Jurisdiction & Land Use Practical
City Limits, ETJ, and Unincorporated Comal County Are Not the Same
New Braunfels rules can follow a property past the city-limit sign. The city has a 3.5-mile extraterritorial jurisdiction, or ETJ. Proposed subdivision master plans and plats in that ring go through city review.
Inside the limits, Planning Services handles zoning, signs, permits, variances, tree removal review, and annexation questions. Past the ETJ, unincorporated Comal County uses its subdivision rules and plat process for land splits.
A mailing name is not proof of jurisdiction. A listing can say New Braunfels even when the tract sits outside the limits. Put the address on the city limits and ETJ map before you split land or plan a build.
Content last revised 2026-07-11