87R3174 DRS-F
 
  By: Cortez H.B. No. 1686
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the regulation of food production on single-family
  residential lots by a municipality or property owners' association.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 217, Local Government Code, is amended
  by adding Subchapter Z to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER Z. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
         Sec. 217.901.  FOOD PRODUCTION ALLOWED ON SINGLE-FAMILY
  RESIDENTIAL LOT. (a) Notwithstanding any other law and except as
  provided by Subsection (b), a municipality may not adopt or enforce
  an ordinance that prohibits any of the following activities on a
  single-family residential lot:
               (1)  the growing of fruits and vegetables; or
               (2)  the raising or keeping of:
                     (A)  six or fewer domestic fowls;
                     (B)  six or fewer rabbits; or
                     (C)  three or fewer beehives.
         (b)  A municipality may impose reasonable regulations on the
  raising or keeping of fowls, rabbits, or bees on a single-family
  residential lot that do not have the effect of prohibiting the
  raising or keeping of the fowls, rabbits, or bees, including:
               (1)  a limit on the number of animals or beehives that
  is more than the minimum number allowed by this section;
               (2)  a prohibition on raising or keeping of a rooster;
  or
               (3)  the minimum distance between an animal shelter or
  beehive and a residential structure.
         (c)  An ordinance adopted by a municipality that violates
  this section is void.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 202, Property Code, is amended by adding
  Section 202.022 to read as follows:
         Sec. 202.022.  FOOD PRODUCTION ALLOWED ON SINGLE-FAMILY
  RESIDENTIAL LOT. (a) Notwithstanding any other law and except as
  provided by Subsection (b), a property owners' association may not
  adopt or enforce a restrictive covenant that prohibits any of the
  following activities on a single-family residential lot:
               (1)  the growing of fruits and vegetables;
               (2)  the raising or keeping of:
                     (A)  six or fewer domestic fowls;
                     (B)  six or fewer rabbits; or
                     (C)  three or fewer beehives; or
               (3)  a cottage food production operation, as defined by
  Section 437.001(2-b), Health and Safety Code.
         (b)  A property owners' association may adopt and enforce a
  restrictive covenant imposing reasonable requirements on the
  raising or keeping of fowls, rabbits, or bees on a single-family
  residential lot that do not have the effect of prohibiting the
  raising or keeping of the fowls, rabbits, or bees, including:
               (1)  a limit on the number of animals or beehives that
  is more than the minimum number allowed by this section;
               (2)  a prohibition on raising or keeping of a rooster;
  or
               (3)  the minimum distance between an animal shelter or
  beehive and a residential structure.
         (c)  A provision that violates this section is void.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.