CITY I WANT Browse all guides
Reviewed guide

Right-of-Way Maintenance

Austin, TX · City rule · Reviewed 2026-09-28

Austin property owners are responsible for keeping private vegetation and other obstructions out of the public right of way next to their property.

Official source: Right of Way MaintenanceSource checked 2026-09-26

More about this rule

The rule in plain language

Austin instructs owners to trim vegetation back from sidewalks and keep at least eight feet of vertical clearance there, maintain at least 14 feet over streets and alleys, keep grass and weeds at 12 inches or less, keep vegetation within 10 feet of a corner curb at two feet or less, and maintain five feet of clearance around fire hydrants.

What to keep in mind

The boundary between private property and public right of way varies by location. Before pruning, planting, placing objects, or arranging larger work, confirm the right-of-way boundary and any permit, utility, accessibility, traffic-visibility, or protected-tree requirements that apply.

Official source

Right of Way Maintenance

City rule: City of Austin · retrieved-2026-09-26 · Source checked 2026-09-26 · Reviewed 2026-09-28

Civic education, not legal advice. Rules can change.

Comments

The reviewed answer ends above. This is resident discussion and resident-created ideas, not legal guidance. Comments require moderation before publication. Names and neighborhoods are self-reported; identity and residency are not verified.

Community discussion

Loading discussion...

Suggest a change or community project

Resident proposals are ideas, not introduced or adopted laws.

Propose a change to this rule Start a related community project Your draft stays private until you submit it and it passes safety review.
← Back to Austin, TX guides