Plano, TX HOA Regulations & Compliance Standards

Plano's Article XXIV, Registration of Short-Term Rental Properties, added to Code of Ordinances Chapter 6 in 2024, requires every STR to register with the city and undergo self-inspection before operating; registration is a revocable privilege, not a right. After 2024 reports of a prostitution enterprise and a firearm discharge at STR properties, the City Council amended the ordinance's suspension and revocation triggers — one verified nuisance incident can bring a six-month suspension, and a serious incident or repeat nuisance incidents can bring a full year's denial. Violations are Class C misdemeanors punishable by a fine up to $500 per offense under Section 1-4(b) of the City Code, with every day a violation continues counted as a separate offense.

Plano requires a permit to build or replace a fence — repairs affecting 25% or less of the fence area within a 12-month span are exempt — and caps residential fence height at 8 feet citywide, with front-yard fences limited to 40 inches and at least 50% open. Corner lots must comply with sight-visibility clips detailed in the city's fence permit packet; masonry or retaining sections require footing plans reviewed by the Building Inspections Department separately from any HOA design approval.

Plano's own Environmental Waste Services (EWS) division — not a contracted private hauler — handles all residential solid waste, running collection Monday through Thursday only (no Friday residential routes) on a four-zone geographic system, with recycling every other week in an Orange or Purple rotation and bulky waste on a separately assigned monthly day. Confirm your exact zone and day at the interactive map on Plano.gov/EWS or by calling 972-769-4150 — covenant handbooks rarely track EWS's holiday slide-forward rule correctly.

Plano's Building Inspections Department, at 1520 K Avenue, requires permits for additions, fence construction or replacement, swimming pools, irrigation systems, and most electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work. Pool fences must independently satisfy International Swimming Pool and Spa Code barrier requirements even where an existing fence already has HOA approval — schedule inspections through eTRAKiT or by calling 972-941-7140 before assuming an ARC-approved plan is permit-ready.

Texas Property Code §202.010 makes void any dedicatory provision that prohibits solar energy devices, subject to statutory location, color, roofline, and approval standards. Water-conserving landscaping may be protected from unreasonable HOA bans when compliant with municipal water restrictions. Boards must use the statute’s approval standards—not blanket denials.

Texas owners may pursue association remedies under Chapter 209, mediation, or Justice Court / county courts depending on amount in controversy and location in Collin County. Verify current Justice Court jurisdictional limits with the county clerk. Texas Real Estate Commission publishes consumer guidance; consult association counsel for foreclosure and lien procedures.