Georgetown, TX Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Declared
- Public nuisance under Section 15.40.020
- Damage threshold
- 33% supporting-member or 50% wall damage
- Hearing notice
- At least 10 days, mail plus posting
- Repair vs. demolition line
- 50% of appraised structure value
- Deciding body
- Building Standards Commission
- Appraisal source
- Williamson County Appraisal District
Summary
Georgetown declares any 'dangerous building or structure,' one that's unsecured, unsafe, or more than 33 to 50 percent deteriorated, a public nuisance under Section 15.40.020, subject to repair, vacation, or demolition orders from the Building Standards Commission after a public hearing.
"Dangerous building or structure" means any premises, building or structure that is:... 3.Dilapidated, substandard or unfit for human habitation and a hazard to the public health, safety and welfare...b.Those buildings or structures which, exclusive of the foundations, show 33 percent or more damage or deterioration to the supporting member or members, or 50 percent damage or deterioration to the nonsupporting enclosing or outside walls or covering... Sec. 15.40.020. - Public nuisance declared. All "dangerous buildings or structures" within the terms of Section 15.40.010 are declared to be public nuisances, and shall be abated as provided in this Chapter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 32 | Unified Development Code: Supplement 15).
Full Breakdown
010 defines a dangerous building broadly, covering structures unsecured from unauthorized entry, boarded up but still hazardous, structurally listing or buckling beyond a third of their base, showing 33 percent or more damage to supporting members, damaged by fire or flood to below current code strength, or otherwise unsafe, unsanitary, or lacking adequate egress. 040 lets the official first seek voluntary compliance from the owner, lienholder, or mortgagee, and if that fails, sets a public hearing before the Building Standards Commission. 045 requires at least 10 days' notice by certified mail, posting on the building's front door, and newspaper publication before the hearing.
030, if repair costs less than 50 percent of the structure's value, per the Williamson County Appraisal District, the Commission orders repair; if more than 50 percent, the Commission orders demolition or removal unless it finds repair still feasible.
Violations & Fines
Failing to comply with a Commission repair, vacation, or demolition order under Chapter 15.40 exposes the owner to the City performing the work itself and charging the cost back, plus the general penalty in Section 1.08.010: up to $500, or up to $2,000 for a public-health or safety violation, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a building 'dangerous' under Georgetown's code?
Can the City force demolition of my building?
How much notice do I get before a dangerous-building hearing?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Georgetown
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Georgetown to another location·View the Texas property maintenance overview
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Property Blight in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Williamson County handle property blight.