Texas is home to est. 20,000+ homeowners associations ranging from small 10-unit townhome communities to large master-planned developments. Self-managed HOAs in TX face the same core challenges as those everywhere - collecting dues, managing violations, coordinating maintenance - but operate under Texas-specific laws that shape what boards can and can't do.
This guide covers what Texas HOA boards should look for in management software and how Texas's legal framework affects your operations.
The core operational needs are consistent regardless of state: online dues collection, a resident portal, violation tracking, maintenance request management, and email communications. These solve the day-to-day pain points for any self-managed board in TX.
In Texas, a few things are worth paying attention to:
Texas has one of the most detailed HOA statutes in the country -- the Residential Property Owners Protection Act (Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 209) -- combined with Property Code Chapter 202 governing restrictive covenants. Texas is home to some of the largest and most powerful HOAs in the United States, particularly in the Houston and Dallas metros. The state also has notable restrictions on what HOAs can prohibit, including US flag display, religious symbols on private property, and certain security measures, and requires licensed managers for communities of 14 or more units.
Key things Texas HOA boards should know:
Note: This is a general overview, not legal advice. Texas HOA law changes regularly and varies by community type and governing documents. Consult a Texas-licensed HOA attorney for guidance specific to your community.
For a self-managed HOA in Texas, expect to pay $49–$99/month for full-featured software on a flat-tier plan. That covers communities from 10 to 150 units, with every feature included at a fraction of what a property manager would cost in TX (typically $300–$700/month for communities of that size).
Starting at $49/month, AffordableHOA serves communities across Texas from 10 units to 1,000 units, with every feature included at every tier.
Under Texas Property Code § 209.006, a Texas HOA must provide a homeowner with written notice of an alleged violation and at least 30 days to cure the violation (or a reasonable time if 30 days is insufficient) before imposing a fine. The HOA must also give the homeowner an opportunity to appear before the board to present their case. These notice-and-cure requirements are among the most detailed in the country.
Yes, but Texas law imposes significant procedural requirements. Under Texas Property Code § 209.0092, a Texas HOA must obtain a court judgment before foreclosing on a homestead property if the only debt is unpaid regular or special assessments. For non-homestead properties, non-judicial foreclosure may be available if the declaration allows it. Texas requires multiple written notices and waiting periods before any foreclosure can proceed, giving homeowners substantial opportunity to resolve the debt.
Yes. Texas Property Code Chapter 1101 requires HOA management companies and their designated employees who manage communities of 14 or more units to hold a real estate license issued by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC). This licensing requirement ensures that professional managers meet baseline education and competency standards and are subject to TREC disciplinary authority if they violate state law. It is one of the few such requirements in the country.
Texas Property Code §§ 202.010-202.019 prohibit HOAs from restricting display of the US flag, religious symbols on the exterior of a home, certain security measures including security cameras and keypad entry, and children's play equipment. HOAs may regulate the manner of display but cannot ban these uses outright. These homeowner rights protections reflect the Texas legislature's view that HOA authority should not extend to certain personal and patriotic expressions.
Texas does not require planned community HOAs to maintain a reserve fund by state statute. Reserve funding is a matter of good governance rather than legal obligation in Texas. Given the significant infrastructure in many large Texas HOA communities -- streets, pools, lakes, landscaping -- financial advisors strongly recommend reserve studies and adequate reserve funding to avoid large special assessments.