County recording office
Bexar County Clerk
100 Dolorosa St, San Antonio, TX 78205 (opens in Google Maps)
Checking the bulletin board
Texas Property Code governs your HOA
Most Texas POAs follow Property Code Chapter 209 (open records, fines after notice, foreclosure with a 180-day redemption) and Chapter 202 (solar and flag rights). City zoning and STR rules sit on top.
San Antonio spreads across Bexar County as Texas's second-largest city, blending historic neighborhoods near the missions with vast suburban HOA inventory on the north and west sides. A June 2024 ordinance amendment tightened San Antonio's already two-tier STR permit system, and the city's twice-a-year brush and bulky collection cycle — rare among Texas metros — trips up owners used to monthly or on-demand pickup elsewhere.
County recording office
Bexar County Clerk
100 Dolorosa St, San Antonio, TX 78205 (opens in Google Maps)
Expansive clay soils in Texas metros require consistent moisture management to reduce slab movement claims.
Board checklist
Municipal trash schedules, curb placement, and code enforcement pathways.
San Antonio's Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) provides weekly cart collection for garbage, recycling, and organics, but curbside brush and bulky-item collection each run only twice per year, with residents notified by a door hanger 7–10 days before their collection week (find yours via My Collection Day). Piles left out after crews pass, or that mix in brush, construction debris, or electronics, can draw a fine up to $2,000 per day under City Code Chapter 14, on top of collection and disposal fees.
Mediation, courts, and state resources when board actions are challenged.
San Antonio permits short-term rentals under City Code Chapter 16, Article XXII through the Development Services Department (DSD): a Type 1 permit (owner- or operator-occupied) costs $300 for a three-year term, while a Type 2 permit (not owner- or operator-occupied) costs $450, following fee increases the City Council approved in June 2024. That same 2024 amendment added a rule that three accrued citations for a given property within a three-year window results in permit revocation, and gave the city the option to pursue enforcement through an administrative hearing officer or district-court injunction in addition to criminal citations. STRs are barred from certain commercial and industrial zoning districts, and once a per-block-face density limit is reached, new permits there require a Board of Adjustment special exception.
Late fee estimator
Enter your typical monthly assessment to see how local caps may apply. KindHOA can automate notices and fee schedules once your board defines the rules.
Estimated legal ceiling
—
Many associations cannot assess late fees until accounts are at least 30 days past due and proper notice has been sent. You entered 15 days past due.
Tell us about your community. We'll show you how KindHOA automates dues, late fees, and resident communication — free for self-managed HOAs.
No per-door fees. No enterprise bloat. Just the tools your neighbors need to run San Antonio with confidence.
A volunteer board guide for San Antonio: understand where municipal code ends, where your HOA covenants begin, and how to comply with Texas Property Code Chapter 209.
The quick answer
San Antonio's Development Services Department issues STR permits under City Code Chapter 16, Article XXII — $300 for owner-occupied Type 1, $450 for non-owner-occupied Type 2 — with a 2024 amendment adding a three-strikes-in-three-years revocation rule. Brush and bulky collection runs only twice a year, with fines up to $2,000 a day for out-of-cycle piles.
Late fees (Texas): Must be 'reasonable' per dedicatory instruments. Confirm against your declaration and current statute.
Reviewed by the KindHOA Editorial Team · Last reviewed July 25, 2026
Local rules board members use
City-specific answers for San Antonio — sourced to municipal code and official city pages. Educational, not legal advice.
San Antonio permits short-term rentals under City Code Chapter 16, Article XXII through the Development Services Department (DSD): a Type 1 permit (owner- or operator-occupied) costs $300 for a three-year term, while a Type 2 permit (not owner- or operator-occupied) costs $450, following fee increases the City Council approved in June 2024. That same 2024 amendment added a rule that three accrued citations for a given property within a three-year window results in permit revocation, and gave the city the option to pursue enforcement through an administrative hearing officer or district-court injunction in addition to criminal citations. STRs are barred from certain commercial and industrial zoning districts, and once a per-block-face density limit is reached, new permits there require a Board of Adjustment special exception.
Primary source: San Antonio municipal code / city ordinances
Fence and perimeter-wall projects in San Antonio must meet Unified Development Code standards for setbacks, height, and permit requirements tied to the parcel's zoning district, with added design review in historic districts. HOA committees may specify brick, stucco, or wrought-iron styles common to Hill Country-influenced architecture, but city law governs placement — read the applicable UDC section before construction.
Primary source: San Antonio municipal code / city ordinances
San Antonio's Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) provides weekly cart collection for garbage, recycling, and organics, but curbside brush and bulky-item collection each run only twice per year, with residents notified by a door hanger 7–10 days before their collection week (find yours via My Collection Day). Piles left out after crews pass, or that mix in brush, construction debris, or electronics, can draw a fine up to $2,000 per day under City Code Chapter 14, on top of collection and disposal fees.
Primary source: San Antonio municipal code / city ordinances
San Antonio's Development Services Department (DSD) issues building permits for residential work that alters structure, adds conditioned area, or changes electrical or plumbing systems beyond the city's minor-work exemptions — a casita, carport, or kitchen expansion commonly requires DSD plan review even after HOA design approval. Confirm current requirements at 210-207-1111 before hiring a contractor.
Primary source: San Antonio municipal code / city ordinances
San Antonio's South Texas climate delivers long, hot summers, periodic drought, and flash-flood risk along creek corridors that inform both city water restrictions and HOA irrigation covenants. Limestone soils and expansive clay drive foundation and drainage rules beyond minimum code, while occasional winter freezes prompt boards to address pipe insulation and outdoor plumbing covers whenever regional utilities issue conservation or freeze alerts.
Primary source: San Antonio municipal code / city ordinances
Summaries below are for board orientation. Verify requirements in the official San Antonio municipal code (opens in a new tab).
San Antonio municipal code
San Antonio permits short-term rentals under City Code Chapter 16, Article XXII through the Development Services Department (DSD): a Type 1 permit (owner- or operator-occupied) costs $300 for a three-year term, while a Type 2 permit (not owner- or operator-occupied) costs $450, following fee increases the City Council approved in June 2024. That same 2024 amendment added a rule that three accrued citations for a given property within a three-year window results in permit revocation, and gave the city the option to pursue enforcement through an administrative hearing officer or district-court injunction in addition to criminal citations. STRs are barred from certain commercial and industrial zoning districts, and once a per-block-face density limit is reached, new permits there require a Board of Adjustment special exception.
HOA governing documents
HOAs enforce recorded use restrictions (minimum lease terms, guest limits, parking) when consistent with applicable city licensure and state law. Covenant enforcement requires notice, cure periods, and uniform application.
Zoning & building code
Fence and perimeter-wall projects in San Antonio must meet Unified Development Code standards for setbacks, height, and permit requirements tied to the parcel's zoning district, with added design review in historic districts. HOA committees may specify brick, stucco, or wrought-iron styles common to Hill Country-influenced architecture, but city law governs placement — read the applicable UDC section before construction.
Permit thresholds
San Antonio's Development Services Department (DSD) issues building permits for residential work that alters structure, adds conditioned area, or changes electrical or plumbing systems beyond the city's minor-work exemptions — a casita, carport, or kitchen expansion commonly requires DSD plan review even after HOA design approval. Confirm current requirements at 210-207-1111 before hiring a contractor.
HOA architectural control
HOAs review fences and additions through architectural committees under CC&Rs. Municipal compliance alone does not satisfy HOA design or notice requirements.
State / local protections
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.
What HOAs may still regulate
HOAs may adopt reasonable design rules that meet statutory tests (location, color, timeline). Associations cannot impose outright bans where state law voids them.
Summer heat affects roofing, pools, and mechanical systems. Plan preventive maintenance before peak demand.
Board checklist
Texas law limits unreasonable solar restrictions. Boards should publish clear, lawful ARC standards.
Board checklist
Texas owners may pursue association remedies under Chapter 209, mediation, or Justice Court / county courts depending on amount in controversy and location in Bexar 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.
Fence and perimeter-wall projects in San Antonio must meet Unified Development Code standards for setbacks, height, and permit requirements tied to the parcel's zoning district, with added design review in historic districts. HOA committees may specify brick, stucco, or wrought-iron styles common to Hill Country-influenced architecture, but city law governs placement — read the applicable UDC section before construction.
San Antonio's Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) provides weekly cart collection for garbage, recycling, and organics, but curbside brush and bulky-item collection each run only twice per year, with residents notified by a door hanger 7–10 days before their collection week (find yours via My Collection Day). Piles left out after crews pass, or that mix in brush, construction debris, or electronics, can draw a fine up to $2,000 per day under City Code Chapter 14, on top of collection and disposal fees.
San Antonio's Development Services Department (DSD) issues building permits for residential work that alters structure, adds conditioned area, or changes electrical or plumbing systems beyond the city's minor-work exemptions — a casita, carport, or kitchen expansion commonly requires DSD plan review even after HOA design approval. Confirm current requirements at 210-207-1111 before hiring a contractor.
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 Bexar 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.
Sources
KindHOA is educational software for self-managed boards, not a law firm, and this guide is not legal advice. State statutes, local ordinances, and your community’s recorded CC&Rs control and change over time — confirm liens, amendments, and enforcement with association counsel and the official sources above.
Free CCIOA checklist plus Denver, Westminster, Springs guides.