Helotes, Bexar County. Home base.
Land clearing andexcavation in Helotes.
Helotes is home for Highlander Construction. Brush and cedar clearing, homesite pads, drives and dirt work in the hills and creek bottoms around town, with the city's tree rules and the aquifer rules kept in view.
- Bexar County
- Free estimates
- Based in Helotes
Working in Helotes
Land work in Helotes
Highlander Construction is based in Helotes, so this is home ground. The land around town is a mix of cedar-covered hills, oak mottes and creek bottoms, and a lot of it is being opened up for homes on acreage.
Helotes grew 23 percent from 2010 to 2020. Most of that growth lands on raw ground that needs the same run of work: cedar and brush cleared with the oaks kept, a drive cut in, a pad built and the water sent the right way.
The rules here are tighter than out in the country. The city has its own tree permit, San Antonio's tree ordinance reaches into its ETJ nearby, and Helotes Creek feeds the Edwards Aquifer. We plan around all of it.
Helotes at a glance
- County
- Bexar County
- People
- 9,030 in 2020, up 23.0 percent from 7,341 in 2010 (Wikipedia)
- Setting
- The valley of Helotes Creek where it leaves the Hill Country, about 20 miles northwest of downtown San Antonio. SH 16 runs through town to Bandera (Wikipedia)
- Aquifer
- The Helotes Creek watershed sits on the Edwards contributing zone and supplies up to 15 percent of the Edwards Aquifer's recharge (Texas Public Radio)
- Tree rules
- City of Helotes tree removal permit with a tree survey (City of Helotes). San Antonio's ordinance covers its own ETJ (City of San Antonio)
- Burning
- Outside city limits unless a city allows it, and never in a county burn ban (AgriLife, burn ban map)
Local know-how
What to know before land work in Helotes
Rules, ground and timing that change how the work is done here. Sources are linked.
Tree permits in Helotes
The City of Helotes asks for a Tree Removal Permit Application and Affidavit with "a complete tree survey that shows the location, diameter, and name of all protected and heritage trees." The form lists a city fee and up to 10 business days to process, and Development Services is at 210-695-5901. The form talks about both the city and its ETJ but also says to submit it only if the project is in the city's jurisdiction, so call the city to confirm which applies to your lot (City of Helotes).
Helotes Creek and the aquifer
The Helotes Creek watershed "sits atop the contributing zone that feeds the Edwards Aquifer's recharge zone", and up to 15 percent of the Edwards' recharge comes from it (Texas Public Radio). On the contributing zone, TCEQ's Edwards rules apply when more than five acres are disturbed, with erosion and sediment controls in before work starts (TCEQ RG-11).
Burning brush near town
TCEQ's general rules say to burn outside city limits unless a city ordinance allows it (AgriLife summary). Outside town, Bexar County sets burn bans: its order of November 2025 restricted outdoor burning in the unincorporated county for 90 days (Bexar County). Check the Texas A&M Forest Service map for today's status.
Keeping the oaks
Live oaks are what most people want kept around Helotes. The Texas A&M Forest Service says not to wound or prune oaks from February through June and to paint every wound right away (Texas A&M Forest Service). See protecting oaks during clearing.
Photos from our work
Real Highlander Construction jobs. Captions say what each photo shows, not where it was taken. More in recent work.
What fits here
Our work around Helotes
The jobs that fit this area best. Not sure if we handle it? Call and ask.
Land Clearing
Cedar and brush cleared off acreage and homesites around Helotes, with the live oaks marked and kept.
See the service
Cedar & Brush Clearing
Selective cedar clearing on the hills, leaving cover for wildlife and shade where you want it.
See the service
Building Pads & Site Prep
House, barndominium and shop pads cut, filled and compacted, with the ground sloped away.
See the serviceExcavation & Grading
Grading, cut and fill and dozer work, with the aquifer and creek in mind.
See the serviceMore on Helotes
Land clearing in Helotes, from Helotes.
Highlander Construction is based in Helotes, so clearing here is home work. Cedar and brush cleared off acreage and homesites, the oaks...
Read the page Excavation & GradingExcavation and dirt work in Helotes.
Excavation, grading, pads and tank basins in and around Helotes, from an outfit based in Helotes. Helotes Creek, the Edwards contributing...
Read the pageEverything else we do
Do I need a permit to clear land in Helotes?
Inside the City of Helotes, a tree removal permit with a tree survey is needed for protected and heritage trees. If your land is in San Antonio's ETJ, the San Antonio tree ordinance can apply instead. See the permit guide.
Can I burn brush piles in Helotes?
Not inside city limits unless the city allows it. Outside town, burning follows TCEQ's rules and any Bexar County burn ban. Check the Texas A&M Forest Service map first.
Is Helotes over the Edwards Aquifer?
The Helotes Creek watershed sits on the Edwards contributing zone. Whether your tract is on the recharge, transition or contributing zone is shown on TCEQ's maps, and the TCEQ San Antonio office can confirm.
Do you work outside Helotes?
Yes. Highlander Construction works across South Central Texas. See the service areas, or call and ask.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Helotes, Texas
- Texas Public Radio, Helotes Creek and the Guajolote Ranch water permit (16 Feb 2025)
- City of Helotes, Tree Removal Permit Application / Affidavit
- City of San Antonio, Tree Preservation Ordinance FAQ
- TCEQ, Rules Protecting the Edwards Aquifer (RG-11)
- Texas A&M AgriLife, On-Site Brush Pile Burning in Texas
- Bexar County, Order Restricting Outdoor Burning (Nov 2025)
- Texas A&M Forest Service, Texas burn ban map
- Texas A&M Forest Service, Oak wilt disease threatens Texas oaks in spring
Free estimates
Land to work in Helotes?
Call (830) 328-3684 or send a few details. Estimates are free.