The Neighborhood Protection Corps seeks to improve the quality of life in neighborhoods by reducing blight and substandard living conditions.

Here is a brief list of violations and the fines they can incur:

Poor Property Maintenance:

Procedures for Weeded Lot Violation

Overgrown weeds, shrubs, grass and vegetation are fire and safety hazards. The Property owner/occupant is responsible for the property, which includes the right-of-way abutting the property.

• Grass and weeds
  Grass and weeds must be maintained at nine (9) inches or less.
  Fines:
  • 1st Offense: $50-$1,000
  • 2nd Offense: $100-$1500
  • 3rd Offense: $200-$2,000
    Remove any weeds in excess of 9”. Remove any trash or rubbish accumulating on the property before cutting weeds.
    
    
• Obstructions:
  Any obstruction that extends over a public sidewalk, street, or public right-of-way, and creates a public safety hazard.
  Fines: Up to $500
  • Remove any signs, poles, basketball goals, or other obstructions that encroach upon a public street, right-of-way, or that block the sidewalks.
  • All shrubs in the right-of-way and on the property must be maintained.
  • All dead trees and vegetation must be removed and properly discarded.
    
    
• Dumpsters on a Public Right-of-Way:
  Fines: $200-$2,000
  Remove the dumpster from the right-of-way, and place it on private property.
  
  
• Visible Junk or Inoperable Motor Vehicles:
  A junked or inoperable vehicle is any vehicle that:
  Has an expired license plate, invalid inspection sticker and is wrecked, dismantled, discarded or is inoperable and remains inoperable for more than 30 days.
  Fine: none
  The vehicle must be screened by completely enclosing the vehicle in a building. Car covers, tarps and bamboo shades and other types of materials are not acceptable screening. Remove or properly store any vehicle that cannot move under its own power, does not have a current licence plate or inspection sticker, or is wrecked, dismantled, partially dismantled, is discarded, or that remains continuously inoperable for over 45 days. Close and secure all windows, doors and other openings on vacant buildings and structures. Purchase a permit to repair or secure the building.
• Broken Fences:
  Fine: $200-2,000
  Repair the fence and keep it in good repair.
• Not Meeting Minimum Building Standards:
  It is unlawful for any person to allow a building he has ownership, control or possession of to be kept or used in violation of the Minimum Building Standards Ordinance. Minimum Building Standards include: property, structural, utility, health, light and ventilation standards for all buildings.
• Missing Address Numbers:
  Fine: $100-500
  Permanently affix the address number assigned to the property within 18” of the building’s entrance. The numbers must be at least 3” tall. On commercial buildings, identifying numbers must be posted within 36” of the primary entrance.

Open and/or Vacant Structures on Your Property:

Procedures for Open/Vacant Structures Violations

Windows, doors and other openings on vacant buildings and structures must be kept secured to prevent unauthorized entry. A property owner may be required to board up a building/structure if it becomes vacant and is not secured. Storage sheds and garages must also be secured. The property owner is responsible for all buildings and structures on the property.

• Vacant and Open Buildings:
  Fines: $200-$2000
  Obtain a building permit, and secure open structures with boards or other secure materials.

• Boats/Trailers:
  Fines: $200-$2,000
  Remove any rubbish or garbage from the boat or trailer. Elevate the boat or trailer at least 6” from the lot surface. If the boat is on a trailer, the trailer must be operable.

• Appliances
  Fines: $200-$2,000
  Remove and properly dispose of inoperable refrigerators, freezers, air conditioning units, and other appliances to avoid dangerous conditions for children, animals, and others.

• Open and/or Visible Storage:
  Property owners must not store certain materials out in the open. These materials include dead trees, tires, refuse, glass, building materials, appliances, and inoperable boats. If a boat is stored on the property, it must be elevated at least 6 inches from the lot surface.
  
  Junk, trash, litter and rubbish cannot be deposited or allowed to accumulate on a lot or street. This includes junked auto parts, appliances, furniture, building materials, tires, discarded paper, tree trimmings, cardboard, plastics, fallen tree limbs and other offensive or objectionable materials.

• Discarded Tires:
  Fines: $250-$2,000
  Remove or properly store any tires.

• Improperly Stored or Junked Boats/Trailers:
  Fines: $200-$2,000
  Remove any rubbish or garbage from the boat or trailer. Elevate the boat or trailer at least 6” from the lot surface. If the boat is on a trailer, the trailer must be operable.

• Abandoned Appliances
  Fines: $250-$2,000
  Remove or properly store any vehicle that cannot move under its own power, does not have a current license plate or inspection sticker, and is wrecked, dismantled, partially dismantled, is discarded, or that remains continuously inoperable for over 30 days.

• Abandoned/Inoperable Vehicles
  Fine: $250-2,000
  Remove or properly store any vehicle that cannot move under its own power, does not have a current license plate or inspection sticker, and is wrecked, dismantled, partially dismantled, is discarded, or that remains continuously inoperable for over 30 days.

• Rat Infestation and Harborage:
  A property owner/occupant may not accumulate lumber, boxes, barrels or similar materials that may be used as a harborage for rats. Control of rat infestations is the responsibility of the occupant and owner.
  Fine: $100-$2,000
  
  Remove garbage, rubbish, lumber, barrels, or materials that may be used to harbor rats or other rodents. For commercial property, all materials stored on the lot are to be 18” above the lot surface with a clear space underneath to prevent harborage of rats or rodents.

Garbage, Rubbish, and Trash:

• Improperly Placing Garbage or Heavy Trash for City Pick-Up:
  Waste collected by the City is limited to:
  • Standard waste generated by a residential user in connection with activities for residential purposes, i.e. garbage.
  • Waste generated in connection with the maintenance of a vacant lot.
  • Garbage and materials must be placed on the curbside for collection after 6:00 p.m. on the Friday preceding your neighborhood’s designated collection day. Materials placed for collection cannot block the sidewalk, street or ditch.
    

  Overflowing Dumpsters Fines:

  • 1st Offense: $50-$1,000
  • 2nd Offense: $100-$1500
  • 3rd Offense: $200-$2,000
    
    Empty the dumpster and dispose of the contents. Remove any trash, garbage, or rubbish on the ground around the dumpster.
    
    
• Dead TreesFines: $200-$2,000
  Remove and properly dispose of dead tree limbs.
  
  
• Open Excavation Fine: $200-2,000
  Fence or fill in open holes with approved fill material, such as sand or dirt. Building materials, rubbish, trash, tires or other materials cannot be used as fill materials.

For heavy trash pick-up schedules visit:
http://www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/schedule.html

• Stagnant Water Fines:
  • 1st Offense: $50-$1,000
  • 2nd Offense: $100-$1500
  • 3rd Offense: $200-$2,000

Eliminate any holes in the ground or remove containers that collect water and may promote mosquito breeding.

• Discharging Raw Sewage Fine: $200-2,000
  Correct any conditions that have created the problem whether it is on private property or on a public right-of-way, and sanitize the spill area.

Visual Blight:

Procedures for Visual Blight Violations

• Graffiti:
  Graffiti is any unauthorized painting, writing, inscription, initials, slogans, or drawings regardless of content, which is applied to a wall, building, fence, sign or other structural surface that is visible from any public property or right-of-way, or from the private property of another person. The property owner is responsible for ensuring that any graffiti that is visible from public or private property, is immediately removed.
  
  Fine: Up to $500
  Remove any unauthorized graffiti or other unauthorized painting, scratching, writing, inscriptions, initials, slogans, or drawings.

ABATEMENT BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON:

IF THE OWNER AND/OR OCCUPANT FAIL TO TIMELY COMPLY WITH A REQUEST TO CORRECT ANY VIOLATIONS, A MUNICIPAL COURT CITATION MAY BE ISSUED AND/OR THE VIOLATION CORRECTED AT THE OWNER’S EXPENSE. A LIEN WILL BE FILED TO RECOVER THE CITY’S COST OF ABATEMENT.