about immigration status.
Texas Local Government Code Chapter 212 and Agriculture Code Chapter 251 limit municipal authority to zone or regulate land qualified for agricultural use appraisal. Counties have no general zoning authority, and cities face restrictions on annexing or imposing land use rules on established farms.
The Texas Right to Farm Act, Agriculture Code Chapter 251, protects established agricultural operations from nuisance lawsuits and local regulations after one year of operation. SB 1421 (2023) significantly strengthened protections, preempting municipal ordinances that restrict generally accepted agricultural practices.
The Texas Supreme Court in City of Laredo v. Laredo Merchants Association (2018) held that Health and Safety Code Section 361.0961 preempts municipal plastic bag bans. Cities and counties cannot prohibit or restrict retail use of plastic checkout bags as containers or packages.
Health and Safety Code Section 361.0961 also preempts municipal bans on polystyrene foam containers used for food service. The same statute that struck down plastic bag bans prevents Texas cities from prohibiting expanded polystyrene cups, plates, and takeout packaging.
Plastic straw bans by Texas municipalities are preempted under Health and Safety Code Section 361.0961 and reinforced by HB 2127 (2023). Cities cannot prohibit or restrict food service businesses from offering single-use plastic straws to customers.