Texas counties have very limited zoning authority under Local Government Code chapters 232 and 233, primarily over subdivisions and floodplains. Harris County does not adopt specific plans. Houston also lacks traditional zoning. Land-use control comes from deed restrictions, HOAs, and chapter 42 city development rules.
Texas Local Government Code chapters 232 and 233 grant counties limited unincorporated authority over subdivision platting, floodplain management, and a small set of public health rules. Counties cannot adopt comprehensive zoning, specific plans, or transit-oriented development overlays the way California counties do under Government Code 65450. Harris County does not maintain a specific-plan regime. The City of Houston famously rejected zoning in 1993 and 2010 referendums and instead relies on deed restrictions enforced under Property Code chapter 209 and on Houston Code of Ordinances chapter 42 development standards. Cities like Sugar Land, Pearland, and Bellaire run more traditional zoning but no formal specific-plan overlay.
No specific-plan violation framework exists because Texas does not authorize county specific plans. Subdivision-platting violations under Local Government Code chapter 232 carry civil penalties up to one thousand dollars per day and injunctive relief in district court.
Pasadena, TX
Pasadena is a non-zoned municipality. Home businesses are regulated through Home Occupation Permits rather than zoning districts. A Code Compliance Officer i...
Pasadena, TX
Pasadena regulates lot coverage through its subdivision and zoning regulations (Appendix A). Maximum lot coverage varies by zoning district. The Off-Street P...
Pasadena, TX
Pasadena's zoning and subdivision regulations (Appendix A) establish building setback requirements that vary by zoning district. Residential setbacks include...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Harris County.
See how Pasadena's specific plans overview rules stack up against other locations.
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