Houston, TX Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger height
- Brush/weeds over 48 inches
- Notice
- None required before abatement
- Cost recovery
- Property lien plus 10% interest
- Owner hearing window
- 30 days after abatement
- Enforcing official
- Neighborhood protection official
Summary
Houston law treats weeds or brush taller than 48 inches as an immediate danger to health, life, or safety, letting the city clear it and bill the owner without giving notice first.
Weeds or brush higher than 48 inches tall are declared to be an immediate danger to the health, life, or safety of all persons in the vicinity thereof, and the abatement of such weeds or brush may be carried out without prior notice as described in this subsection. The neighborhood protection official may cause such weeds and brush to be removed or abated, without notice.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 10's neighborhood nuisance article lets Houston's neighborhood protection official abate tall brush before notifying the owner, unlike ordinary weed nuisances, which require notice first. The trigger is height, not fire designation: brush or weeds over 48 inches. The city recovers costs via a property lien plus 10% interest, notifies the owner within 10 days after the work, and the owner can request a hearing within 30 days to contest whether the brush actually met the 48-inch threshold.
Violations & Fines
No fine for the brush itself: the city performs the abatement, files a cost lien against the property (plus 10% interest), and forecloses through the city attorney if unpaid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Houston require defensible-space brush clearance like wildfire-prone cities?
Can the city really clear my lot without warning me first?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Houston
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Houston to another location·View the Texas fire regulations overview
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