Texas Community Association Laws
HOAs/POAs (Ch. 209), Restrictive Covenants (Ch. 202), Condominiums (Ch. 82 & 81), Manufactured Home Tenancies (Ch. 94), corporate acts (BOC Ch. 22/21), TREC HOA management-certificate registry. Reference hub
Texas takes an agency-light, statute-heavy approach. HOAs in single-family neighborhoods operate under the Texas Residential Property Owners Protection Act (Ch. 209) alongside statewide “lifestyle” rules in Ch. 202 (flags, solar, roofing, religious displays). Condominiums follow the Uniform Condominium Act (Ch. 82), with older associations still touching Ch. 81. There’s no statewide HOA regulator or ombudsman; TREC hosts a public registry of HOA/condo management certificates but does not police governance. Recent sessions focused on transparency (records, open meetings), resale disclosures, and foreclosure safeguards (no fines-only foreclosures; court involvement for HOA liens), leaving most enforcement to notice-and-cure procedures and the courts. Net feel: predictable for boards that publish and follow procedures—and owner-accessible if you use the tools the statutes provide.
At a glance
- HOAs/POAs: Ch. 209 (records, open meetings, enforcement notice, payment plans, foreclosure limits, redemption).
- Condominiums: Ch. 82 (TUCA; records, liens, resale certificates) & Ch. 81 (pre-1994 condos).
- Restrictive covenants: Ch. 202 (flags, religious items, solar, roofing, security, generators).
- Manufactured home parks: Ch. 94 (leases, community rules, notices, eviction procedures).
- Corporate form: Mostly BOC Ch. 22 (nonprofits); some Ch. 21 (for-profit).
- Managers: No state CAM license; TREC hosts the HOA/COA management-certificate database.
Primary Statutes
Property Owners’ Associations (HOAs) — Chapter 209
Texas Residential Property Owners Protection Act (single-family & some townhome POAs): records, open meetings, elections, notices, payment plans, liens/foreclosure & redemption.
Condominiums — Chapter 82 (TUCA)
Modern condos: association powers, meetings, records, assessments & liens, insurance, resale certificates.
Condominiums — Chapter 81 (pre-1994)
Older condos; some provisions of Ch. 82 apply by statute.
Manufactured Home Tenancies — Chapter 94
Lot-lease communities: disclosures, rules, tenant meetings, security deposits, termination/eviction.
Restrictive Covenants & Owner Rights — Chapter 202
Statewide limits on what HOAs/COAs can restrict (flags, religious items, solar, roofing, security, generators, pools, etc.).
Corporate Acts — Texas Business Organizations Code
Entity law for nonprofit/for-profit associations (formation, bylaws, meetings, records).
Nonprofit Ch. 22: Texas Statutes
For-profit Ch. 21: Texas Statutes
Popular Sections (direct links)
HOA / POA (Ch. 209)
- 209.004 — Management Certificate
- 209.005 — Association Records
- 209.0051 — Open Board Meetings
- 209.006 — Notice Before Enforcement
- 209.0062 — Payment Plans
- 209.009 — No foreclosure for fines-only
- 209.0092 — Judicial Foreclosure Required
- 209.011 — Right of Redemption (180 days)
- Ch. 207 — Resale Certificates (subdivisions)
Condo (Ch. 82)
Restrictive Covenants (Ch. 202)
Manufactured Home Tenancies (Ch. 94)
Administrative & Practical Resources (TX)
Texas does not publish a centralized administrative code for HOA/condo operations. These official/statutory resources are commonly used.
Statutes (Official)
TREC HOA/COA Registry
Research Guides
Community Association Managers — Licensing / Registry
Texas status
- No state CAM license. Community-association management itself is not a separate Texas license. Real-estate licensing may apply to leasing/brokerage tasks.
- Registry: Associations must record a management certificate and file it with TREC (HOAs: Ch. 209; Condos: Ch. 82).
Governing Documents & Overlays
- Governing documents: Declaration/CC&Rs, articles, bylaws, plats, rules/resolutions; recorded and referenced in management certificates.
- Federal overlays: Fair Housing Act, ADA (where applicable), FDCPA (collections), FCC OTARD (antennas), etc.
- State/local overlays: Building codes, pool enclosures, short-term rental ordinances, local recording practices.
- Conflicts: Statutes can supersede conflicting docs; consult counsel for interpretation and enforcement strategy.
Useful Contacts
Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) — HOA Registry
- Search / File: Management Certificates
- About: TREC’s role
Entity & Statute References
- Texas Statutes: statutes.capitol.texas.gov
- Secretary of State: SOSDirect (entity records)
Disclaimer
This page is a general reference and not legal advice. Laws and rules change; always verify the current text on the official linked sites and consult qualified counsel for your situation.
Last updated: September 8, 2025