Tex. Loc. Gov't Code Ann. ch. 214 (subchs. A, B, C, G, H, I, Z) § 214.220
INSPECTION DURING DECLARED DISASTER.
Operative Text
Sec. 214.220. INSPECTION DURING DECLARED DISASTER. (a) In an area of a municipality that is subject to a declaration of disaster by the governor under Chapter 418, Government Code, or a declaration of local disaster under that chapter, a building inspection for compliance with this subchapter or related municipal regulations may, while the declaration is in effect, be performed by a person:(1) other than:(A) the owner of the building; or(B) a person whose work is the subject of the inspection; and(2) who is:(A) certified to inspect buildings by the International Code Council;(B) employed as a building inspector by the municipality in which the building is located;(C) employed as a building inspector by any political subdivision, if the municipality in which the building is located has approved the person to perform inspections during a disaster; or(D) an engineer licensed under Chapter 1001, Occupations Code.(b) A municipality may not collect an additional inspection fee related to the inspection of a building performed under Subsection (a).(c) A person who performs an inspection under this section must:(1) comply with the municipality's building inspection regulations and policies; and(2) not later than the 30th day after the date of the inspection, provide notice to the municipality of the inspection.(d) The municipality may prescribe a reasonable format for the notice provided under Subsection (c)(2). Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 427 (S.B. 877), Sec. 1, eff. June 8, 2021.
Under Texas Local Government Code § 214.220, when a governor's or local disaster declaration is active, building inspections for municipal code compliance in the affected area may be carried out by a broader set of qualified individuals beyond the usual municipal staff — including International Code Council-certified inspectors, inspectors employed by other political subdivisions (if approved), and licensed engineers. Municipalities are prohibited from charging an extra inspection fee for these disaster-period inspections. Any person who performs such an inspection must follow the municipality's inspection rules and notify the municipality of the inspection within 30 days.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 214.220, property owners in a declared disaster zone should be aware that a building inspection may be conducted by inspectors beyond the standard municipal staff, such as ICC-certified inspectors or licensed engineers, without any additional fee being charged. Compliant operators generally keep records of any inspections performed on their properties during a disaster declaration period and confirm that the inspector has provided the required notice to the municipality within 30 days. Understanding which inspectors are authorized under this provision can help property owners verify the legitimacy of an inspection they receive during a declared disaster.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 214.220 is relevant to tenants living in buildings located within a declared disaster area, as it governs who may lawfully inspect those buildings for code compliance during the emergency period. Tenants have an interest in knowing that no additional inspection fee should be passed through to them as a result of a disaster-period inspection conducted under this provision. Tenants who have concerns about building conditions or inspection practices during a declared disaster may wish to contact their local municipality's building department or a tenant-rights organization for general information about their options.
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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