Texarkana, TX Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Civil penalty
- Up to $1,000 per day
- Enforcing body
- Building and Standards Commission
- Weeds nuisance threshold
- Herbage over 12 inches tall
- Reclamation window
- 20 business days after order
- Appeal window
- 30 calendar days to district court
Summary
Texarkana's Building and Standards Commission can declare a home or structure a public nuisance, order it repaired, secured, or demolished, and fine owners up to $1,000 a day for noncompliance.
All substandard buildings and structures are hereby declared to be public nuisances and illegal and shall be vacated, secured, repaired, demolished or the occupants relocated, as herein provided. Property with accumulations of refuse, vegetation or other matter as defined herein that creates breeding and living places for insects and rodents are hereby declared public nuisances and illegal and must be immediately mowed and cleared of all such refuse.
(Code 1961, § 5-53; Ord. No. 067-2010, § 1(exh. A), 4-26-2010)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 27).
Full Breakdown
When the building official finds a structure unsafe, dangerously deteriorated, or costing more than half its appraised value to repair, the city posts a "Substandard Building" placard barring occupancy and mails notice to the owner and any lienholder. The Building and Standards Commission then holds a hearing and can order the structure vacated, secured, repaired, or demolished, or order accumulated refuse and weeds over 12 inches cleared. Owners may reclaim a condemned building by submitting a signed repair contract and proof of financing within 20 business days. If the city ends up doing the work itself, it can lien the property for the cost.
Violations & Fines
Noncompliance draws a civil penalty up to $1,000 per day (up to $5,000/day for pollutant-discharge violations); the city may also secure, repair, or demolish the structure itself and place a lien on the property for its costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a Texarkana building "substandard"?
Can an owner save a condemned building?
What happens if the owner ignores the order?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Texarkana
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Texarkana to another location·View the Texas property maintenance overview
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