Lakewood Heights Neighborhood Association

City Code Violations - Please Read

Jan 03, 2008

Here are reminders of a few City of Dallas Codes that we must ALL follow to help AVOID FINES, keep the neighborhood safe, healthy and in top condition. Code compliance is critical in helping to keep Lakewood Heights the wonderful place it is. Help make sure your property is in ship shape and call 311 to report violations. Check out the City?’s website for more code compliance details:

http://www.dallascityhall.com/dallas/eng/html/ code_compliance_enforcement.html

Brush & Bulky Trash Pick-up ?– Place items on the front curb ONLY after 7am the Thursday before your scheduled pick?–up week and before by 7:00 A.M. the Monday of your pick-up week. Allowed items: Limbs, shrubbery, bagged leaves (in sealed bags, up to 50 gallon size), furniture, appliances, mattresses and box springs. Not allowed: bagged grass clippings, new construction or remodeling materials such as lumber or roofing materials, or bricks, concrete, rocks or dirt. Violations = Big Fines ! Check out list of 2007 dates on this website under "2007 Bulk Trash Schedule"

Litter & High Grass / Weeds ?– Homeowners or tenants must mow and keep property clear of garbage, paper, cardboard, wood, glass bedding, autos/parts, appliances, limbs, etc. Maintenance must be kept between curb and front of house to the middle of the alley. Grass > 12?” ht is a violation.

Illegal Storage ?– Items not customarily kept outside or not made of damage-resistant, weather-durable material cannot be placed outside on your property ?– including the front or rear yards, open porches or in carports.

Fences ?– Must be structurally sound. No damaged, broken, or missing pieces. Generally, not more than 4 ft. tall in the required front yard, and 6 feet tall along the side yards and back yards (may be taller with a permit).

Mandatory Watering Guidelines ?– No water wasting or causing runoff including causing water to fall on sidewalks, driveways or other areas that are not lawns or landscapes. Do not water during any type of precipitation. Between June 1 - Sept. 30, no sprinkler or irrigation watering between 10 a.m. & 6 p.m.

Standing Water ?– Owner must provide drainage to prevent standing water, flooding, and/or mosquito breeding.

Parking On The Proper Surface - Motor vehicles must be parked on an approved surface: concrete, asphalt or 6 inches of gravel with a border. It is a violation to park a vehicle on the lawn.

Obstructions - Keep street, alley, sidewalk, and parkway clear, including trimming of trees, shrubs, and vines which may obstruct any vehicle traveling through an alley, or that obstructs sidewalk. Keeping the alley clear allows access and visibility for police and fire.

Construction Times - Allowable times: Monday ?– Saturdays: 7am to 8pm. On Sundays, NO construction allowed in or adjacent to a residence. See noise below.

Noise ?– No loud and raucous noise or noise (or vibrations) from a vehicle that unreasonably disturbs peace, quiet, or comfort of another person. Dogs cannot be allowed to bark for more than 15 minutes. New Violation: noise from an idling commercial vehicle left idling for more than 10 consecutive minutes on or within 300 feet of a residence (both the driver and property owner are responsible). Dog owners should be aware that allowing a dog to bark continuously for fifteen minutes or more is a violation of Dallas City Ordinance Section 30-1, and could result in a fine of up to $2,000.

Home Occupation ?– May not employ more than 2 persons other than occupants of the residence. May NOT use a sign, advertisement or display on or off the premises. No loud noise or excessive traffic. NO selling, offering or advertising products on the premises.

Signs ?– No signs on utility poles, light post, trees, or in the parkway. Signs include: notices, posters, papers, garage sale signs. Fine: max. $2,000 per day per violation.

Garage Sales - 2 garage sales permitted each year per property. The sales may last no longer than 3 days. No resale items acquired solely for the garage sale. A sign can only be placed on the property where the sale is occurring.

Junked Motor Vehicle ?– Inoperative or partially dismantled vehicles, or those with expired license tags or safety stickers, on private property - owners will be notified and must remove the violation to avoid towing by the city. The City can then sell the vehicle for salvage. If on the street, call 311 for the Dallas Police.

Substandard Structure ?– Violations: peeling paint, leaking roof, electrical and plumbing problems, holes in the wall, floor and ceiling, and decayed wood.

Open and Vacant Structure ?– Owner must keep doors, windows of a vacant structure or vacant portion of a structure securely closed to prevent unauthorized entry. The City will secure the structure at the owner's expense if the owner does not secure the structure.