Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. ch. 341 (subchs. A, B, E, F) § 341.019
MOSQUITO CONTROL ON UNINHABITED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY.
Operative Text
Sec. 341.019. MOSQUITO CONTROL ON UNINHABITED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, a municipality, county, or other local health authority may abate, without notice, a public health nuisance under Section 341.011(7) that:(1) is located on residential property that is reasonably presumed to be abandoned or that is uninhabited due to foreclosure; and(2) is an immediate danger to the health, life, or safety of any person.(b) A public official, agent, or employee charged with the enforcement of health, environmental, or safety laws may enter the premises described by Subsection (a) at a reasonable time to inspect, investigate, or abate the nuisance.(c) In this section, abatement is limited to the treatment with a mosquito larvicide of stagnant water in which mosquitoes are breeding.(d) The public official, agent, or employee shall post on the front door of the residence a notice stating:(1) the identity of the treating authority;(2) the purpose and date of the treatment;(3) a description of the areas of the property treated with larvicide;(4) the type of larvicide used; and(5) any known risks of the larvicide to humans or animals. Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 16 (S.B. 186), Sec. 1, eff. May 10, 2013. SUBCHAPTER C. SANITARY STANDARDS OF DRINKING WATER; PROTECTION OF PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES AND BODIES OF WATER
Under Texas Health & Safety Code § 341.019, local governments—municipalities, counties, or other local health authorities—are permitted to treat mosquito-breeding stagnant water on abandoned or foreclosure-vacant residential properties without first providing notice to the owner, but only when the situation poses an immediate danger to public health or safety. The abatement action is strictly limited to applying mosquito larvicide to standing water; no broader remediation is authorized under this provision. After treatment, the authority must post a notice on the front door of the residence detailing who treated the property, what was used, when and where treatment occurred, and any known risks of the larvicide.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners whose residential properties are vacant due to foreclosure or abandonment should be aware that under § 341.019, local health authorities can enter and apply mosquito larvicide to stagnant water on the premises without advance notice if conditions are deemed an immediate public health danger. A compliant property operator generally prevents standing water from accumulating on vacant properties, reducing the conditions that would trigger this no-notice abatement authority. Owners of such properties can expect to find a posted notice on the front door after any treatment has occurred, which will identify the treating authority, the larvicide used, the areas treated, and any associated risks.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 341.019 is primarily directed at uninhabited or abandoned properties, but tenants returning to or near such properties should know that local health authorities have the legal authority to enter and treat those premises for mosquito breeding without prior notice under certain conditions. If a notice has been posted on a front door under this provision, it must include the identity of the treating authority, the date and purpose of treatment, the areas treated, the larvicide used, and any known risks to humans or animals. Individuals with concerns about a treatment that occurred—such as questions about larvicide risks—can contact the local health authority identified on the posted notice or reach out to a tenant-rights organization for guidance on next steps.
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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