Can my HOA fine me for landscaping or lawn violations in Texas?
Reviewed May 2026📘 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. Condominiums are excluded from Chapter 209 and may be governed by Chapter 82 or, for some older regimes, Chapter 81.
Have a fine or hearing notice related to this question?Review an HOA notice or letter and see issues you may want to check.
⚖️ Relevant Texas Law
- § Tex. Prop. Code §209.006 — Requires written notice, a chance to cure certain violations, and hearing rights before many HOA fines or enforcement actions.
- § Tex. Prop. Code §209.007 — Gives owners the right to request a hearing before the board.
- § 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
Find out if your Texas HOA landscaping fine is valid
Ask Lexi about your violation or fine🏢 What This Means for Boards and Managers
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
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Last reviewed: 2026-05-09 · Version 2026.2