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Can I… yes, no, or permit, in five secondsAll 11 rules →
Fireworks?
NoIllegal in the city and within 5,000 feet of it; no Fourth of July exception.
Chickens in the yard?
YesUp to six hens, no roosters, coop 200 feet from a home.
Fence 8 feet tall?
PermitUp to 8 feet; a new fence or replacing half needs a permit. No plywood.
Garage sale?
YesNo permit since 2021. One sale per location every six months, up to seven signs.
Golf cart on the street?
It dependsYes on some streets, with state equipment and a golf-cart plate.
Boat or RV in the driveway?
YesOn a paved surface only, never on the grass; the street is mostly no.
Grass over 9 inches?
NoNine inches; seven days after notice the city mows and bills you, plus $100.
Loud music at night?
NoLower limits 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.; unreasonable noise is illegal any hour.
Burn leaves in the yard?
NoNo burning trash or yard waste where pickup is provided.
Build a shed?
Permit200 sq ft or less, no permit; bigger, attached, or a carport over 200 needs one.
Four dogs?
YesDogs and cats microchipped, registered and vaccinated; leash off your property.
When is my trash day?
It dependsOnce a week by route. Type your street above.
Dollars on the table$0garage sale permit, dropped in December 2021$100city fee on top of the mowing bill when the city cuts your lot$500top fine per day for most code violations$2,000top fine for fire, health and zoning violations200 sq ftshed size before a building permit is needed5,000 fthow far outside the city limits the fireworks ban reaches9 in.grass height before the city can act8 fttop fence height in a residential area6 hensbackyard chickens allowed, no roosters, coop 200 ft from a home
fences
How tall can my fence be in Baytown?
Short answerNo more than 8 feet. You need a building permit to put up a new fence or replace half or more of one. Plywood isn't allowed.
Layer twoWhat the code actually says, word for wordTap to open
verbatim
"No residential fence shall be installed more than eight feet in height."verbatim
"visual traffic obstruction"verbatim
"All plywood materials are prohibited."City Code Sec. 18-1042.
Layer threeWho handles it: Planning and Development Services, Building Services and InspectionsMap
Planning and Development Services, Building Services and Inspections. Map →
Rule of the week
Can I burn leaves, brush or trash in my yard in Baytown?
No. Texas air-quality rules don't allow burning household trash where trash pickup is provided, and in Harris and Chambers counties they don't allow burning yard waste for routine cleanup. Cooking fires, campfires and fires for warmth are allowed.
Changes itself from the calendar: burning when the ban is on, fireworks in late June, fences and trees after a storm, garage sales in spring.
What changed in the code this month
- Code current through Ordinance No. 16,503, adopted June 25, 2026.Supplement 83, Update 2
- Weekly code check October 5: no change.Monday code check
From the Monday code check
Or just ask
Ask like you talk · "fence" · "How tall can my fence be?" · "Can I keep chickens?"
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Unofficial copy of the City Code for easy reading; the official version is at Municode. Not legal advice.