Ordinances

Government
Recently Adopted Ordinances:

For a full listing of City of Edgewood Ordinances:

Code of Ordinances | Edgewood, TX | Municode Library

Ordinance Excerpts on Most Commonly Asked Topics:

Animal Control

Sec. 8-1. Food, water and other general provisions. 

(a) Adequate food, water and shelter must be provided at all times so that all animals being kept shall be maintained in good health and free from malnutrition and/or dehydration. 

(b) All domestic dogs and cats must be vaccinated and must wear current tags at all times in accordance with section 8-111. 

(c) Failure to comply with this section constitutes a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than$25.00 nor more than the amount allowed to be imposed under state law. Each day the owner is in violation constitutes a separate offense. 

(Code 1984, § 4-1; Ord. No. 061807, § 4-1, 5-18-2007)

Sec. 8-5. Nuisances-Prohibited. 

No resident or inhabitant of the city shall maintain any animal in the residential area which will constitute a nuisance to the surrounding neighborhood resulting from obnoxious odors or unnecessary noise, or by not being confined to the property limits of the owner or by allowing the animal to defecate on public property or the property of others without removing the waste in a proper and sanitary manner. 

(Code 1984, § 4-5; Ord. No. 061807, § 4-5, 5-18-2007) 

Sec. 8-6. Nuisances-Poultry raising. 

No resident or inhabitant of the city shall be allowed to raise poultry in any residential area of the city under conditions which will create a nuisance to the surrounding neighbors by reason of obnoxious odors or unnecessary noise. 

(Code 1984, § 4-6; Ord. No. 061807, § 4-6, 5-18-2007)

Sec. 8-7. Number of animals per acre. 

It shall be unlawful for any resident or inhabitant of the city to maintain in any residential area any horse, cow, hog, sheep, or any other livestock, except, however, any person having more than one acre of ground may be entitled to keep one cow or one horse for each full acre of land held by such person in a single tract of such land. 

(Code 1984, § 4-7; Ord. No. 061807, § 4-7, 5-18-2007)

Sec. 8-77. Allowing fowl at large is prohibited. 

It shall be unlawful for any person to permit, suffer or allow any chicken, duck, turkey, goose or other fowl, owned, kept, or possessed by him or under his control to wander in or upon or invade the premises of any other person, unless the owner or person in charge of such premises shall consent thereto. 

(Code 1984, § 4-68; Ord. No. 061807, § 4-68, 5-18-2007)

Sec. 8-113. Running at large; prohibited. 

No owner or keeper of any animal shall permit such animal to be at large within the city as “at large” is defined in section 8-2. 

(Code 1984, § 4-108; Ord. No. 061807, § 4-108, 5-18-2007) 

Sec. 8-114. Animals at large, school, park public place; destruction authorized. 

An animal at large in a public place, park or school where children are present or the public is endangered which cannot be readily captured may be destroyed by the rabies control officer or any peace officer for the safety of the public. 

(Code 1984, § 4-109; Ord. No. 061807, § 4-109, 5-18-2007)

Sec. 8-117. Barking dogs. 

Any person who shall harbor or keep on his premises, or in his control, any dog which, by loud or unusual barking or howling, shall cause the peace and quiet of the neighborhood or the occupants of adjacent premises to be disturbed, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not less than $25.00, nor more than the amount allowed to be imposed under state law. Each day’s violation shall be deemed a separate offense. 

(Code 1984, § 4-112; Ord. No. 061807, § 4-112, 5-18-2007)

Sec. 8-137. Swine prohibited. 

It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, allow, maintain, or harbor any swine within the corporate limits of the city (except student agricultural projects kept on school property). 

(Code 1984, § 4-141; Ord. No. 061807, § 4-141, 5-18-2007) 

Sec. 8-138. Number of domestic animals per dwelling or property. 

(a) Animals in a single-family zoned property. No person shall keep, allow, maintain, or harbor more than five domestic animals on a single-family residentially zoned property. Puppies and kittens under six months of age shall not be counted for the purposes of this section. 

(b) Animals in a multi family zoned property. No person shall keep, allow, maintain, or harbor more than three domestic animals for each duplex or multi family zoned property, or for other zoning classifications except as authorized by the city’s comprehensive zoning ordinance. Puppies and kittens under six months of age shall not be counted for the purposes of this section. 

(Code 1984, § 4-142; Ord. No. 061807, § 4-142, 5-18-2007)

For the complete Code of Ordinances please refer to Municode – Chapter 8 Animal Control.

Nuisances

Sec. 16-3. Upkeep of property.

Required upkeep of property. All property owners either living on property or absentee shall maintain their property so as to be free of trash, rubbish and unsightly accumulations of materials a normal citizen might deem offensive or unappealing or as may constitute a health hazard or breeding ground for rodents or insects and or create a fire hazard. This shall include, but is not limited to, loose or piled, tin cans, paper, paper containers, pieces of wood, glass, bottles, scrap metals, rags, barrels, crates, tree limbs, food wastes, boxes, old rubber, etc.

Sec. 16-25. High weeds, grass, or brush.

(a) Generally. It shall be unlawful for any owner, lessee, occupant, or person in control of any lot, parcel of land, or premises within the city limits to allow the accumulation of high weeds, grass, or brush to exist in excess of the standards provided herein. Such violation is considered a health and fire hazard and, as such, is hereby declared to be a public nuisance.

Sec. 16-27. Accumulation of litter, trash, or rubbish.

It shall be unlawful for any owner, lessee, occupant, or person in control of any lot, parcel of land, or

premises within the city limits to allow the accumulation of any litter, trash, or rubbish. All litter shall be kept in an approved receptacle designed to contain litter in a manner so as not to allow it to be blown,

carried, or deposited by the wind upon any private or public property or any right-of-way. Such violation is considered a health and fire hazard and, as such, is hereby declared to be a public nuisance.

(Code 1984, § 9-23; Ord. No. 070730C, § 9-23, 7-30-2007)

State law reference-Municipal power concerning filth, carrion, and other unwholesome matter, V.T.C.A., Health and Safety Code§ 342.003.

Sec. 16-31. Care of premises.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any owner, lessee, occupant, or person in control of any Jot, parcel of land, or premises within the city limits to utilize such property for the open storage of any of the following:

(1) Abandoned vehicles. Abandoned vehicles such as motor or non-motorized vehicles, boats, trailers, and similar items and parts thereof.

(2) Abandoned appliances. Abandoned appliances and parts thereof.

(3) Supplies and materials. The open storage of building materials, building rubbish, tires, or any accumulation of any other product or supplies. Note: It is not the intent of this section to prohibit the storage of building materials associated with a city-permitted construction project.

(4) Vegetation. The open storage of dead trees, limbs, brush, or weeds.

(b) It shall be the duty and responsibility of every such owner, lessee, occupant, or person in control of any lot, parcel of land, or premises to keep such property clean and to prevent a public nuisance.

(Code 1984, § 9-27; Ord. No. 070730C, § 9-27, 7-30-2007)

ARTICLE IV. JUNK VEHICLES

NUISANCES § 16-78

Junked vehicle means a vehicle that is self-propelled and:

(1) Is wrecked, dismantled, or partially dismantled, or discarded;

 (2) Is inoperable and has remained inoperable for more than:

  1. 72 consecutive hours, if the vehicle is on public property;
  2. 30 consecutive days, if the vehicle is on private property;

(3) Does not have lawfully attached to it:

  1. An unexpired license plate;
  2. A valid motor vehicle inspection certificate;

(4) ls wrecked dismantled, or partially dismantled, or discarded; or

(5) Is inoperable and has remained inoperable for more than:

  1. 72 consecutive hours, if the vehicle is on public property; or
  2. 30 consecutive days, if the vehicle is on private property.

(Code 1984, § 9-51; Ord. No. 070730C, § 9-51, 7-30-2007)

State law references-Definitions, V.T.C.A., Transportation Code§ 683.071; abandoned, junked, etc., vehicles, Y.T.C.A., Transportation Code§ 683.071 et seq.

Sec. 16-78. Declaration of nuisance.

A junked vehicle, including a part of a junk vehicle, that is visible at any time of the year from a public place or right-of-way:

(I) ls detrimental to the safety and welfare of the public;

(2) Tends to reduce the value of private property;

(3) Invites vandalism;

(4) Creates a fire hazard;

(5) Is an attractive nuisance creating a hazard to the health and safety of minors;

(6) Produces urban blight adverse to the maintenance and continuing development of the city; and

(7) Is a public nuisance.

(Code 1984, § 9-52; Ord. No. 070730C, § 9-52, 7-30-2007)

State law reference-Junked vehicle declared to be a public nuisance, Y.T.C.A., Transportation Code

  • 683.072.

Sec. 16-81. Relocation of a junked vehicle.

The relocation of a junked vehicle that is a public nuisance to another location within the city limits after a proceeding for the abatement and removal of the public nuisance has commenced has no effect on the proceeding if the junked vehicle constitutes a public nuisance at the new location.

(Code 1984, § 9-55; Ord. No. 070730C, § 9-55, 7-30-2007)

State law reference Authority to abate nuisance, procedures, VT.CA., Transportation Code§ 683.074.

ARTICLE VI. MINIMUM HEALTH AND HOUSING STANDARDS

Sec. 16-159. Adoption of minimum housing code.

There is hereby adopted by the city council that certain health and housing standards known as the 2015 edition of the International Property Maintenance Code, copyrighted by the International Code Council, Inc., of which not less than three copies have been and are now filed in the office of the city secretary, and the same are hereby adopted and incorporated as fully as if set out at length herein, and from the date on which this article shall be controlling on all dwellings and premises within the corporate limits of the city.

(Code 1984, § 9.1; Ord. of 8-1-1967; Ord. No. 041220, intro.,, 4-12-2021)

ARTICLE VII. FIREWORKS

Sec. 16-196. Fireworks prohibited.

It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, use, discharge, cause to be discharged, ignite, detonate, fire or otherwise set in action any fireworks of any description.

(Code 1984, § 9.11)

ARTICLE XIII. DANGEROUS BUILDINGS

Sec. 16-377. Dangerous structures prohibited.

All unoccupied dwellings or buildings of any type, kind or character, whether residential or recreational and/or commercial; large accumulations of trash, rubbish, waste materials and junk, and the unattended growth of weeds, underbrush, and of unsupervised or unattended vegetation of any type, which add any one or more of the following defects shall be deemed dangerous structures:

(I)  Those of which interior walls or other vertical structural members lean, list or buckle to such an extent that a plumb line passing through the center of gravity falls outside the middle third of its base.

(2) Those which, exclusive of the foundation, show 33 percent or more damage or deterioration of the supporting member or members, or 50 percent of damage or deterioration of the non-supporting enclosing or outside walls or covering.

(3) Those which have improperly distributed loads upon the floors or roofs or in which the same are overloaded or which have insufficient strength to be reasonably safe for the purpose used.

(4) Those which have been damaged by fire, wind or other causes have become dangerous to life, safety, morals, or the general health and welfare of the people of the city.

(5) Those which have become or are so dilapidated, decayed, unsafe, unsanitary, or which so utterly fail to provide the amenities essential to decent living that they are unfit for human habitation, or are likely to cause sickness, or disease, so as to work injury to the health, morals, safety, and general welfare of those living close by.

(6) Those having light, air, and sanitation facilities which are inadequate to protect the health, morals, safety, or general welfare of human beings who live close by.

(7) Those which have parts thereof which are so attached that they may fall and injure members of the public or property owned by the public.

(8) Those which because of their condition are unsafe, unsanitary, or dangerous to the health, morals, safety, or general welfare of the people of the city.

(9) Whenever any building, dwelling, or other structure, because of obsolescence, dilapidated condition, deterioration, damage, inadequate exists, lack of fire resistive construction, faulty electrical wiring, gas connections or heating apparatus or any other cause is determined by the fire marshal to be a fire hazard.

(10) Whenever any portion of said building, dwelling or structure remains on a site after the demolition or destruction of the said building, dwelling or structure, by natural causes or otherwise, so as to constitute such building, dwelling, or structure, or portion thereof, an attractive nuisance to children or hazard to the public or their property.

(Code 1984, ch. 6, art. l, § 2; Ord. of 5-8-2001)

Sec. 16-378. Uninhabited building, dwelling or structure.

The term “uninhabited building,” “dwelling” or “structure” as used in this article means any house, building, dwelling, shed, barn, warehouse or other such structure and any appurtenances thereto which have been unused, unoccupied, abandoned, vacant, or vacated as a regular place of residence, abode, living, storage or business activity for a period of not less than 30 days. Provided, however, that any such house, building, dwelling, shed, barn, warehouse or similar structure unused, unoccupied, abandoned,

vacant or vacated as a regular place of residence, abode, living, storage or building activity on the effective date of the ordinance from which this article is derived, shall be deemed an uninhabited building, dwelling, or structure thereafter for the purposes of this article.

(Code 1984, ch. 6, art. I,§ 3; Ord. of 5-8-2001)

For the complete Code of Ordinances please refer to Municode – Chapter 16 Nuisances.