Texas City, TX Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)

Texas City Code of Ordinances § 90.004 makes it unlawful, without a permit, to erect, construct, reconstruct, alter or repair, or to permit anyone else to do so, any fence, wall, hedge, structure or other character of obstruction in two places: over, on or across any public property, way, alley, street, sidewalk or park, and between the property line of any lot and a public street or alley line. The second location catches the strip in front of a house, so a homeowner who wants a wall or hedge there needs the permit even though the ground beside it is private.

Section 90.008 covers temporary objects. Placing any materials, boxes or other objects in or upon a street, alley or sidewalk in Texas City requires the written permission of the Building Official first. Once that permission is granted, the same section makes it unlawful to remove the material without further written permission from the Building Official.

Other work in the right-of-way carries its own permit. Under § 90.028, building or repairing a sidewalk, driveway, curb or gutter needs a permit from the Building Official and lines and grades from the City Engineer's office, and the fee is set on a schedule based on the cost of improvements, posted at the City Hall Annex, 928 5th Ave. N. Any excavation or opening in a street, alley or public highway needs a permit under § 90.045, applied for to the Building Official under § 90.046. Section 90.047 lets the Building Official require a cash bond from the applicant, in an amount set by the Director of Public Works and the City Engineer, to cover any loss or damage to the city.

Section 90.004(B) declares a violation a misdemeanor and also makes the owner of the building or premises, and any architect, builder, contractor, agent or other person who assists, guilty of a separate misdemeanor.