Deed Restriction (Restrictive Covenant)
A private limitation on how a property may be used, written into a deed or recorded subdivision rules and enforced by owners or an association.
A deed restriction, also called a restrictive covenant, is a private rule that limits how land may be used, such as a subdivision requiring single-family homes only. These restrictions are usually recorded and run with the land, binding future owners.
When a deed restriction and public zoning conflict, the more restrictive of the two controls, whether that is the private rule or the public one.
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This definition is Texas real estate exam-prep education, not legal, tax, or professional advice. Verify current rules against the official source before relying on them for a real transaction. Back to the full glossary.