Lawn and Pool Services in The Woodlands: The Tree Rule That Costs Homeowners the Most

Start Here: The Six-Inch Rule

If you remember one thing from this article, make it this:

No tree greater than six inches in diameter may be removed without approval.

The Woodlands was founded on the preservation of its forest — that was George Mitchell's non-negotiable condition, and it's written into the covenants. The Standards regulate tree removals and can require replanting.

Appeals are taken seriously too: a rehearing request or appeal on a required tree replant generally won't even be considered unless you provide written documentation from a certified arborist — or someone with a forestry degree — establishing that the lot can't support the replanting requirement.

So when a lawn crew offers to "clear that out for you," or a pool builder needs space, the trees are not yours to decide about alone. And the contractor won't be the one holding the violation notice. You will.

Pools: Approval, Deposits, and Inspections

A swimming pool is one of the most heavily regulated things you can add to a Woodlands lot.

You need prior written approval from your village's Residential Design Review Committee (RDRC) before construction. Pools and spas appear explicitly on the list of covered projects, alongside patio structures, decks, paving, arbors, and summer kitchens.

Beyond approval, expect:

• A refundable compliance deposit. Certain major projects — including swimming pools, room additions, and attached patio covers — require a deposit, returned to you on successful completion.
• Third-party inspections. A qualified independent inspector visits the property during the project to certify the work matches the approved plans and the Standards.
• A drainage plan. A comprehensive drainage plan is required at submittal. The pool or spa and its decking, berms and waterfalls may not encroach on any easement, and water-surface and hard-surface area are capped by your lot's Criteria.
• A mandatory barrier — and a fence design you don't choose. Pools and spas must be enclosed by an approved fence with self-closing, self-latching gates, complying with the current residential code. Separately, the Township's standards restrict lots to specific fence designs — the current published standard applies this across lots, expressly including those with swimming pools or spas, large ponds, golf-course or lakefront lots, corner lots, lots adjoining major streets, townhomes and patio homes. Your pool will dictate your fence.

The two deadlines that matter:

• 45 days. If a completed application isn't acted on by the RDRC within 45 days, it is automatically disapproved. Silence is not consent.
• 10 days. That's your window to appeal an RDRC decision, in writing, to the Development Standards Committee. DSC decisions are final.

And remember: Neighborhood Criteria vary from village to village, and where they conflict with the general Standards, the Criteria prevail. Your neighbour's pool in another village is not a precedent.

Before you sign a pool contract, call Covenant Administration: (281) 210-3973.

Choosing a Lawn Crew

Routine mowing and landscaping is one of the less regulated corners of home services — which cuts both ways.

What to actually check:

• Insurance. Ask for proof of general liability insurance. Lawn equipment throws rocks; crews work near windows, cars, and people. If they can't produce a certificate, that's your answer.
• Chemical applications are different. Commercial pesticide and herbicide application is licensed by the Texas Department of Agriculture — not TDLR — through its commercial applicator licence, in categories such as ornamental and turf pest control. If a company sprays your lawn, ask for the applicator's name and licence number, and verify it with the TDA at texasagriculture.gov. Mowing is one thing; chemicals are another.
• Scope in writing. Mowing frequency, edging, blowing, bed maintenance, seasonal clean-up — agree what's included before the first invoice.
• The trees, again. Make sure your crew knows the six-inch rule. A well-meaning crew "tidying up" a lot can create an expensive problem.

Seasonal Reality in Southeast Texas

• Spring: growth accelerates fast. This is when weekly service becomes necessary rather than optional.
• Summer: heat stress, watering questions, and peak demand for pool service.
• Autumn: leaf fall, and the right time to plan any hardscaping or pool project — because approvals take time.
• Winter: the quiet season, and the best time to submit applications for spring work. If you want a pool by June, don't start the paperwork in May.

What a Good Contractor Should Do (and What They Won't)

A good pool builder or landscaper working in The Woodlands will know about the RDRC and will often help with the application. Many do this routinely.

But be clear about where responsibility sits: the homeowner is the one bound by the covenants. If a contractor tells you approval isn't needed for a deck, a fence, a patio cover, or a tree — verify it yourself. A two-minute call to (281) 210-3973 is free. A notice of non-compliance recorded against your property is not.

Ask any contractor:

1. "Have you worked in The Woodlands before, and do you handle RDRC applications?"
2. "Can you show me a Certificate of Insurance?"
3. "What's the written scope, timeline, and price?"
4. "Which trees, if any, will be affected?"

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cut down a tree in my own yard? Not if it's over six inches in diameter — that requires approval, and replanting may be required. Appeals generally need documentation from a certified arborist.

Do I need approval to build a pool? Yes — prior written approval from your village RDRC. Expect a refundable compliance deposit and third-party inspections.

How long does approval take? Committees typically meet monthly. Note the hard rule: no action within 45 days = automatic disapproval, and you have 10 days to appeal.

Does my pool affect my fence? Yes. Pools and spas must be enclosed by an approved fence with self-closing, self-latching gates, and lots with pools or spas are among those restricted to specific fence designs under the Standards.

Are lawn services licensed? Routine mowing isn't a state-licensed trade, but commercial pesticide and herbicide application is licensed by the Texas Department of Agriculture — get the applicator's licence number and verify it at texasagriculture.gov before they spray.

Who do I call? Covenant Administration: (281) 210-3973.

The Bottom Line

In most suburbs, hiring a lawn crew or a pool builder is a question of price and reviews. In The Woodlands, it's a question of approvals — because the forest is the whole point of the place, and the rules have teeth. Get insurance certificates, get the scope in writing, verify the Texas Department of Agriculture licence of anyone spraying chemicals, and above all: call (281) 210-3973 before anything gets built, dug, or cut down.

Covenant standards and Neighborhood Criteria are revised periodically and vary by village; state licensing rules also change. This is general guidance, not legal advice — confirm current requirements with Covenant Administration at (281) 210-3973 before starting work.