Dallas's Property Maintenance: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles property maintenance a little differently. In Dallas, Texas, there are 3 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Snow & Sidewalk Clearing

Dallas requires every property owner, tenant, or occupant to clear snow and ice from the sidewalk fronting their building within set hours under Sec. 43-96: three hours if it falls before 4:00 p.m. on a weekday, or by 10:00 a.m. the next morning if it falls overnight or on a Sunday. If it is frozen too hard to chip away safely, owners must spread sand or ashes instead.

Key details: Governing sections: Dallas City Code Secs. 43-96 to 43-98.2. Deadline, daytime snow: 3 hours after it falls. Deadline, overnight/Sunday snow: By 10:00 a.m. next day. If too icy to remove: Sand/ashes required instead. Related offense: Causing street ice, Sec. 43-98.1.

Failing to clear a sidewalk within the three-hour or next-morning deadlines in Sec. 43-96, or failing to sand a sidewalk too icy to shovel under Sec. 43-97, is an enforceable violation of Chapter 43, Article IV. Anyone who lets water freeze into ice on a street or alley under Sec. 43-98.1 must also reimburse the city's full labor, equipment, and materials cost of clearing it.

Property Blight

Dallas City Code Chapter 27 (Minimum Property Standards) addresses property blight and nuisance conditions. Sec. 27-11 establishes minimum standards and owner responsibilities for maintaining safe, sanitary, and habitable structures. Article V covers public safety nuisances. Chapter 31, Sec. 31-38 requires property owners to remove graffiti. Code Compliance Services investigates complaints and can issue citations with fines of $50-$500 per day. Vacant structures may be ordered secured or demolished.

Key details: Code Section: Ch. 27, Sec. 27-11 (Minimum Standards). Graffiti: Ch. 31, Sec. 31-38 (duty to remove). Public Safety Nuisance: Ch. 27, Art. V. Penalty: $50-$500/day per violation. Enforcement: Code Compliance Services via 311.

The rules around property blight in Dallas lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Vacant Lot Maintenance

Dallas City Code Sec. 18-13 makes it an offense for an owner, occupant, or person in control of any occupied or unoccupied lot to let weeds or grass grow past 12 inches, or to leave cut weeds and grass lying on the ground afterward. The director of code enforcement handles routine cases, and the fire marshal enforces the broader fire-hazard duty in Sec. 18-14.

Key details: Height limit: 12 inches for weeds and grass. Enforcing agency: Code enforcement director; fire marshal for fire hazards. Notice before city mows: 7 days written notice to owner. Fine range: $50 to $2,000 per offense. Repeat offense multiplier: Doubled 2nd, trebled 3rd within 24 months.

Violating Sec. 18-13, 18-14, or 18-14.1 is a criminal offense under Sec. 18-16, and each day of overgrowth counts as a separate offense. A first conviction carries a fine of at least $50 and up to $2,000. That $50 minimum doubles to $100 for a second conviction within 24 months and triples to $150 for a third conviction in that window, though the total fine never exceeds $2,000. Dallas can also pursue an administrative penalty in the same range under Chapter 27, Article IV-b, instead of criminal prosecution.

The Bottom Line

Dallas's property maintenance rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Dallas is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Dallas's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.