Pop. 133,372 · Williamson County
Texas law and Round Rock code do not require neighbor consent for fence construction. The 'good neighbor' convention applies — the finished side should face out. Disputes may be handled through civil mediation.
Round Rock requires a building permit for fences over a certain height. Applications are submitted through Development Services. Pool barriers always require permits.
Round Rock limits fence height to 6 feet in rear and side yards, and 4 feet in front yards. Zoning Code Ch. 8, Art. IV (§8-35) governs fence location and height.
Round Rock does not publish a fixed numeric occupancy cap per bedroom for short-term rentals. STR applicants must submit a detailed floor plan showing sleeping arrangements and proposed occupancy as part of the Temporary Use Permit (TUP), which is reviewed case-by-case by the Zoning Administrator.
Round Rock requires STR applicants to submit proof of liability insurance with the Temporary Use Permit application. The city does not publish a minimum dollar amount; coverage is reviewed for adequacy by the Zoning Administrator.
STR operators in Round Rock must collect Texas state Hotel Occupancy Tax (6%) plus Round Rock's local HOT. Combined tax applies to all rentals under 30 days.
Round Rock applies standard residential parking rules to STR properties. Guest vehicles must not block driveways, sidewalks, or fire hydrants. Street parking follows city-wide rules.
Round Rock requires short-term rental operators to obtain a STR license, typically priced around $150/year. Rentals must comply with the zoning code and register with the city for HOT tax collection.
Short-term rental guests in Round Rock are subject to the same noise ordinance as permanent residents. Quiet hours of 10 PM–7 AM (Sun–Thu) apply. STR license holders are responsible for guest compliance.
Round Rock allows residential carports only in side or rear yards — never in front yards or over a driveway in front of the home. Maximum height is 15 feet, and a building permit from the Building Inspection Division is required.
Round Rock permits accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in certain residential zoning districts subject to size, design, and owner-occupancy requirements under the Zoning Code.
Round Rock requires a building permit for sheds and accessory structures over 200 square feet. Setback requirements apply. Sheds may not exceed the height of the main dwelling.
Garage conversions in Round Rock require a building permit and must comply with residential building codes. Converting a garage to living space may affect required off-street parking counts.
Outdoor burning in Round Rock is restricted. Open burning of trash, debris, and yard waste is generally prohibited within the city. Burn bans issued by Williamson County or TCEQ also apply.
Recreational fire pits are permitted in Round Rock for seasoned wood burning, subject to setback requirements and active burn ban status. Fire pits may not be used to burn trash or debris.
Fireworks are banned within Round Rock city limits. The city enforces a strict prohibition on the sale, possession, and discharge of fireworks regardless of Texas state seasonal allowances.
Round Rock home occupation permits allow one small non-illuminated nameplate sign. Signs may not exceed 1 square foot and must not be lit. Commercial signage is not permitted in residential zones.
Round Rock's home occupation regulations restrict customer and client visits to avoid altering the residential character of the neighborhood. No retail sales open to the public are permitted.
Round Rock permits home occupations in residential zones subject to limitations on employees, signage, and customer visits. A home occupation permit is required.
The Texas Cottage Food Law (Health & Safety Code Chapter 437, Subchapter A) authorizes home-based production and sale of certain non-potentially-hazardous foods statewide. Cities and counties cannot prohibit cottage food operations or require permits for them.
Texas Human Resources Code Chapter 42 governs licensing and registration of home-based child care statewide through HHSC. Registered family homes serve up to 6 children under 14, must follow state minimum standards, and cannot be banned solely by zoning.
Round Rock Code Chapter 14, Article VIII establishes time-based quiet hours and uses a 'plainly audible' standard. Quiet hours run 10 PM–7 AM on weekdays and 10 PM–8 AM on weekends.
Round Rock restricts construction noise to 7 AM–7 PM Monday through Friday. Weekend and holiday construction outside these hours is prohibited under the noise ordinance.
Round Rock Chapter 14 and Chapter 4 (Animals) address barking dogs as a public nuisance. Persistent barking that unreasonably disturbs neighbors is enforceable by Animal Services and Code Enforcement.
Aircraft noise in flight is regulated exclusively by the FAA under federal law (49 U.S.C. 40103, 14 CFR Part 36, 91, 150). Texas cities and counties cannot impose noise limits on aircraft operations, though they may regulate ground-based airport activities through Texas Transportation Code Chapter 22.
Round Rock restricts commercial vehicle and heavy equipment parking in residential zones. Large commercial trucks and equipment may not be regularly stored on residential streets or in front yards.
Round Rock restricts RV and boat storage in residential front yards. RVs and trailers may not be used as permanent living quarters. Side or rear yard storage is subject to screening requirements.
Round Rock allows residential street parking subject to standard restrictions. Vehicles must face the direction of traffic, park no closer than 15 feet from an intersection, and may not block fire hydrants or driveways.
Round Rock requires driveways to comply with impervious cover limits and obtain permits for new or expanded driveway construction. Vehicles may be parked on hard-surface driveways.
Texas Property Code 202.019 prevents HOAs from prohibiting electric vehicle charging stations at a homeowner's dwelling. Owners across Texas may install Level 2 chargers in their garages or driveways subject only to reasonable conditions.
Round Rock operates under LCRA water management rules and adopts tiered watering schedules. During drought stages, watering schedules are reduced. Stage restrictions can limit outdoor irrigation to 1–2 days per week.
Round Rock requires a tree removal permit for the removal of protected trees on private property. The development code establishes minimum trunk diameter thresholds for protected status.
Round Rock does not require a permit for routine trimming of trees on private property. Trimming that encroaches into the public right-of-way requires city approval. Heritage tree protections may apply.
Round Rock Code Enforcement requires residential grass and weeds to be maintained at 12 inches or less. Overgrown vegetation is a code violation subject to abatement.
Texas Property Code 202.007 prohibits HOAs from banning rainwater harvesting systems, and Health & Safety Code 341.042 sets statewide standards for harvested rainwater used as a potable supply. Rainwater harvesting is broadly protected and encouraged in every Texas city and county.
Round Rock requires pool alarms, proper drainage, and compliance with the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code. Building permits are required for new pool construction.
Above-ground pools in Round Rock are subject to the same 48-inch barrier requirement as in-ground pools. Pools over a certain size require a building permit.
Round Rock follows Texas Health & Safety Code §757 for pool barrier requirements. A minimum 48-inch fence with self-latching, self-closing gates is required around all residential swimming pools.
Round Rock has no breed-specific legislation (BSL). All dog breeds are treated equally under Chapter 4. Dogs are regulated based on behavior, not breed.
Round Rock follows Texas state law on dangerous wild animals. Big cats, bears, coyotes, and certain reptiles are prohibited as pets. The zoning code also restricts livestock in residential areas.
Round Rock requires all dogs to be restrained or on a leash when off the owner's property. Chapter 4 of the Code of Ordinances governs animal control. Dogs at large are subject to impoundment.
Round Rock permits urban beekeeping subject to setback and hive limits under the zoning code. Hives must be registered with the Texas Apiary Inspection Service.
Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 487 limits cannabis dispensing to a small number of state-licensed Compassionate Use Program providers. There are no recreational dispensaries anywhere in Texas, and cities cannot license additional ones.
Texas Health & Safety Code 481.121 makes it a crime to possess or grow marijuana anywhere in the state. Home cultivation is illegal in every Texas city and county regardless of plant count or medical status.
Texas Government Code Chapter 423 preempts local commercial drone rules and FAA Part 107 governs commercial flight nationwide. Texas cities cannot require their own drone permits or fees for Part 107 operators delivering or surveying.
Texas Government Code Chapter 423 occupies the field of unmanned aircraft regulation. Cities and counties cannot adopt their own recreational drone ordinances, though limited municipal rules over takeoff and landing on public property remain.
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.
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 Property Code Chapter 24 sets the exclusive procedure for residential evictions statewide. Cities cannot require landlords to show 'just cause' to terminate a month-to-month tenancy or refuse renewal, beyond the state's notice rules.
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 law forbids cities from adopting rent control. A municipality may not establish rent control unless its governing body finds a housing emergency caused by a disaster and the governor approves the ordinance. There is no statewide rent cap, and in practice no Texas city has rent control. Landlords set increases freely.
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 Local Government Code 214.902 caps rental registration and inspection programs, and Property Code Chapter 92 sets statewide landlord-tenant disclosure and habitability rules. Texas cities may register rental units only within state limits, and tenant protections apply universally.
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).
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.