Property Code › Title 11 › Chapter 202

Texas Property Code § 202.023

Security Measures

Construction and Enforcement of Restrictive Covenants

(a) This section does not apply to:

(1) a condominium as defined by Section 81.002 or 82.003; or

(2) a master mixed-use property owners' association subject to Chapter 215.

(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), a property owners' association may not adopt or enforce a restrictive covenant that prevents a property owner from building or installing security measures, including but not limited to a security camera, motion detector, or perimeter fence.

(c) This section does not prohibit a property owners' association from:

(1) prohibiting the installation of a security camera by a property owner in a place other than the property owner's private property;

(2) regulating the type of fencing that a property owner may install;

(3) prohibiting the placement of fencing that obstructs:

(A) a license area, as defined by a written license agreement or plat;

(B) a sidewalk in the public right-of-way or otherwise installed for public or community use; or

(C) a drainage easement or drainage area;

(4) requiring a driveway gate to be set back at least 10 feet from the right-of-way if the driveway intersects with a laned roadway, as defined by Section 541.302, Transportation Code; or

(5) if provided by a restrictive covenant, prohibiting the installation of fencing in front of the front-most building line of a dwelling.

(d) Notwithstanding Subsection (c), a property owner may maintain any perimeter fencing or fencing in front of a dwelling's front-most building line installed or constructed before September 1, 2025.

(e) Notwithstanding Subsection (c)(5), a property owners' association may not prohibit a property owner from installing perimeter fencing or fencing in front of the front-most building line of a dwelling if:

(1) the property owner's residential address is exempt from public disclosure under state or federal law; or

(2) the property owner provides to the association documentation from a law enforcement agency of the property owner's need for enhanced security measures.

Official text of the Texas Property Code as published by the Texas Legislative Council.

Official source
Legislative history

Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 716 (H.B. 3571), Sec. 1, eff. June 15, 2021.

Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 951 (S.B. 1588), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2021.

Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 10 (S.B. 711), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2025.

This section refers to

§ 81.002§ 82.003

Other codes referenced

Transp. § 541.302