Dutton Bill’s Vacant Building Registry Aims At A Single City

The text as introduced · 257 words

89R17036 MZM-D

By: Dutton
H.B. No. 4999

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the registration of vacant buildings in certain

municipalities.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 214.232, Local Government Code, is

amended to read as follows:

Sec. 214.232. PRESUMPTION OF VACANCY. A building is

presumed to be vacant under this subchapter if:

(1) all lawful residential, commercial, recreational,

charitable, or construction activity at the building has ceased, or

reasonably appears to have ceased, for more than three months [ 150

days ]; or

(2) the building contains more than three units, 75

percent or more of which have not been used lawfully, or reasonably

appear not to have been used lawfully, for more than three months

[ 150 days ].

SECTION 2. Section 214.233, Local Government Code, is

amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:

(c) A municipality with a population of two million or more

that is located in a county described by Subsection (a) shall adopt

the ordinance described by that subsection. In addition to the

registration requirement, the ordinance must require:

(1) each owner of a vacant building to renew the

registration each year that the building remains vacant; and

(2) a designated municipal official to create,

maintain, and periodically update a vacancy registration database

on the municipality's Internet website that lists the address of

each vacant structure designed for use as a habitation that has been

registered with the official.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.