Tarrant County, TX Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Texas Local
- Texas Local Government Code 343 authorizes county nuisance abatement
- Weeds Over
- Weeds over 12 inches covering substantial area are cited
- Notice
- 30-day notice typically required before abatement
- Fees
- County can place a lien for cleanup costs
- Chapter 214
- Chapter 214 covers dilapidated structures
Summary
Tarrant County addresses blight under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 343. Rubbish, stagnant water, weeds over 12 inches, and dilapidated structures can be declared nuisances with abatement ordered.
Sec. 343.011. PUBLIC NUISANCE. (a) This section applies only to the unincorporated area of a county. (b) A person may not cause, permit, or allow a public nuisance under this section. (c) A public nuisance is: (1) keeping, storing, or accumulating refuse on premises in a neighborhood unless the refuse is entirely contained in a closed receptacle; (2) 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
Texas Local Government Code Chapter 343 authorizes counties to abate certain public health nuisances in designated unincorporated areas. Tarrant County has adopted these provisions and enforces them through the Tarrant County Public Health Environmental Health Division and Code Compliance programs. Conditions that can be declared nuisances include keeping rubbish, brush, or weeds that are taller than 12 inches over a substantial part of a lot, maintaining stagnant water on the premises, storing inoperative motor vehicles or rusted appliances in public view, allowing carcasses of animals to remain, and conditions that breed mosquitoes, rats, or other vectors.
Residential structures that are dilapidated to the point of being unfit for habitation may be addressed under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 214, which authorizes municipalities and qualifying counties to require repair, removal, or demolition. The enforcement process typically begins with a complaint and inspection, followed by written notice to the owner describing the violation and providing at least 30 days to abate. If the owner does not comply, the county may abate the nuisance directly and assess the costs as a lien against the property.
Repeat or serious violations can lead to criminal charges (Class C misdemeanor) and court orders. HOA-enforced blight cases often proceed faster through deed restriction litigation under Texas Property Code Chapter 202.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who do I call about a blighted property in unincorporated Tarrant County?
What are the penalties for property blight?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tarrant County
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