Property owners are required by law to follow rules outlined in the City of San Antonio’s Building & Property Maintenance Codes. In addition, they must 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 & Ordinances can be found, as well as links to Bexar County’s online archive of real property records where real estate Deeds, Restrictive Covenants, & related legal documents are filed.
Please note that City of San Antonio Building Codes & related Ordinances generally apply equally to all residential construction in every part of the city, as do the Property Maintenance Codes. Restrictive Covenants (aka Community Covenants or Deed Restrictions), on the other hand, apply only to the specific properties in the development Unit specified by subdivision, block & lot numbers in the Covenant document. This is explained in more detail below.
San Antonio Building & Property Maintenance Codes
These are legal guidelines that govern the construction, modification, maintenance & use of all properties across the City. These are spelled out in Municipal Ordinances related to the City of San Antonio Building Codes & Property Maintenance Codes, available on the City’s website at
The City’s building codes are based on International Building Standards & apply to every aspect of construction & systems, including the foundation, plumbing & electrical systems. They were first incorporated into the original City Charter but have since been expanded to include a separate Unified Development Code & 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 & remodeling activities via a system of permits & inspections. Property maintenance & 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 to 1989) & attached to each property’s deed. They include language to ensure they remain in force even through transfers of ownership & are intended to safeguard Hunters Creek property values, maintain neighborhood integrity, & reduce conflict among residents. Supplemental to the Municipal Ordinances mentioned above, they take precedence unless prohibited by law.
Commonly referred to as Deed Restrictions, they were put in place prior to the formation of the Neighborhood Association, & they can only be enforced by other property owners, not the Association. In other words, no property is exempt from them & all property owners must follow the restrictions even if they are NOT Members of the Association.
Because Hunters Creek was developed in many phases over more than 10 years there is not just one Restrictive Covenant document that lists every property & their restrictions. Instead, there are 14 separate Covenant documents, each with a list of specific adjacent lots grouped together with a unique Unit number. Based on construction phases, the number of properties in a group ranges from 10 homes in the smallest Unit to 136 homes in the largest Unit. However, restrictions are virtually identical in all the Units, with the main variations being the effective dates, the block/lot numbers, & in some cases a reference to a minimum size of the home to be built.
Here are some of the common restrictions addressed in all Hunters Creek Covenants:
- Two-car carport/garage required. Suitable for parking (2) automobiles and it must conform in design and materials with the main structure.
- 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 mining operations.
- 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.
Enforcement. The Restrictive Covenants empower all property owners to insist nearby properties in the same Unit comply with the rules & to seek legal action if necessary. As a Neighborhood Association, HCNA does not have any legal right of enforcement, but we can help residents understand the restrictions & make suggestions about ways to resolve issues that arise. Or help neighbors who might want to consider taking actions or proposing changes.
Each homeowner should have a copy of their specific Restrictive Covenant, as the restrictions listed are both good for the neighborhood & legally binding. Association Members who have questions or need assistance finding the one that lists their property, can request help from the Board. As a start, the Association has 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.
In addition, your Association has also developed a Cross References Document to assist property owners who want to find the Book & Page in the Bexar County records where their specific Covenant is kept. Original documents & all subsequent amendments are filed with Bexar County property records & may be found by clicking this link: https://bexar.tx.publicsearch.us/
page v2.6 updated August 2026
