Galveston County, TX Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- County zoning power
- None (Texas counties can't zone)
- County nuisance law
- Tex. H&S Code Ch. 343
- Rubbish visible near street
- Nuisance after 10 days
- City code (Galveston)
- 2021 IPMC adopted
- City fine range
- $200 to $2,000 per offense
Summary
Texas counties cannot zone, but state law bans public nuisances in unincorporated areas: accumulated rubbish, junk vehicles, and debris visible from the street. Inside cities like Galveston, the adopted 2021 International Property Maintenance Code governs blight.
keeping, storing, or accumulating rubbish, including newspapers, abandoned vehicles, refrigerators, stoves, furniture, tires, and cans, on premises in a neighborhood or within 300 feet of a public street for 10 days or more, unless the rubbish or object is completely enclosed in a building or is not visible from a public street
Full Breakdown
In unincorporated Galveston County (Bolivar Peninsula, Bacliff, San Leon), the county has no zoning authority, but Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 343 lets it abate public nuisances such as accumulated rubbish, junked appliances, and debris near roads. Inside the City of Galveston, Chapter 18 of the city code adopts the 2021 IPMC (Sec. 18-2) to regulate maintenance of all buildings and structures. Violations of the county nuisance statute or the city property-maintenance code can trigger abatement, fines, and liens against the property.
Violations & Fines
Galveston city property-maintenance violations are Class C misdemeanors with a minimum $200 fine, up to $2,000 per offense; each day is a separate offense (Sec. 18-24).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Galveston County force me to clean up my yard?
Does the county enforce a property maintenance code?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Galveston County
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Galveston County to another location·View the Texas property maintenance overview
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