Can my HOA fine me for landscaping or lawn violations in Texas?

Short Answer

Yes. A Texas HOA can fine homeowners for landscaping or lawn violations if the requirement is authorized by the HOA's governing documents or rules. Under Texas Property Code §209.006, the HOA generally must provide written notice and a reasonable opportunity to cure the violation before imposing a fine. Under §209.007, homeowners also have the right to request a hearing before the board.

Relevant Texas Law

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Tex. Prop. Code §209.006 — Requires written notice, a chance to cure certain violations, and hearing rights before many HOA fines or enforcement actions.
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Tex. Prop. Code §209.007 — Gives owners the right to request a hearing before the board.
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Tex. Prop. Code §202.004 — Governs enforcement of deed restrictions and prohibits arbitrary or discriminatory enforcement actions.

What this means for homeowners

The HOA must identify the specific rule violated and give you time to fix it before any fine is assessed. Challenge fines where no cure period was provided.

Ask the HOA to identify the specific deed restriction or rule you allegedly violated
Check whether a reasonable cure period was given in the notice
If the violation was corrected during the cure period, the fine should not be assessed
Bring dated photos of your corrected property to the board hearing
Challenge fines for rules not clearly in the deed restrictions

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What this means for board members

Document landscaping violations with dated photos and give a reasonable cure period. Fines imposed before the cure period expires are unenforceable.

✓ Cite the specific landscaping restriction in the violation notice
✓ Provide a reasonable cure period (typically 30 days for lawn issues)
✓ Document violations with dated photos before sending notice
✓ Only assess fines after the cure period has expired without correction
✓ Offer the member a board hearing before the fine is imposed

Common Mistakes to Avoid

✕ Fining before the cure period has expired
✕ Not citing the specific deed restriction violated
✕ Applying landscaping rules selectively to some members but not others