City Ordinances and Regulations
Parked cars in driveway blocking sidewalk
Believe it or not, there is a City ordinance that carries a $75.00 fine if ticketed. It has to do with a vehicle being parked in a driveway, but blocking sidewalk access. Many people walk their dogs and themselves on our sidewalks; including moms with strollers and some seniors with walkers or wheelchairs. Many residents have received $75 tickets over the years.
Please make sure that cars parked in your driveway are not blocking the sidewalk and forcing pedestrians to walk in the street to get around your car.
Parking too close to an intersection or stop sign
Another item, is that one can be ticketed if their vehicle is parked less than 20 ft from an intersection. Please see reminders to the right for multiple parking situations.
Also, if you park on the street in front of your house, and your neighbor across the street does as well, try to make sure that the two cars are not right across from each other. Our streets are rather narrow and it makes a truck or a larger SUV barely have enough room to pass through without scratching the cars.
More parking information here: https://www.houstontx.gov/parking/violationcodes.html
*** NOT REGULATED BY City of Houston
There is no City of Houston "garage sale permit."
The Office of the State Comptroller regulates sales of this type. Residents are allowed to have only two such sales within a twelve-month period. Any more than two and the resident is recognized as a business and must obtain a sales tax permit from the state.
Residents should be aware that many subdivisions prohibit solicitation and commercial businesses within residential areas of a neighborhood, and such activity is often restricted.
Residents seeking to operate a business from their homes must meet other city requirements, including obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy.
Common City Ordinances for Subdivisions
1. Ord. 6-14 It is unlawful for any person to keep, possess or maintain any livestock within 100 feet of any actual residence or building used for human habitation (other than that of the owner of such animal), or any restaurant, cafe, or other public eating space, or any church, school or hospital.
Note: The fine is $100 a day PER CHICKEN
2. Ord. 6-24 A person is required to promptly remove and dispose of, in a sanitary manner, feces left by the dog or cat. A fine can be given...between $75 to & $500.
Note: Dogs are to be on a leash whenever they are not in their yard.
3. Ord. 26.93 It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly leave parked or standing in any public street, alley or other public place any vehicle for a longer continuous period of time than 24 hours.
Note: It has to be moved if car has to remain more than the 24 hrs.
4. Ord,40,27, c It shall be unlawful for any vehicle to block a sidewalk.
Note: This happened several yrs. ago and an enormous number of neighbors received a $75. fine. This mostly seems to happen for those corner houses that have short driveways or multiple cars on the longer driveways.
5. Ord. 39-62 It shall also be the duty of each person who receives automated service containers and other equipment to store the equipment in a secure place where it will not be visible to a person standing in the right- off-way of any public street.
Note: Trash cans and/or Recycle cans can be put on curb, starting at 6:00pm on Thursday before trash days and are to be removed, out of sight of street, by 10PM on Friday.
Making sure your house is easy to find in case of an emergency:
Sec. 10-215. - Specifications for numbers—Noncommercial buildings and residential units.
(a) Each noncommercial building shall have an indentifying number posted in a position to be plainly legible and visible from the street, road, common driveway or common parking lot fronting the property.
(b) Each identifying residential unit number is to be posted and maintained on or within 18 inches of an entrance to the unit or such greater distance as the fire marshal may approve and shall be:
(1) Permanently affixed to the outside of the door or on the outside wall of such building or unit.
(2) Of a color which is in contrast to the background.
(3) For any noncommercial building built for first occupancy on or before May 22, 1979, at least two inches in height.
(4) For any noncommercial building built for first occupancy after May 22, 1979, at least three inches in height, except that a residential unit contained in a building where residential unit numbers are posted pursuant to section 10-213.1 of this Code may have residential unit numbers two inches or more in height.
(5) For each noncommercial building and each residential unit therein for which a building permit was issued after January 1, 2010: (i) of a color that contrasts with the background; (ii) one or more Arabic numerals or alphabet letters; and (iii) a minimum of 4 inches (102 mm) high with a minimum stroke width of 0.5 inches (12.7 mm).
Bandit Signs
People who staple signs to telephone poles and crowd them at intersections, sidewalks, and esplanades aren’t only creating eyesores in neighborhoods, they’re breaking the law. We call these signs “bandit signs” and residents who see what they suspect to be bandit signs should report them to the City of Houston Department of Neighborhoods by calling the 3-1-1 Houston Service Helpline or using the Houston 3-1-1 mobile app. Violators are subject to a fine between $300 -$500, can be taken to court, as well as have a warrant issued for their arrest for breaking Chapter 28 of Houston’s code of ordinances.
How to Identify a Bandit Sign
Bandit signs are typically small and placed in large quantities along public spaces as esplanades. These signs include political, real estate, developer, and garage sale signs, etc. and are placed upon a public street, public sidewalk, public right-of-way, or on any public building or structure of any kind belonging to the city.
Examples of Bandit Signs