West Lake Hills City Government: Officials and Services

West Lake Hills is a small, incorporated city in Travis County, Texas, operating under a council-manager form of government that gives a professional city manager day-to-day administrative authority. Situated entirely within the Austin metropolitan area, the city maintains independent municipal functions — including its own police department, zoning authority, and public works — distinct from the City of Austin. This page covers the structure of West Lake Hills' elected officials and appointed leadership, the core services the city delivers, and the boundaries that define where its jurisdiction begins and ends.

Definition and scope

West Lake Hills is a Type A general-law municipality incorporated under Texas state law and governed by the Texas Local Government Code. The city covers approximately 3.16 square miles (U.S. Census Bureau, City and Town Population Totals) and is positioned southwest of the City of Austin, bordered by Bee Cave Road (FM 2244) to the south and the Loop 360/Capital of Texas Highway corridor to the east.

The city operates as a distinct legal entity separate from Travis County and the City of Austin. Its population falls below 5,000 residents, a threshold that shapes the statutory options available to Texas general-law cities under Texas Local Government Code, Title 2. This classification affects how West Lake Hills may structure taxation, debt issuance, and the scope of ordinances it can adopt without a home-rule charter.

Scope and coverage: This page addresses only the governmental structure and services of West Lake Hills as an incorporated municipality. It does not cover the City of Austin's jurisdiction, Travis County services delivered to unincorporated areas, or the Bee Cave city government or Rollingwood city government, which are separate municipalities with their own officials and service structures. State agency functions — including TxDOT road authority over state-designated highways passing through the city — fall outside the municipal scope described here.

How it works

West Lake Hills operates under a council-manager structure, the most common form of municipal government in Texas cities of its size. The elected City Council sets policy, adopts the annual budget, and approves ordinances. A hired City Manager implements council directives, supervises city staff, and manages day-to-day operations.

The governing structure breaks down as follows:

  1. Mayor — elected at large, presides over council meetings, holds one vote equal to other council members, and serves as the ceremonial head of the city.
  2. City Council — five members elected at large to staggered terms; sets tax rates, adopts the budget, approves zoning changes, and enacts local ordinances.
  3. City Manager — appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the council; oversees department heads, executes contracts, and administers personnel.
  4. City Secretary — maintains official records, manages elections, and certifies ordinances and resolutions under Texas Government Code requirements.
  5. City Attorney — appointed legal counsel advising the council and staff on compliance with Texas statutes, including the Texas Open Meetings Act (Texas Government Code, Chapter 551).

Core municipal services include the West Lake Hills Police Department, public works (road maintenance within city rights-of-way), building inspections and permits, zoning and land use regulation, and code enforcement. Unlike Austin, West Lake Hills does not operate its own utility — water and wastewater services within the city are provided by the City of Austin (Austin Water Utility) under an interlocal service framework.

The city levies a municipal ad valorem (property) tax to fund general government operations. The tax rate is set annually by the council and must comply with Texas Property Tax Code truth-in-taxation requirements (Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Property Tax).

Common scenarios

Three recurring situations illustrate how residents and property owners interact with West Lake Hills government:

Development and permitting: Because West Lake Hills maintains its own extraterritorial jurisdiction and zoning authority, a property owner seeking to build, renovate, or subdivide within city limits must obtain permits from the city's building official — not from Austin's Development Services Department. The city's zoning code governs setbacks, impervious cover limits, and building heights independently of Austin's ordinances.

Police services: The West Lake Hills Police Department provides primary law enforcement within city limits. Calls that escalate beyond local capacity may draw Travis County Sheriff resources, but day-to-day patrol, traffic enforcement, and criminal investigation within city boundaries are municipal functions.

Taxation and assessment: Property within West Lake Hills carries both a municipal tax rate and a Travis County rate. The Travis County Tax Assessor-Collector administers collection for both layers on a single bill, but the West Lake Hills rate is set independently by its city council. Residents contesting assessed values appear before the Travis County Appraisal Review Board, not a municipal body.

Decision boundaries

Understanding what West Lake Hills controls versus what lies with other authorities prevents misdirected requests and compliance errors.

West Lake Hills controls:
- Zoning classifications and variances within city limits
- Building permits and inspections for structures inside city boundaries
- Municipal property tax rate (separate from county and school district rates)
- Local ordinances on noise, signage, and land use

Not controlled by West Lake Hills:
- State highway maintenance (TxDOT retains authority over Loop 360 and FM 2244)
- Water and wastewater service (administered by Austin Water)
- Public school administration (served by Austin Independent School District)
- County-level judicial, health, and election functions (administered by Travis County Government)

The distinction between West Lake Hills and the City of Austin is legally significant: Austin's zoning codes, development review processes, and fee structures do not apply to West Lake Hills properties. An owner operating inside West Lake Hills who applies to Austin's Planning Commission for a zoning action is applying to the wrong body.

For broader context on how West Lake Hills fits within the region's civic landscape, the Austin Metro Authority index provides reference coverage of the full range of jurisdictions operating across the metro area.

References

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