Property owners within Hunters Creek are required by law to follow rules outlined in the City of San Antonio’s Building and Property Maintenance Codes, as well as additional rules established by Hunters Creek’s original developers and attached to the deed of each property in our subdivision.
This page is intended to 1) help property owners understand where to find the actual documents that outline these rules, and 2) explain how each is enforced. It 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 and related legal documents are filed.
Please note that City codes and ordinances actually cover both commercial and residential construction and property maintenance. So, homeowners only need to be concerned about the residential portion of these rules. Another thing to note is that all City building codes 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 property described in the deed. Although it is common practice for developers to establish a single set of restrictions for all the properties in a given subdivision, the deed restrictions in one subdivision may vary significantly from those in other subdivisions. More on this 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
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.
Note: Hunters Creek Restrictive Covenants include references to an Architectural Control Committee that consisted of the developer and their business partners. It was empowered to review and approve all plats and plans before construction to ensure they met the minimum standards for the cost, quality, and size of new construction, as well as the placement of buildings, fences, garages and any sheds/outbuildings. This portion of the restrictions had a time limit of (10) years, after which it could be renewed or allowed to expire. While all the same rules still apply, the Architectural Control Committee itself has long since expired, so any enforcement is now the responsibility of the property owners.
Some of the other topics addressed in our 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.
Each homeowner should have received a copy of their specific restrictions during closing, as they all include language that says they “run with the land” which means they transfer from one property owner to the next. They also include a statement to the effect they can only be amended by a formal vote by a majority of the affected property owners in the same subdivision or unit.
Enforcement. The Restrictive Covenants empower all property owners to insist nearby properties comply with the rules 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. And even though HCNA does not have any legal right of enforcement, we can and will help residents understand the restrictions and make suggestions about ways to resolve issues that arise. Or help organize neighbors who might want to consider taking actions or proposing changes.
Multiple versions. Because our Hunters Creek subdivision was built in a dozen phases over many years, there are actually different Restrictive Covenant versions for each unit of development. The good news is the restrictions are virtually identical from phase to phase, the only variation being the block/lot number references and the effective dates.
While each homeowner should have a copy of their specific Restrictive Covenants, HCNA can assist Members with finding a specific document. 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 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/
