Codes & Restrictive Covenants

All Hunters Creek property owners are required by law to follow rules outlined in the City of San Antonio’s Building and Property Maintenance Codes. In addition, they must understand and adhere to the Restrictions spelled out in their Unit’s Restrictive Covenants (aka deed restrictions), which were established by the original developers of Hunters Creek. 

This page includes links to the City’s website where Municipal Codes and Ordinances can be found, as well as links to Bexar County’s online archive of real property records where real estate Deeds, Restrictive Covenants, and related legal documents are filed.

An important distinction to realize up front is that City of San Antonio Building Codes and related ordinances generally apply equally to all residential construction in every part of the city, as do the property maintenance codes. Restrictive Covenants on the other hand, apply only to the specific properties described in that document.

Also, homeowners in Hunters Creek should understand that our lots are divided into groups that each have their own legal document, so your specific restrictions typically apply only to homes surrounding yours. This is explained in more detail in the Restrictive Covenants section below.

San Antonio Building & Property Maintenance Codes

All properties located in the City must follow legal guidelines that govern the construction, modification, maintenance and use of all properties across the City. These are spelled out in Municipal Ordinances related to the City of San Antonio Building Codes and Property Maintenance Codes. These are documented in several areas on the City’s website at www.sanantonio.gov:

The City’s building codes are based on International Building Standards and apply to every aspect of construction and systems, including the foundation, plumbing and electrical systems. They were first incorporated into the original City Charter but have since been expanded to include a separate Unified Development Code and a San Antonio Property Maintenance Code. This last ordinance includes guidelines that address upkeep on buildings, yard maintenance, etc.

Enforcement. The City’s Development Services Department oversees all construction and remodeling activities via a system of permits and inspections. Property maintenance and other issues related to how a property is being used are handled by the Code Compliance team. Questions or complaints about anything related to City Codes or possible violations should be directed to the City’s Call 311 system.

Hunters Creek Subdivision Restrictive Covenants

These are common sense rules established by the original real estate developers (circa 1976) and attached to each property’s deed. They are a multi-party private contract intended to safeguard Hunters Creek property values, maintain neighborhood integrity, and reduce conflict among residents. Supplemental to the Municipal Ordinances mentioned above, they take precedence unless prohibited by law.

No property is exempt from these restrictions and HCNA membership status is not a factor. In other words, they are not HCNA rules. Here are some of the restrictions listed in our Hunters Creek Restrictive Covenants:

  • Two-car garage/carport required. Suitable for parking (2) automobiles and it must conform in design and materials with the main structure.
  • Nuisance. No noxious or offensive activity shall be carried on upon any lot, nor shall anything be done thereon which may be or become an annoyance or nuisance to the neighborhood.
  • Rules about boat, trailer, and camper parking in driveways and yards.
  • Rules about the placement of fencing, sheds and outbuildings.
  • No temporary structures and no buildings previously constructed elsewhere.
  • Rules about keeping sight lines open at intersections, including ensuring fences, walls, hedges and trees do not obstruct sight lines.
  • Owners or occupants of all lots shall at all times keep weeds and grass cut in a sanitary, healthful, and attractive manner, to include easements.
  • Rules about sidewalks, mailboxes, and signs in yards.
  • No individual water supply or sewage disposal, and no oil and gas or mining operations.

Enforcement. The Restrictive Covenants empower all property owners of the lots listed to insist all properties in the group comply with the restrictions and to seek legal action if necessary. Of course, HCNA encourages property owners to resolve differences directly, as a simple conversation between neighbors should resolve most issues. HCNA does not have any legal right of enforcement of deed restrictions, but we can help residents understand the restrictions and make suggestions about ways to resolve issues that arise.

Multiple Units and Restrictive Covenant Documents

Hunters Creek lots are actually grouped into 14 separate Units, which correspond to the timing of their construction and/or whether they were estate-sized lots, standard lots, or garden homes. The good news is the developers described the same general restrictions in all the Covenants, only changing things like minimum setbacks and minimum size of the homes to suit the specific area of the subdivision and Unit groupings.

Each homeowner should have a copy of their specific Restrictive Covenant, but if requested, HCNA can assist Members with finding their specific document. To assist in this, your Association has developed a Cross References Document to assist property owners who want to find the Book and Page in the Bexar County records where their specific Covenant is kept. Original documents and all subsequent amendments are filed with Bexar County property records and may be found by clicking this link: https://bexar.tx.publicsearch.us/

If you want to see an example of a Restrictive Covenant document, the Association has also developed a sample set of Covenants that is a composite of the multiple versions of the original documents. Note it is for illustration purposes only, and in all cases the actual document governs each property.

 

page v2.8 updated December 2025