City Limits vs. ETJ
Living near a city doesn't mean you're in the city — ETJ rules matter
Many homes near fast-growing Forney and Terrell are in the ETJ — a buffer zone outside city limits where cities can control how land is divided but cannot zone it.
Texas gives cities an extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). That is a buffer zone just outside city limits where the city has limited authority. In the ETJ, a city can control how land is divided into lots, restrict fireworks, and address nuisances. But it cannot enforce zoning or most city rules. That means a commercial business could be built near your home without city zoning blocking it.
Forney's ETJ covers 26 square miles outside city limits. The City of Dallas also extended its ETJ into western Kaufman County because of Lake Ray Hubbard. If you buy property in an ETJ, county rules — not city rules — apply to most things. Police service comes from the county sheriff, not city police. Check with the city or Kaufman County Development Services to find out which rules apply to your land.
Source to confirm: City of Forney — Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ)