For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
CITY LIMITS.
The city limits of Whitehouse, Texas.
ENFORCING AGENT.
A Code Enforcement Officer, City Marshal, or Peace Officer.
IMPROVED PROPERTY.
(1) 
A lot, tract, or parcel of land that meets the following criteria:
(a) 
A building or structure has been affixed to the land; and
(b) 
The land has been cleared of trees and/or brush, or made ready for use, or made more desirable, valuable, profitable, or not left in a wild or natural state.
(2) 
If any portion of a lot, tract, or parcel of land is IMPROVED PROPERTY, the entire lot, tract, or parcel of land is considered IMPROVED PROPERTY.
INOPERATIVE MOTOR VEHICLE.
A motor vehicle that:
(1) 
Does not have affixed unexpired license plates and a valid current inspection sticker; and
(2) 
The condition of which is one or more of the following: wrecked; dismantled; partially dismantled; not in a condition to be legally driven upon public streets; abandoned; or discarded.
MAJOR VEHICLE REPAIRS.
Repairs to a motor vehicle or trailer that take the responsible person more than 14 days to complete. Examples of MAJOR VEHICLE REPAIRS include engine building/rebuilding, transmission work, body repair, and other work ordinarily performed by a mechanic or body shop. MAJOR VEHICLE REPAIRS does not include ordinary maintenance work such as oil changes, battery replacement, cleaning, and other routine maintenance unless the ordinary maintenance work takes more than 14 days to complete.
MOTOR VEHICLE.
An automobile, truck, motorcycle, boat, recreational vehicle, or other similar vessel.
RESPONSIBLE PERSON.
A natural person, firm, corporation, corporate officer, partnership, association of persons, owner, agent, occupant, or any individual or entity having supervision or control of any motor vehicle, lot, tract, parcel of land or portion thereof, occupied or unoccupied, within the city limits.
TRASH.
Discarded material, which includes rubbish, brush, furniture, household appliances, tires, batteries, construction material, household garbage, brush, lawn clippings, food, and other similar items.
UNIMPROVED PROPERTY.
Any real property that does not fit the definition of improved property.
(Ordinance 13-0521-02 adopted 5/21/13)
It shall be unlawful for any person owning, claiming, occupying or having supervision or control of any real property, occupied or unoccupied, within the city limits or ETJ, to allow such property to contain stagnant water, rubbish, trash, filth, carrion or other impure or unwholesome matter of any kind or to allow the sidewalks in front of this property to contain the same; and to allow any lots, grounds or yards to remain unwholesome or with stagnant water thereon as a result of such owner’s failure to cleanse and disinfect any house, building, establishment, lot, yard, or ground from rubbish, trash, filth, carrion or other impure or unwholesome matter of any kind.
Penalty, see sec. 92.99
(Ordinance 13-0521-02 adopted 5/21/13; Am. Ordinance 22-0628-01 adopted 6/28/22)
(A) 
On private property.
(1) 
Maximum height.
(a) 
Improved property: It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation owning, claiming, occupying, or having supervision or control of any lot, tract, parcel of land or a portion thereof, occupied or unoccupied, within the city limits or ETJ, to permit grass, weeds, brush or other vegetation that is not cultivated to grow to a height greater than twelve (12) inches on an average upon said premises.
(b) 
Unimproved property: It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation owning, claiming, occupying, or having supervision or control of any lot, tract, parcel of land or a portion thereof, occupied or unoccupied, within the city limits or ETJ, to permit grass, weeds, brush or other vegetation that is not cultivated to grow to a height greater than twelve (12) inches on an average upon said premises within one hundred (100) feet of any property line.
(2) 
Exception.
Land used for the agricultural purposes of grazing livestock and/or growing and harvesting of crop grasses shall be exempt from this subchapter except that a ten (10) foot area adjacent to the side and rear property lines shall be maintained at twelve (12) inches or less at all times.
(B) 
Adjacent to private property.
It shall be the duty of any person, firm or corporation owning, claiming, occupying or having supervision or control of any lot, tract, parcel of land or a portion thereof, occupied or unoccupied, within the city limits or ETJ, to maintain grass, weeds, brush or other vegetation that is not cultivated, along the sidewalk and/or street adjacent to the property between the property line and the curb, or if there is no curb then to the paved roadway, at a height not greater than twelve (12) inches on an average.
(C) 
Applicability to drainage ditches, waterways, etc.
This section shall specifically include but not be limited to all drainage ditches, drainage easements, water runoff paths, or ways, waterways, and all embankments and sides thereof.
Penalty, see sec. 92.99
(Ordinance 13-0521-02 adopted 5/21/13; Am. Ordinance 17-0124-04 adopted 11/17/16; Am. Ordinance 22-0628-01 adopted 6/28/22)
It shall be unlawful for any responsible person to allow the storage of materials, equipment, or commodities not currently in use, on property, occupied or unoccupied, within the city limits, in a manner that is not screened from public view. Any such improper storage shall constitute a fire hazard and nuisance to the public health and shall be subject to the enforcement provisions of this chapter.
Penalty, see sec. 92.99
(Ordinance 13-0521-02 adopted 5/21/13)
It shall be unlawful for any responsible person to allow standing dead trees on property, occupied or unoccupied, within the city limits, that could fall and cause injury to neighboring persons or property. A failure to safely cut and remove any standing dead tree shall constitute a danger to the public health and safety and shall be subject to the enforcement provisions of this chapter.
Penalty, see sec. 92.99
(Ordinance 13-0521-02 adopted 5/21/13)
It shall be unlawful for any responsible person to conduct major vehicle repairs, in public view, on their property, occupied or unoccupied, within the city limits. Major vehicle repairs, however, may lawfully be conducted inside of a garage, building, or other area that is screened from public view. Any major vehicle repairs in public view shall constitute a nuisance to the public and shall be subject to the enforcement provisions of this chapter.
Penalty, see sec. 92.99
(Ordinance 13-0521-02 adopted 5/21/13)
(A) 
It shall be unlawful for any responsible person to allow an inoperative motor vehicle to be parked, placed, stored, or left, in public view, upon property, occupied or unoccupied, within the city limits for a period of time in excess of 30 days. Any storage of inoperative vehicles in public view for a period of time in excess of 30 days shall constitute a nuisance to the public and shall be subject to the enforcement provisions of this chapter.
(B) 
This section shall not apply to inoperative motor vehicles situated within a completely enclosed building or structure, otherwise screened from public view, or located wholly on property of a legally established and properly zoned facility that engages in the business of motor vehicle repair.
Penalty, see sec. 92.99
(Ordinance 13-0521-02 adopted 5/21/13)