Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. ch. 341 (subchs. A, B, E, F) § 341.013
GARBAGE, REFUSE, AND OTHER WASTE.
Operative Text
Sec. 341.013. GARBAGE, REFUSE, AND OTHER WASTE. (a) Premises occupied or used as residences or for business or pleasure shall be kept in a sanitary condition.(b) Kitchen waste, laundry waste, or sewage may not be allowed to accumulate in, discharge into, or flow into a public place, gutter, street, or highway.(c) Waste products, offal, polluting material, spent chemicals, liquors, brines, garbage, rubbish, refuse, used tires, or other waste of any kind may not be stored, deposited, or disposed of in a manner that may cause the pollution of the surrounding land, the contamination of groundwater or surface water, or the breeding of insects or rodents.(d) A person using or permitting the use of land as a public dump shall provide for the covering or incineration of all animal or vegetable matter deposited on the land and for the disposition of other waste materials and rubbish to eliminate the possibility that those materials and rubbish might be a breeding place for insects or rodents.(e) A person may not permit vacant or abandoned property owned or controlled by the person to be in a condition that will create a public health nuisance or other condition prejudicial to the public health. Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.
Section 341.013 of the Texas Health & Safety Code establishes sanitation requirements for residential, commercial, and recreational premises. It prohibits the accumulation or discharge of kitchen, laundry, or sewage waste into public spaces, and bans the storage or disposal of a wide range of waste materials—including garbage, rubbish, chemicals, and used tires—in ways that could pollute land or water or attract insects and rodents. The rule also requires that public dumps manage animal and vegetable matter to prevent pest breeding, and it bars owners from allowing vacant or abandoned property to become a public health nuisance.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 341.013, property owners and managers are generally expected to maintain all occupied premises—residential or otherwise—in a sanitary condition at all times. Compliant operators typically ensure that waste, refuse, and spent materials are stored and disposed of through approved channels that prevent groundwater contamination, land pollution, and pest infestation. Owners of vacant or abandoned properties bear a specific obligation under this section to prevent those properties from deteriorating into conditions that constitute a public health nuisance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 341.013 reflects a baseline public health standard that applies to residential premises in Texas, meaning tenants have an interest in ensuring their living environment meets these sanitation requirements. If waste is accumulating, sewage is discharging improperly, or pest-breeding conditions exist on the property, tenants may have grounds to raise a violation of this provision when pursuing remedies through local code enforcement or health authorities. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand how § 341.013 interacts with other housing remedies, such as repair-and-deduct rights or lease defenses.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 28, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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