As used in this article, unless the context indicates otherwise:
Affected property
means any lot or tract of land within the corporate limits of the city, and that abuts residential property.
Buffering wall
means a permanent structure that contains each of the following design features:
(1) 
Is not less than eight feet in height or more than 14 feet in height;
(2) 
Is constructed of concrete, brick, stone, or other similar solid opaque material;
(3) 
Is of such thickness and density as to provide the equivalent visual impediment and sound reduction as a concrete block wall; and
(4) 
Is not a part of any building or structure constituting a commercial improvement.
Commercial improvement
means any structure or building not used or intended to be used as for residential purposes.
Residential property
means any real property used for residential purposes, including single-family, duplex, and multifamily dwellings, nursing homes, rest homes, group care homes, and assisted living homes, or any residential subdivision.
Residential subdivision
means any platted subdivision, on file in the plat records of the county clerk of Harris County, Texas, and pursuant to which the lots within the subdivision are restricted to a residential purpose included under the definition of residential property immediately above.
Temporary buffering wall
means a temporary structure, not less than eight feet in height nor more than 14 feet in height, that provides a solid visual barrier between any commercial improvement and a residential property.
(Ordinance 09-670, sec. 2, adopted 5/28/09; 2007 Code, sec. 16-200; Ordinance 21-909, sec. 1, adopted 11/11/21)
It shall be unlawful for any person to commence construction of a commercial improvement upon any affected property without having first erected a temporary buffering wall. For the purposes hereof, dirt removal, grading, and other site preparation prior to any construction of permanent structures shall not be deemed as commencement of construction. No building permit for construction of any commercial improvement shall be authorized until in compliance with the requirements of this article. Such temporary buffering wall shall be maintained by the applicant until completion and acceptance of the buffering wall required by section 9.05.003 below.
(Ordinance 09-670, sec. 2, adopted 5/28/09; 2007 Code, sec. 16-201)
(a) 
Buffering wall required.
It shall be unlawful for any person to occupy any affected property without having first erected a buffering wall adjacent to the common boundary between the affected property and any adjacent residential property. No certificate of occupancy for a commercial improvement shall be issued until construction of a required buffering wall is complete and in compliance with the requirements of this article.
(b) 
Location.
The buffering wall shall extend the entire length of the common boundary between a residential property and the affected property, or for such distance as is sufficient to obscure the commercial activity from any location on the residential property. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall be construed as requiring the locating of a buffering wall (i) within any required building setback area adjacent to a street as may be required by ordinances of the city, (ii) within any required building setback area between a commercial improvement and the street providing the primary means of access to the facility, or (iii) within any required building setback area adjacent to a state highway. Provided further, nothing herein shall be construed as requiring a buffering wall across any street or driveway necessary for reasonable access to the commercial improvement.
(c) 
Maintenance.
A buffering wall shall be maintained by the owner of the affected property upon which the buffering wall is located for as long as the affected property is occupied.
(d) 
Buffering wall required for other certain properties.
Any property upon which a building(s) or structure(s) permitted for construction on or after the adoption of this section in which 50 percent or more of the total exterior walls that front or are visible from a public right-of-way are constructed of materials other than masonry materials as defined in the Code of Ordinances shall be required to erect a buffering wall in accordance with this article around the entire boundary of the property. This section shall not be construed so as to limit the installation of a building product or material if the building product or material is approved for use by a national model code. This section shall apply to new construction and any building expansion of 50 percent or more in floor area or a significant change in use of the building from one occupancy to another occupancy classification in accordance with the adopted building codes. No certificate of occupancy shall be issued until construction of a required buffering wall is complete and in compliance with the requirements of this article.
(Ordinance 09-670, sec. 2, adopted 5/28/09; 2007 Code, sec. 16-202; Ordinance 21-909, sec. 2, adopted 11/11/21; Ordinance 25-1001 adopted 10/9/2025)
It shall be unlawful for any person to cause or permit the construction or placement of any temporary buffering wall or buffering wall unless a permit has been issued therefor by the city’s building official, or to cause or permit the construction or placement of any temporary buffering wall or buffering wall except in accordance with an issued permit. Permit procedures and fees shall be as required for buildings and structures pursuant to uniform building and construction codes of the city. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such permit shall issue until the applicant therefor has submitted to the city building official a detailed construction and site location plan, which shall show compliance with the provisions of this article.
(Ordinance 09-670, sec. 2, adopted 5/28/09; 2007 Code, sec. 16-203)