City and County Powers

In Texas, cities and counties have different powers given to them by the Texas Constitution and the Texas Legislature. Home-rule municipalities like the City of Austin have broad powers within their city limits. But counties have more limited powers.

Know the Difference

Here are some examples of how cities and counties in Texas are different:

• Cities can get money from sales tax, but many counties, including Travis and Williamson County, cannot. 
• Both cities and counties can issue general obligation (G.O. bonds) to raise money for things like parks and roads, but only cities can issue them for affordable housing. 
• Cities have zoning authority, so they can regulate, for example: 
  • The height of buildings and other structures, 
  • The size of yards and other open spaces, 
  • Population density, and 
  • The location of buildings and land for business, residential, and industrial use. 
• Most counties, including Travis County, do not have zoning authority. In fact, Travis County is not allowed to regulate: 
  • The use of any building or property for business, industrial, or residential purposes. 
  • The height, size, or number of buildings on a piece of land, or 
  • The number of residential units that can be built per acre of land. 
• Cities can regulate noise, but counties are only authorized to investigate and issue citations for noise complaints. 
• Counties are not able to enforce zoning restrictions to prohibit certain kinds of development near a home or neighborhood.  

In the Northeast Planning District, one neighborhood might be within city limits, while another is not. Because of the legal differences in authority, people living in the city might have different rules, taxes, and services compared to those living outside the city limits.

Want to find out where you live or work? Find out your jurisdiction using the City of Austin’s interactive map tool!

Related Links

To learn more about the Collaborative Northeast District Plan, visit the pages below: