“No shoes, no shirt, no problems,” is Kenny Chesney’s hit summer anthem, but are his words really the case in the Lone Star State? Walking around shirtless and shoeless is not uncommon in Texas, especially when the weather starts to heat up.
However, is it actually legal to not wear shoes or a shirt in public? Here’s what we know.
Individual businesses reserve the right not to serve a person who doesn’t comply, as long as the rules are applied equally and do not discriminate against protected groups. So, although you won’t be arrested for not wearing a shirt or shoes in public in Texas, you will most likely need to bring them with you before entering an H-E-B, Buc-ee’s, Walmart or any local business for that matter.
Yes. There is currently no state law that mandates Texans to wear a shirt or shoes in public, according to the Texas Constitution.
Therefore, a person is free to be barefoot or shirtless in any public space, including streets, parks, and yes, even while driving. This means that Texans are free not to wear a shirt or shoes on a run at Lady Bird Lake in Austin and before or after a dip at Barton Springs Pool.
The catch is, you may not have as much freedom inside a private business or governmental facility.