This section defines several terms used in the chapter, including dedicatory instrument, property owners' association, petition, restrictive covenant, and front yard.
Sec. 202.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) "Dedicatory instrument" means each document governing the establishment, maintenance, or operation of a residential subdivision, planned unit development, condominium or townhouse regime, or any similar planned development. The term includes a declaration or similar instrument subjecting real property to: (A) restrictive covenants, bylaws, or similar instruments governing the administration or operation of a property owners' association; (B) properly adopted rules and regulations of the property owners' association; or (C) all lawful amendments to the covenants, bylaws, instruments, rules, or regulations. (2) "Property owners' association" means an incorporated or unincorporated association owned by or whose members consist primarily of the owners of the property covered by the dedicatory instrument and through which the owners, or the board of directors or similar governing body, manage or regulate the residential subdivision, planned unit development, condominium or townhouse regime, or similar planned development. (3) "Petition" means one or more instruments, however designated or entitled, by which one or more actions relating to restrictive covenants are sought to be accomplished. (4) "Restrictive covenant" means any covenant, condition, or restriction contained in a dedicatory instrument, whether mandatory, prohibitive, permissive, or administrative. (5) "Front yard" means a yard within a lot having a front building setback line with a setback of not less than 15 feet extending the full width of the lot between the front lot line and the front building setback line. Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 712, Sec. 1, eff. June 18, 1987. Amended by: Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1142 (H.B. 1821), Sec. 2, eff. January 1, 2012. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1389 (H.B. 680), Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 2013.