Richardson, TX Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Vegetation Must Stay
- Vegetation must stay under 12 inches tall
- 10-day Notice Precedes
- 10-day notice precedes city abatement
- Abatement Costs Become
- Abatement costs become a lien on the property
- Repeat Violators May
- Repeat violators may be cited without new notice
- Enforced Through Tx
- Enforced through TX Local Gov't Code Chapter 342
Summary
Owners of vacant lots in Richardson must keep grass and weeds under 12 inches, remove trash and debris, and secure the property against dumping.
Sec. 342.004. MUNICIPAL POWER CONCERNING WEEDS OR CERTAIN PUBLIC NUISANCES. The governing body of a municipality may require the owner of real property in the municipality to keep the property free from weeds, brush, and a condition constituting a public nuisance as defined by Section 343.011(c)(1), (2), or (3). Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.Amended by: Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 580 (S.B. 837), Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 2013.
Sec. 342.005. VIOLATION OF ORDINANCE. The governing body of a municipality may punish an owner or occupant of property in the municipality who violates an ordinance adopted under this subchapter. Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1,
Full Breakdown
Richardson's property maintenance code requires owners of vacant and unimproved lots to maintain the property in a safe, sanitary condition. Grass, weeds, and rank vegetation must be kept below 12 inches in height; accumulations of trash, brush piles, construction debris, and illegally dumped material must be removed; and standing water that can breed mosquitoes must be eliminated. Owners must also maintain fence lines, prevent erosion onto adjacent lots, and abate nuisances such as dead trees hanging over public right-of-way. When owners fail to comply after a 10-day notice, Richardson may abate the nuisance and place a lien on the property to recover mowing and cleanup costs plus administrative fees under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 342. Repeated violations on the same lot within 12 months may proceed without additional notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my vacant lot is being used for illegal dumping?
Can the city really put a lien on my lot for mowing?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Richardson
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Vacant Lot Maintenance in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dallas County handle vacant lot maintenance.