Travis County, TX Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing rule
- Travis County Code § 261.001(r), § 261.015
- Enforcing agency
- Austin Public Health / Health Authority
- Notice period
- 31 days to abate after notice
- Hearing request window
- 10 days to request hearing
- First-offense fine
- $50 to $200
- Repeat-offense fine
- $200 to $1,000 plus 6 months jail
- Lien interest
- 10% per year on assessment
Summary
A building that is structurally unsafe, unsanitary, dilapidated, storm damaged, or abandoned is a public nuisance under Travis County Code Section 261.001(r). The Health Authority can order repairs, and an owner who ignores a 31-day abatement notice faces demolition, a lien on the property, and criminal fines.
Public nuisance means: ... Maintaining a building in a manner that is structurally unsafe or constitutes a hazard to safety, health, or public welfare because of inadequate maintenance, unsanitary conditions, dilapidation, obsolescence, disaster, damage, or abandonment or because it constitutes a fire hazard... The definition of "Public nuisance" under this Section 261.001(r) does not apply to a site or facility that is permitted and regulated by a state agency. ... Misdemeanor Fine. An offense under Section 261.009 is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) or more than two hundred dollars ($200.00). Previous Conviction. If it is shown on the trial of the defendant that the defendant has been previously convicted of an offense under this section, the defendant is punishable by a fine of not less than two hundred dollars ($200.00) or more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), confinement in jail for not more than six (6) months, or both. Separate Offense. Each day a violation occurs is a separate offense.
Full Breakdown
001(r) of the Travis County Rules for Abatement of Public Nuisances defines a structurally unsafe or dilapidated building, one that is a hazard to safety, health, or welfare because of inadequate maintenance, unsanitary conditions, dilapidation, obsolescence, disaster damage, abandonment, or fire risk, as a public nuisance in the unincorporated county. The Health Authority, the Austin Public Health Department acting for the county under a 1985 interlocal agreement, enforces the rule; its inspectors can enter the property at a reasonable time after showing identification. Before abatement, the county must give written notice describing the specific unsafe condition and give the owner until the 31st day after receipt to fix it, or to request a hearing before the Health Authority within 10 days.
A denied owner can appeal to the Commissioners Court within 10 days of the Health Authority's ruling. 00 administrative fee and 10 percent annual interest starting on the 31st day after assessment. A county or district court can also issue an injunction against the owner, and a person who wins that suit can recover attorney's fees. The nuisance definition carves out any site already permitted and regulated by a state agency.
Violations & Fines
Letting a building stay structurally unsafe past the 30-day abatement notice is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $50 to $200 for a first offense, rising to $200 to $1,000 plus up to 6 months in jail on a repeat conviction, and each day the condition continues is a separate offense. The county can also demolish the structure, lien the property for the cost, and charge 10 percent yearly interest on the unpaid assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a nuisance building in unincorporated Travis County?
How much notice do I get before the county acts on a blighted building?
Can Travis County put a lien on my property for a code violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Travis County
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Travis County to another location·View the Texas property maintenance overview
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