Tex. Loc. Gov't Code Ann. ch. 214 (subchs. A, B, C, G, H, I, Z) § 214.0011
ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY TO SECURE SUBSTANDARD BUILDING.
Operative Text
Sec. 214.0011. ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY TO SECURE SUBSTANDARD BUILDING. (a) A municipality by ordinance may establish minimum standards for the use and occupancy of buildings in the municipality regardless of the date of their construction and may adopt other ordinances as necessary to carry out this section.(b) The municipality may secure a building the municipality determines:(1) violates the minimum standards; and(2) is unoccupied or is occupied only by persons who do not have a right of possession to the building.(c) Before the 11th day after the date the building is secured, the municipality shall give notice to the owner by:(1) personally serving the owner with written notice;(2) depositing the notice in the United States mail addressed to the owner at the owner's post office address;(3) publishing the notice at least twice within a 10-day period in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the building is located if personal service cannot be obtained and the owner's post office address is unknown; or(4) posting the notice on or near the front door of the building if personal service cannot be obtained and the owner's post office address is unknown.(d) The notice must contain:(1) an identification, which is not required to be a legal description, of the building and the property on which it is located;(2) a description of the violation of the municipal standards that is present at the building;(3) a statement that the municipality will secure or has secured, as the case may be, the building; and(4) an explanation of the owner's entitlement to request a hearing about any matter relating to the municipality's securing of the building.(e) The municipality shall conduct a hearing at which the owner may testify or present witnesses or written information about any matter relating to the municipality's securing of the building if, within 30 days after the date the municipality secures the building, the owner files with the municipality a written request for the hearing. The municipality shall conduct the hearing within 20 days after the date the request is filed.(f) A municipality has the same authority to assess expenses under this section as it has to assess expenses under Section 214.001(n). A lien is created under this section in the same manner that a lien is created under Section 214.001(n) and is subject to the same conditions as a lien created under that section.(g) The authority granted by this section is in addition to that granted by Section 214.001. Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 13, Sec. 1, eff. April 2, 1991. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 12.104, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Section 214.0011 of the Texas Local Government Code grants municipalities the authority to set minimum occupancy and use standards for buildings—regardless of when they were built—and to physically secure any building that falls below those standards and is vacant or occupied only by unauthorized persons. Before or within ten days of securing a building, the municipality must notify the property owner through personal service, mail, newspaper publication, or door posting, depending on what contact information is available. Owners who receive such notice have the right to request a formal hearing within 30 days, at which they may present testimony, witnesses, or written materials. The municipality may also assess the costs of securing the building against the property, creating a lien in the same manner as under Section 214.001(n).
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Section 214.0011, a municipality can act quickly to secure a property it finds substandard and unoccupied—without waiting for a court order—so property owners and managers generally keep buildings in compliance with local minimum standards to avoid this outcome. Compliant operators typically maintain current contact information with local authorities so that any required notice reaches them promptly, preserving their ability to respond before or shortly after a securing action. If a building is secured, owners have a 30-day window to file a written hearing request, so operators familiar with this provision tend to monitor their properties and correspondence closely to avoid missing that deadline. Costs incurred by the municipality can be assessed as a lien against the property under the same framework as Section 214.001(n).
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 214.0011 is primarily directed at property owners and municipalities, but it has practical implications for anyone living in or near a building that a city has deemed substandard. If a building is occupied only by persons without a legal right of possession—such as squatters—the municipality may secure it; however, lawful tenants with a right of possession are not subject to removal under this specific provision. Tenants who believe a building has been improperly secured, or who have questions about their rights in connection with a municipal action under Section 214.0011, may find it useful to contact a local tenant-rights organization or consult with a housing attorney familiar with Texas municipal code enforcement.
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.
Effective Timeline
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Rules and statutes that cite this regulation