Pursuant to the authority granted in the Enabling Legislation of the Sabine River Authority (“Authority”), as amended, as well as Chapters 49 and 51 of the Texas Water Code and Chapter 31 of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, notice is hereby given that on the 19th day of June 2025, the Board of Directors of the Authority adopted amendments to the Rules and Regulations of the Authority. These amendments contain provisions relating to the permitted uses of property owned by the Authority near Lake Tawakoni, Toledo Bend, and Lake Fork, including requirements relating to commercial developments on Authority land and construction requirements. The amendments to the Rules and Regulations provide for the following:
1. Restrictions on houseboats operated, moored, or anchored in a reservoir;
2. Requirements and restrictions regarding limited use permits granted by the Authority, and use of Authority lands, including:
a. Amending definitions relating to the Rules and Regulations, including relating to hazardous substances and contamination, houseboats, manufactured homes, recreational vehicles, and RV Parks;
b. Limitations on modifications to the natural conditions, topography, and terrain;
c. Requirements for a construction application as well as insurance requirements for contractors working on Authority property;
d. Construction standards for Private Limited Use Permits, including but not limited to site plan requirements, storage building, gazebo, and pavilion requirements, boathouse and pier requirements, and requirements for retaining walls, fences, and electrical improvements;
e. Construction standards for Commercial Limited Use Permits, including site plan requirements, requirements for recreational vehicles, requirements for decks, porches, storage buildings, garages and carports, and requirements for electrical improvements;
f. Regulation of facilities, activities, and use of Authority land, including prohibition of Park Model RVs and tiny homes/cottages;
g. Requirements on commercial developments, including marinas and RV Parks, relating to site plan requirements, permitting requirements, roadway minimum standards, entrances, and parking requirements, as well as required approvals, and requirements related to water, wastewater, and electrical services, stormwater, floodplain permitting requirements, and 911 identification;
h. Requirements for RV Parks, including minimum size, separation distance, parking and location; and
i. Grandfathering provisions relating to the permitted uses approved prior to the above changes to the Rules and Regulations.
Pursuant to the Authority’s Enabling Legislation and any other authority authorized by Texas law, any breach of the Rules or Regulations are subject to penalties, including fines of up to $200 and termination of any permits or permissions issued by the Authority.
This notice is a substantive statement of the amendments to the Authority’s Rules and Regulations and does not contain all of the specific provisions and requirements established in the Rules and Regulations. A copy of the Rules and Regulations for Lake Tawakoni, Toledo Bend, and Lake Fork are on file at: the Authority Main Office at 12777 Highway 87 N, Orange, Texas 77632; the Lake Tawakoni Division Office at 169 RCR 1480, Point, Texas 75472; the Lake Fork Division Office at 353 PR 5183, Quitman, Texas 75783; the Toledo Bend Reservoir Office at 450 Spur 135, Burkeville, Texas 75932; and on the Authority’s website at www.sratx.org, where they may be read by any interested person.
See Links below to Rules and Regulations for each lake:
Rules and Regulations Toledo Bend