Collin County, TX Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Enforcement
- Complaint-driven
- State Law
- TX HSC 343.011
- Agency
- Collin County Environmental Health
- Notice Period
- 30 days
- Abatement Lien
- TX HSC 343.023
Summary
Collin County may enforce overgrown vegetation and nuisance conditions on vacant lots under Health and Safety Code Chapter 343. No proactive lot inspection program; complaint-driven enforcement through Environmental Health Services.
Sec. 343.011. PUBLIC NUISANCE. (a) This section applies only to the unincorporated area of a county.(b) A person may not cause, permit, or allow a public nuisance under this section.(c) A public nuisance is: [...] (4) allowing weeds to grow on premises in a neighborhood if the weeds are located within 300 feet of another residence or commercial establishment;(5) 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; [...] "Weeds" means all rank and uncultivated vegetable growth or matter that:(A) has grown to more than 36 inches in height; or(B) creates an unsanitary condition likely to attract or harbor mosquitoes, rodents, vermin, or other disease-carrying pests, regardless of the height of the weeds.
Full Breakdown
TX Health & Safety Code §343.011 authorizes counties to abate 'public nuisances' on real property: including weeds over 12 inches, accumulated rubbish, stagnant water, dead trees, and rodent/mosquito harborage. Collin County Environmental Health Services (2300 Bloomdale Rd, McKinney, (972) 548-5585) investigates on complaint only. Procedure under TX HSC §343.013: written notice to owner at record address, 30-day cure period, post notice if owner unknown, then Commissioners Court order authorizing abatement with costs assessed as tax lien under §343.023. Collin County has no proactive mow/inspection program (unlike Plano's §6-301 city mowing, McKinney's §50-113, or Frisco's §50-111 which mow at owner cost plus admin fee). TX HSC §342 applies in municipalities. Vacant platted lots in rapidly growing corridors (Celina, Prosper, Anna) generate most complaints. Mosquito-breeding standing water is a separate violation under Collin County Mosquito Control Order.
Violations & Fines
TX HSC §343.011: Class C misdemeanor, up to $200 first offense, up to $2,000 subsequent. Abatement costs attach as tax lien on property under §343.023.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I report an overgrown vacant lot in Collin County?
How long does abatement take?
Can the county bill the owner?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Collin County
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Collin County to another location·View the Texas property maintenance overview
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