Texas · Chapter PR-202

Property Code Ch. 202 (Restrictive Covenants) — Plain-English Summary

Official title: Restrictive Covenants. Translated into plain English for board members and homeowners.

General

  • Sec.202.001
    Definitions
    Defines 'dedicatory instrument' (recorded documents governing a planned community) and related terms.
  • Sec.202.002
    Applicability
    Chapter applies to all residential real estate subject to recorded restrictive covenants.
  • Sec.202.003
    Construction of restrictive covenants
    Restrictive covenants must be construed liberally to give effect to their intent rather than narrowly against enforcement.
  • Sec.202.004
    Enforcement of restrictive covenants
    A property owners' association or any owner may sue to enforce restrictive covenants. Court may award statutory damages of up to $200 per day per violation p…
  • Sec.202.005
    Religious displays
    Owners may display religious items on doors and door frames despite contrary covenants, subject to size limits.
  • Sec.202.006
    Filing of dedicatory instruments
    An association must file copies of all dedicatory instruments in the county real property records.
  • Sec.202.007
    Display of solar energy devices
    Covenants prohibiting solar energy devices are void. ARCs may regulate location and appearance only.
  • Sec.202.008
    Religious items on entry door or door frame
    Owners may display religious items on the entry door or door frame, up to 25 square inches total.
  • Sec.202.009
    Restrictions; xeriscaping; drought-tolerant landscaping
    Covenants may not prohibit drought-tolerant landscaping or water-conserving turf. Associations may require a landscape plan.
  • Sec.202.010
    Standby electric generators
    Mirrors Ch 209: HOAs may not prohibit standby electric generators but may regulate location and screening.
  • Sec.202.018
    Roofing materials
    Bars covenants prohibiting energy-efficient, reflective, or impact-resistant roofing similar in appearance to approved roofing.
  • Sec.202.019
    Display of certain flags
    Owners may display U.S., Texas, military, and first responder flags subject to reasonable size and location rules.
  • Sec.202.020
    Notice of bills
    Associations must notify members of certain legislation affecting them.

Frequently asked about Chapter PR-202

What is Texas Chapter PR-202?
Texas Chapter PR-202 — the Property Code Ch. 202 (Restrictive Covenants) — is the body of law that governs how every Texas HOA is structured, operated, and held accountable. It covers governance, voting, records, assessments, fining, and most of the day-to-day legal questions a board will face.
How many sections are in Chapter PR-202?
Chapter PR-202 contains 13 sections in this reference. Each is summarized in plain English on its own page, with links to the official text at statutes.capitol.texas.gov.
Is the summary on this site legal advice?
No. These pages are plain-English summaries prepared by SoShiny for board members and managers. For binding legal advice or interpretation of how a section applies to your specific situation, consult a Texas-licensed attorney.
How often does Texas Chapter PR-202 change?
The Texas Legislature can amend any chapter in any session. We update these summaries when we re-import the official text — see the 'Last updated' date on each section page.
Does SoShiny enforce Chapter PR-202 for me?
No software 'enforces' a statute — but SoShiny is built around it. Voting, meeting minutes, records access, fining workflow, and audit trails are designed to meet this body of law's requirements out of the box, so the board can demonstrate good-faith compliance if challenged.

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