New Braunfels, TX Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Enforcing body
- Building Standards Commission
- Repair/demolish deadline
- 30 days, extendable to 90
- Max civil penalty
- $1,000 per day per violation
- Governing law
- City Code Ch. 50, Art. II, Div. 1
Summary
New Braunfels declares any unsafe, unsanitary, or uninhabitable building illegal and orders it repaired, secured, or demolished through the Building Standards Commission.
All buildings or structures which are unsafe, unsanitary, unfit for human habitation, not provided with adequate egress, or which constitute a fire hazard, otherwise dangerous to human life or which constitute a hazard to the safety, health or welfare of the public, by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, obsolescence, or abandonment, are considered unsafe buildings. All such unsafe buildings are hereby declared illegal and shall be abated by repair, rehabilitation or by demolition.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 36).
Full Breakdown
City Code Chapter 50 lets the Building Standards Commission act on any building that is unsafe, unsanitary, or unfit for human habitation, including rentals. Sec. 50-28 spells out objective triggers: leaning walls beyond 1/8 inch per foot of height, 33%+ structural deterioration, fire or storm damage, blocked egress, or code violations. After notice and a hearing, the commission can order repair, removal, or demolition within 30 to 90 days, and may secure or vacate an occupied-without-right building. A lease does not excuse an owner from complying with these standards.
Violations & Fines
Civil penalty up to $1,000 per day per violation (capped at $10/day if the property is the owner's homestead); city may also secure, repair, or demolish the building and assess costs against the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a lease excuse a landlord from these standards?
What counts as an uninhabitable structure?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New Braunfels
Texas rules heatmap·Compare New Braunfels to another location·View the Texas rental property rules overview
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