Bexar County, TX Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)

Owners of vacant lots in unincorporated Bexar County are legally responsible for keeping the property free of public health nuisances under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 342. This includes mowing weeds and grass (commonly above a 12-inch threshold on platted subdivision lots), removing accumulated trash and illegally dumped debris, eliminating standing water that breeds mosquitoes, and controlling vermin. Absentee owners and investor-held lots receive the same notices as occupied properties. The county mails abatement notices to the address on file with the Bexar County Appraisal District, giving typically 10 to 30 days to correct the violation. If the owner does not comply, the county may clean the lot and place a lien equal to the cleanup cost plus administrative fees, usually a few hundred dollars up to several thousand for heavy debris. Repeated violations can lead to additional citations and Class C misdemeanor charges. Illegal dumping by third parties is the owner responsibility to remove once notice is received, though the dumper is also prosecutable. Fencing a vacant lot is not required but helps deter dumping.