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Non-emergency: 214-330-6357

Cockrell Hill, TexasFire Department, Cockrell Hill Fire Department home

Keeping our community a place to live, work, and play

Code Enforcement

Code Enforcement is a division of the Cockrell Hill Fire Marshal's Office. We work to keep Cockrell Hill safe, healthy, and attractive for residents and businesses by addressing property maintenance violations, both proactively and in response to complaints.

How code enforcement works

The City enforces the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code along with our local ordinances. Code enforcement is a partnership between the City and its residents, and most issues are resolved simply by working together.

  1. Voluntary compliance

    Our first goal is always voluntary compliance. We work with property owners to correct problems.

  2. Notification

    Owners may be notified in person, by phone, or by mail, with a description of the violation and how to correct it. If we can't reach the owner directly, a notice may be posted on the property.

  3. Time to comply

    Owners are given a set timeframe to correct the violation. Extensions may be requested and are granted case by case.

  4. Enforcement

    Most issues are resolved after the first notice. Continued non-compliance can lead to nuisance abatement and citations with fines of up to $2,000. Citations may be issued without warning for any violation.

  5. Abatement

    If the City abates a violation, the property owner is invoiced for the cost plus a $200 administrative fee, due within 30 days. Unpaid amounts can become a privileged lien on the property, accruing interest at 10% per year.

Common violations

Tall grass and weeds grown up in front of a house's porch
Example: high weeds and grass in a front yard
Two black junk cars sitting on an overgrown front lawn beside a small white house, with vines growing over one of them
Example: junk motor vehicles
Several cars crowded into a driveway, with an orange car parked on the bare dirt yard in front of a two-story house
Example: a vehicle parked on an unpaved yard

Residential

  • High weeds and grass
  • Trash, rubbish, and debris
  • Outside storage
  • Junk and abandoned vehicles
  • Parking on unapproved surfaces or illegally parked vehicles
  • Work without a permit

Commercial

  • Work without a permit
  • No valid Certificate of Occupancy
  • Illegal signs

Not handled by Code Enforcement

  • Animal complaints (Animal Control (external site))
  • Building permits and inspections (City Administration, 214-330-6333, option 1)
  • Noise complaints (Cockrell Hill Police Department non-emergency dispatch, 214-339-4141)

Frequently asked questions

Why did I get a notice or citation from the Fire Marshal's Office?

Code enforcement is one of the Fire Marshal's Office's duties. Our Code Enforcement Division and Deputy Marshals handle property maintenance violations for the City.

I received a notice for a property maintenance violation. What should I do?

Read the notice carefully and follow its instructions. If you don't understand what is required, need more time, or have questions about your case, call or email the Code Officer or Marshal named on the notice.

I received a Notice of Violation. Do I have to go to court or pay a fine?

No. A Notice of Violation is not a citation. It lists the violations on the property, gives a deadline to fix them, and includes notes from the Code Officer or Marshal who observed the problem.

I received a citation. Do I have to go to court or pay a fine?

Yes, you must respond. Contact the Cockrell Hill Municipal Court at 214-339-1976, option 2, within 21 days of the date on the citation. If you don't, a warrant may be issued for your arrest. The court will tell you the fine amount and can set a court date if you ask for one.

Who is responsible for violations at a rental property?

The property owner is responsible for all code violations on the property, even if it is rented. The occupant may also receive a notice or citation, depending on the violation.

Who maintains the alley or easement behind my property?

The property owner maintains any adjoining alley or utility easement, up to the centerline.

Do I need an address number on my house?

Yes. Address numbers must be on the structure and plainly visible from the street, at least 4 inches tall, and in a color that contrasts with the background. Clear numbers help firefighters, police, and EMS find you fast.

What counts as outside storage, and why isn't it allowed?

Outside storage means items that aren't made for outdoor use: household furniture, appliances, trash, building materials, tools, equipment, lawn and garden items, and vehicle, boat, or farm equipment parts. Store them in an enclosed building.

Outdoor furniture can stay outside, but indoor furniture can't, because rats and mice nest in soft furniture. Bins, buckets, containers, and tires collect rainwater where mosquitoes breed and spread West Nile virus. Items left outside are also more likely to be stolen.

Can I park on the grass?

No. Vehicles must be parked on concrete or asphalt.

Can I park a commercial or oversized vehicle at my house?

Not if your property is zoned residential. Commercial vehicles larger than a one-ton pickup, such as box trucks, tow trucks, and trailers, are not allowed in residential districts.

Where can I put garage sale signs?

Only on the property where the garage or estate sale is held, and they must come down as soon as the sale ends. Signs placed in the public right of way will be removed and thrown away without warning.

Standing water and West Nile virus

Standing water in bins, buckets, tires, and containers is where mosquitoes breed. Dump standing water around your home and business, especially in summer.

Questions about a notice or citation?

Call or email the Code Officer or Marshal named on your notice. For citations, contact the Cockrell Hill Municipal Court at 214-339-1976, option 2, within 21 days.