It shall be unlawful for any person owning, claiming or occupying, or having supervision or control over any real property, occupied or unoccupied, within the corporate limits of the city, to permit weeds, brush, or any objectionable or unsightly matter to grow to a greater height than twelve (12) inches upon any such real property within one hundred fifty (150) feet of any property line which abuts streets, rights-of-way, alleys, utility easements, subdivided additions, developed property, or any buildings or other structures.
(1995 Code, sec. 8-15)
(a) 
It shall be the duty of any person owning, claiming, occupying, or having supervision or control of any such real property, as provided for herein, to cut and remove all such weeds, brush, and other objectionable or unsightly matter as often as may be necessary to comply with this article; provided that the removing and cutting of same at least once every thirty (30) days shall be deemed a compliance with this article.
(b) 
It shall be the duty of any person owning, claiming, occupying, or having supervision or control of any real property, occupied or unoccupied, within the city, to keep the area adjacent to his property line, including the front or side parkway between the property line or sidewalk and the curb and rear or side parkway between the property line and the alley pavement or alleyway, or if there is no curb, then within ten (10) feet outside such property line, free and clear of weeds, Johnson grass, brush or any objectionable or unsightly matter; provided, however, that where the alleyway is not open to traffic, the parkway in such cases shall be deemed to be between the property line and the centerline of the alley. All vegetation that is regularly cultivated and which exceeds twelve (12) inches in height shall be presumed to be objectionable and unsightly, except that regularly cultivated crops shall not be allowed to grow within the right-of-way of any public street or easement but shall be kept mowed. It shall be unlawful for any person described herein to fail to cut and remove the matter referred to herein from the area described, and such failure shall constitute a violation hereof upon the terms and conditions of this article.
(1995 Code, sec. 8-16)
It shall be the duty of any person owning, claiming, occupying, or having supervision or control of any real property, occupied or unoccupied, within the corporate limits of the city, to keep such property free from stagnant water, rubbish, trash, filth, carrion, or other impure or unwholesome matter of any kind, and to keep the sidewalks in front of his property free and clear of the same, and to fill up, drain or regrade any lots, ground or yards which shall be unwholesome or have stagnant water therein, and 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.
(1995 Code, sec. 8-17)
(a) 
In the event any person owning, claiming, occupying, or having supervision or control of any real property, occupied or unoccupied, within the corporate limits of the city, fails to comply with the provisions of this article, it shall be the duty of the city administrator or his designee to give notice personally to the owner in writing, by letter addressed to the owner at the owner’s address as recorded in the appraisal district records, or if personal service cannot be obtained, by publication at least once, by posting the notice on or near the front door of each building on the property to which the violation relates, or by posting the notice on a placard attached to a stake driven into the ground on the property to which the violation relates. If a notice is mailed to a property owner and the United States Postal Service returns the notice as “refused” or “unclaimed,” the validity of the notice is not affected and the notice is considered as delivered. If the owner, occupant, or other person having supervision or control or claiming ownership, supervision or control of the property does not comply with the orders as required by the notice within seven days after the notice is given, the city may do the work or make the improvements required and pay for the work done and improvements made and charge the expenses to the owner of the property.
(b) 
After a property owner has been given one (1) notice of violation on a lot, tract, or parcel of land, annual notice may be given to the property owner. If the city opts to provide annual notice, such notice shall be mailed to the owner at the address recorded with the appraisal district and posted on the property. Once the city has given such annual notice, no further notice shall be required prior to abatement for that lot, tract, or parcel of land for a one-year period. If the city does not receive notice in a change of ownership, the city may abate any nuisance contained on the property covered by this article without further notice and assess expenses to the owner.
(Ordinance 06-0406B, sec. 1, adopted 4/20/06; Ordinance adopting Code)
Any person violating the provisions of this article shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined an amount in accordance with the general penalty provided in section 1.01.009 of this code for each offense. Each and every day such offense is continued shall constitute a separate offense. This article shall be in addition to and cumulative of the provisions for the abatement of the said nuisance and charging the cost of same against the owner of the premises by the city.
(1995 Code, sec. 8-19)
The expense incurred in correcting the conditions and the cost of publishing notice in the newspaper shall be charged to the owner. The city may assess expenses incurred under this article against the real estate on which the work is done or improvements are made. To obtain a lien against the property, the mayor, municipal health authority, or municipal official designated by the mayor, must file a statement of expenses with the county clerk stating the name of the owner, if known, and the legal description of the property. The lien attaches upon the filing of the lien statement with the county clerk. The lien obtained by the city is security for the expenditures made and interest accrues at the rate of ten percent on the amount due from the date of payment of the expenditures by the city. The lien is inferior only to tax liens and liens for street improvements. For any such expenditures and interest as aforesaid, suit may be instituted and foreclosure had by the city. The statement of expenses or a certified copy of the expenses is prima facie proof of the expenses incurred by the city in doing the work or making the improvements. This remedy is in addition to the remedy applied by the municipal court.
(Ordinance 06-0406B, sec. 2, adopted 4/20/06)
(a) 
The city may abate, without notice, weeds that have grown higher than forty-eight (48) inches and are an immediate danger to the health, life, or safety of any person.
(b) 
Not later than the 10th day after the date the city abates weeds under this section, the city shall give notice to the property owner in the manner required by section 342.006 of the Health and Safety Code.
(c) 
The notice shall contain:
(1) 
Identification, which is not required to be a legal description, of the property;
(2) 
A description of the violations of this article that occurred on the property;
(3) 
A statement that the city abated the weeds; and
(4) 
An explanation of the property owner’s right to request an administrative hearing related to the city’s abatement of the weeds.
(d) 
The city shall conduct an administrative hearing on the abatement of weeds under this section if the property owner files with the city a written request for a hearing within thirty (30) days of the date of the notice required under this section.
(e) 
An administrative hearing conducted under this section shall be conducted not later than the 20th day after the date a request for a hearing is filed. The owner may testify or present any witnesses or written information relating to the city’s abatement of the weeds.
(f) 
The city may assess expenses and create liens under this section as it assesses expenses and creates liens under section 342.007 of the Health and Safety Code. A lien created under this section is subject to the same conditions as a lien created under section 342.007 of the Health and Safety Code.
(g) 
The authority granted a city by this section is in addition to the authority granted by Health and Safety Code, section 342.006.
(Ordinance adopting Code)