New Braunfels, TX Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing body
- Building Standards Commission
- Standard repair deadline
- 30 days from order
- Max extension with work plan
- Up to 90 days
- Civil penalty
- Up to $1,000/day per violation
- Homestead penalty cap
- $10/day per violation
Summary
New Braunfels can order repair or demolition of any building that's unsafe, unsanitary, or structurally dangerous under Code Sec. 50-26.
All buildings or structures which are unsafe, unsanitary, unfit for human habitation, not provided with adequate egress, or which constitute a fire hazard, otherwise dangerous to human life or which constitute a hazard to the safety, health or welfare of the public, by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, obsolescence, or abandonment, are considered unsafe buildings. All such unsafe buildings are hereby declared illegal and shall be abated by repair, rehabilitation or by demolition.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 36).
Full Breakdown
City Code Sec. 50-26 declares any building unsafe, unsanitary, unfit for habitation, or a fire hazard due to inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, or abandonment to be illegal, and requires it be abated by repair, rehabilitation, or demolition. The Building Standards Commission holds a hearing and can order the owner, lienholder, or mortgagee to secure, repair, remove, or demolish the structure within 30 days (extendable to 90 with a detailed work plan). Sec. 50-33 lets the city refer the owner for criminal prosecution, do the work itself and assess costs against the property, or impose a civil penalty of up to $1,000 per day per violation ($10/day if the property is a homestead).
Violations & Fines
Up to $1,000/day civil penalty per violation ($10/day for homestead property); city may also demolish or repair and bill the owner, or refer for criminal prosecution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a building 'unsafe' under New Braunfels code?
Can the city demolish my building without a hearing?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New Braunfels
Texas rules heatmap·Compare New Braunfels to another location·View the Texas property maintenance overview
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