Temple, TX Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Enforcing body
- Building Standards Commission
- Repair threshold
- Feasible if under 50% damaged
- Demolition threshold
- Ordered if over 50% damaged
- Civil penalty
- Up to $1,000 per day
- Compliance deadline
- 30 days after Commission order
Summary
Temple declares any substandard or dangerous building a public nuisance, subject to a Building Standards Commission order to repair, vacate, secure, or demolish it.
The City of Temple declares every substandard building or structure as herein defined to be a public nuisance and subject to repair, vacation or demolition to abate such nuisance as herein provided in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of the occupants and the public.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Reformat).
Full Breakdown
Under Chapter 21, a dilapidated or unsafe structure that endangers occupants or the public is a public nuisance. The building official refers the case to the Building Standards Commission after notice and a hearing; the Commission can order repair (if under 50% damaged), vacation and securing, or demolition (if over 50% damaged or unrepairable) within a set deadline, typically 30 days to start.
Violations & Fines
Class C misdemeanor with a fine under Sec. 1-9; each day of continued violation is a separate offense, plus a civil penalty up to $1,000 per day under Sec. 21-24.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a building 'dangerous' in Temple?
Can the city force demolition of a blighted building?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Temple
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Temple to another location·View the Texas property maintenance overview
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Property Blight in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Bell County handle property blight.