The Facts About Houston Heights Deed Restrictions

Houston Heights was incorporated as a separate municipality before 1900 and is recognized by the property code as historic. Because of this and its location in Houston and Harris County, Chapter 208 of the State Property Code defines specific deed restriction procedures that apply only to Houston Heights. Chapter 208 places the responsibility for drafting deed restrictions with the Houston Heights Association (HHA) as the historic neighborhood association and specifies how the deed restrictions can be initiated, maintained, amended, or terminated.

Heights deed restrictions relate to individually owned parcels or tracts, and the neighborhood preservation association, the HHA, is delegated to enforce the restrictive covenants. The restrictions can only be amended if 75% of the owners voting on the issue approve. Ownership of the property may change but the deed restrictions, once approved, are tied to the land.

As only some of the owners in the Heights have applied to have their property deed restricted, there are no blanket deed restrictions, as found in neighboring sub-divisions like Norhill Heights, Woodland Heights, Garden Oaks, or Timbergrove.

The most important Heights Deed Restrictions specify how the land can be used, the number of dwellings that can be constructed related to the size of a specific lot, required setbacks from the site boundaries and the maximum height of buildings. There are no deed restrictions on demolition, form, style, or materials that affect any building that is not located in a protected historic district.