The majority of properties in The Woodlands Township are encumbered with either The Woodlands Community Association (WCA) covenants, The Woodlands Association (TWA) covenants or The Woodlands Commercial Owners Association (WCOA) covenants. In 2010, these community associations transferred responsibility for Covenant administration to the Township as part of the governance transition, and the Covenants continue to be encumbered on property throughout The Woodlands. 

The effective enforcement of the Covenants and Standards, which are also referred to as Deed Restrictions, is extremely important to the preservation of property values in The Woodlands. These protective deed restrictions set the standards for property maintenance and apply the acceptable standards for physical changes made to properties.