Some county commissioners courts may, by order, regulate certain roadside vendor and solicitation activities in specified unincorporated areas.
Sec. 285.001. REGULATION OF ROADSIDE VENDOR AND SOLICITOR. (a) To promote the public safety, the commissioners court of a county with a population of more than 1.3 million and a county with a population of more than 600,000 that is adjacent to a county with a population of more than four million by order may regulate the following in the unincorporated area of the county if they occur on a public highway or road, in the right-of-way of a public highway or road, or in a parking lot: (1) the sale of items by a vendor of food or merchandise, including live animals; (2) the erection, maintenance, or placement of a structure by a vendor of food or merchandise, including live animals; and (3) the solicitation of money. (b) The commissioners court of a county with a population of more than 200,000 that borders the United Mexican States by order may regulate the following activities in the unincorporated areas of the county, provided that the activities occur in a parking lot or on or in the right-of-way of a public highway or road: (1) the sale of items and the erection, maintenance, or placement of a structure by a vendor of live animals; and (2) the solicitation of money. (c) A county regulating vendors under Subsection (b): (1) may require that a vendor be located not closer to the edge of the public highway or road than a distance that is equal to one-half the width of the right-of-way adjacent to the highway or road; and (2) may not adopt an order under Subsection (b) prohibiting the sale of livestock. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 669, Sec. 132, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 493 (S.B. 254), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2007. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 340 (H.B. 2094), Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 2013. Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 644 (H.B. 4559), Sec. 243, eff. September 1, 2023. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 730 (H.B. 2012), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 892 (H.B. 2731), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025.