Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-1 Short title.
Sec. 26-1. - Short title.
This chapter may be known and cited as the Parking Ordinance.
(Ord. No. 07-464, § 7(Exh. B), 4-11-07)
PARKHOUSTON
Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 26, art. I, div. 1
in effectHouston Code of Ordinances § 26-2 Definitions.
Sec. 26-2. - Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Alley means any street, as herein defined, of 20 feet or less in width having no legal or official name other than "alley."
Animal has the meaning ascribed in Texas Agricultural Code section 141.001 which states an animated being that is not human and has the power of voluntary action.
Appearance means either:
(1) The entry of an appearance, in person or through legal counsel, in the municipal courts system to contest a parking citation and, if required, the making of a bond in any manner authorized by law and approved by the municipal courts to secure appearance at the administrative hearing, as applicable; or
(2) The uncontested disposition of a parking citation by payment in good and sufficient funds received by the parking official in the applicable amount and manner established by the municipal courts for the uncontested payment of the fine for the parking citation, including all applicable fees and costs.
Authorized emergency vehicle means:
(1) A fire department or police vehicle;
(2) A public or private ambulance operated by a person who has been issued a license by the Texas Department of State Health Services;
(3) A municipal department or public service corporation emergency vehicle that has been designated or authorized by the governing body of a municipality;
(4) A private vehicle of a volunteer firefighter or a certified emergency medical services employee or volunteer when responding to a fire alarm or medical emergency;
(5) An industrial emergency response vehicle, including an industrial ambulance, when responding to an emergency, but only if the vehicle is operated in compliance with criteria in effect September 1, 1989, and established by the predecessor of the Texas Industrial Emergency Services Board of the State Firemen's and Fire Marshals' Association of Texas; or
(6) A vehicle of a blood bank or tissue bank, accredited or approved under the laws of this state or the United States, when making emergency deliveries of blood, drugs, medicines, or organs.
Blockface means that portion of a block that abuts a street between two intersecting streets.
Bus means a motor vehicle designed for carrying more than ten passengers and used for the transportation of persons, and every motor vehicle, other than a taxicab or limousine, designed and used for the transportation of persons for compensation.
Bus zone means the area or space officially set apart within a roadway by one or more appropriate signs or markings for the exclusive use of buses for loading and unloading passengers.
Central business district means the area beginning at the intersection of the centerline of U.S. 59 and the centerline of I.H. 45; thence in a northwesterly and northerly direction along the centerline of I.H. 45 to its intersection with the centerline of I.H. 10; thence in an easterly direction along the centerline of I.H. 10 to its intersection with the centerline of U.S. 59; thence in a southwesterly direction along the centerline of U.S. 59 to its intersection with I.H. 45, the point of beginning.
Commercial vehicle means a truck or other vehicle that displays one or more commercial vehicle signs, but does not include a taxi, limousine, or bus.
Commercial vehicle signage means one or more magnetic signs or painted letters or decals on any side of the commercial vehicle stating, in letters at least two inches in height, the name, logo, or other designation of the person owning or operating the vehicle.
Department means the department of administration and regulatory affairs.
Digital payment means payment of a parking meter, parking zone, or parking facility fee through an online application or by using a mobile device.
Director means the director of the department of administration and regulatory affairs.
Driver means any person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle.
Esplanade has the meaning ascribed in section 33-101 of this Code.
Goods means any personal property a person provides to another in exchange for compensation, including but not limited to, monetary or non-monetary compensation.
House trailer means a trailer or semi-trailer:
(1) That is designed, constructed and equipped as a dwelling place, living abode or sleeping place (either permanently or temporarily) and is equipped for use as a conveyance on streets and highways; or
(2) Whose chassis and exterior shell is designed and constructed for use as a house trailer, as defined in subsection a., but is used instead permanently or temporarily for the advertising, sales, display or promotion of merchandise or services, or for any other commercial purpose except the transportation of property for hire or the transportation of property for distribution by a private carrier.
Large vehicle means a "motor vehicle" or a "trailer," as defined herein, that is in excess of eight feet in height at the highest point on the vehicle or trailer or in excess of 22 feet in length. To the extent that any motor vehicle is coupled or otherwise attached to a trailer, then the motor vehicle and trailer shall together be deemed as constituting a single large vehicle if the combined length of the motor vehicle and trailer exceeds 30 feet.
Legal holidays means and includes only such holidays as are officially designated by the city council.
Livestock has the meaning ascribed in Texas Agricultural Code Section 1.003.
Maintenance mechanic means an employee of the department assigned to repair, service, install, and troubleshoot operational issues with the parking meters.
Median strip means the dividing area, either landscaped or paved, between opposing highway traffic lanes.
Meter or pay station means any mechanical or electronic device or signage that the city places or erects on property, or any internet-based application for the purpose of managing and controlling the use of parking spaces and that requires payment for use. Where the term 'meter' appears in this chapter, the reference also includes a pay station, signage, or any internet-based application where applicable.
Motor-assisted scooter has the meaning ascribed in section 551.351 of the Texas Transportation Code, as may be amended from time to time.
Motor vehicle means any vehicle that is self-propelled or propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails.
Off-street parking means vehicular parking that is provided in a location other than in a public right-of-way.
Owner means a person, other than a lienholder, having the property interest in or title to a vehicle. The term includes a person entitled to the use and possession of a vehicle subject to a security interest in another person, but excludes a lessee under a lease not intended as security.
Park or parking means the standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading passengers or merchandise except an involuntary stopping of such vehicle by reason of mechanical failure or direction of a police officer.
Parking citation means a citation, within the jurisdiction of the municipal courts of the city, issued for the alleged violation of any city ordinance or state penal law regarding the parking of vehicles.
ParkHouston means that portion of the department responsible for on-street parking, off-street metered parking, temporary restriction of access to metered parking, commercial vehicle loading zone permits, residential parking permits, newsrack permits, community parking permits, parking benefit districts, valet permits, and such other parking responsibilities as may be designated by the director from time to time.
Parking meter service technician means an employee of the department assigned to collect revenue from and perform maintenance services on parking meters.
Parking meter zone means the particular blockface in which a parking meter is located between appropriate street signage at each end of the block.
Parking official means the director or such other person as the director may designate to act as the parking management official of the city and the said official's designee.
Pedestrian means any person afoot or a person with an assisted mobility device.
Pole trailer means any vehicle without motive power designed to be drawn by another vehicle and attached to the towing vehicle by means of a reach, or pole, or by being boomed or otherwise secured to the towing vehicle, and ordinarily used for transporting long or irregularly shaped loads such as poles, pipes, or structural members, capable, generally, of sustaining themselves as beams between the supporting connections.
Police officer means any officer authorized to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violations of traffic regulations.
Public right-of-way means the area on a public roadway, highway, street, public sidewalk or alley in which the city has an interest.
Regulatory investigator or parking compliance officer means an employee of the department assigned to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
Rent means to grant the possession or use of a good, or to provide a service, to another for a temporary or open-ended period of time.
Rental vehicle means a motor vehicle operated pursuant to a lease, rental agreement, independent contractor vehicle for hire operating agreement, or other transaction whereby in exchange for monetary or other valuable consideration one person ("the lessor") transfers the right to possess and operate a motor vehicle to another person ("the lessee").
Residential district means the territory contiguous to and including a street or highway when the property on such street or highway for a distance of 300 feet or more is in the main improved with residences.
Roadway means that portion of a street or highway improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel. In the event a street or highway includes two or more separate roadways, the term "roadway" shall refer to any such roadway separately but not to all such roadways collectively.
Semi-trailer means a vehicle with or without motive power, other than a pole trailer, designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that some part of its weight and that of its load rests upon or is carried by another vehicle.
Services means any act, activity, duty, labor, delivery, or performance, whether intellectual or manual, provided in exchange for compensation, including but not limited to monetary or non-monetary compensation. Services shall not include the expeditious loading or unloading of property, goods, or merchandise from a commercial vehicle.
Sidewalk means that portion of a street between the curb lines, or the lateral lines of a roadway, and the adjacent property lines intended for the use of pedestrians.
Stop, stopping, standing, when prohibited, means any stopping or standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic-control sign or signal.
Street or highway means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.
Taxi zone means the area or space officially set apart within a roadway by one or more appropriate signs or markings for the exclusive use of taxicabs licensed as such by the city.
Traffic means pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, and other conveyances, either singly or together, while using any street or highway for purposes of travel.
Traffic-control device means any sign, signal, marking, or device not inconsistent with this chapter placed or erected by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction, for the purpose of regulating, warning, or guiding traffic.
Traffic island means a raised area over which vehicles may not pass, placed at a junction of streets or between opposing traffic lanes.
Trailer means any vehicle with or without motive power, other than a pole trailer, designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that no part of its weight rests upon the towing vehicle.
Vehicle means any device in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a street or highway, excepting devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks."
(Ord. No. 07-464, § 7(Exh. B), 4-11-07; Ord. No. 08-417, § 8, 5-14-08; Ord. No. 09-2, §§ 4, 5, 1-7-09; Ord. No. 2010-304, § 8, 4-21-2010, eff. 4-1-2010; Ord. No. 2010-846, § 10, 11-3-2010; Ord. No. 2011-1175, § 2, 12-14-2011; Ord. No. 2015-820, § 36, 8-26-2015; Ord. No. 2019-1015, §§ 3, 4, 12-11-2019; Ord. No. 2021-205, § 2, 3-24-2021; Ord. No. 2023-548, § 2, 7-12-2023; Ord. No. 2026-0803, §§ 7, 8, 9-23-2026)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-3 Compliance.
Sec. 26-3. - Compliance.
It is unlawful, unless otherwise declared in this chapter with respect to particular offenses, for any person to do any act forbidden or fail to perform any act required in this chapter.
(Ord. No. 07-464, § 7(Exh. B), 4-11-07)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-4 General powers and duties of parking official.
Sec. 26-4. - General powers and duties of parking official.
The parking official has responsibility for the enforcement of this chapter, with the exception of article VIII, which shall be enforced by the director of the planning and development department or the director's designee. It shall be the duty of the parking official to direct, control and manage all on-street parking in residential and commercial areas.
The parking official shall:
(1) Supervise and be responsible for the collection of revenue from and the maintenance of on-street parking meters and any city-owned and city-maintained public off-street parking meters authorized under this chapter.
(2) Be authorized to enforce all parking regulations of this chapter and the Texas Transportation Code.
(3) Maintain effective liaison and coordination with other governmental units that are active participants in the city's parking program.
(4) Prepare reasonable and necessary administrative rules, regulations and forms relating to the performance of duties under this chapter for approval by the director.
(5) Maintain a system to issue and track permits, licenses, and citations.
(6) Carry out the policies of the mayor in the overall planning effort to develop a reliable and efficient method of managing on-street parking and public off-street parking meters.
(7) Have such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the mayor.
(Ord. No. 07-464, § 7(Exh. B), 4-11-07; Ord. No. 08-417, § 9, 5-14-08; Ord. No. 08-568, § 28, 6-18-08; Ord. No. 2017-151, §§ 2, 3, 3-1-2017; Ord. No. 2019-1015, § 5, 12-11-2019)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-5 Rules and regulations.
Sec. 26-5. - Rules and regulations.
The director is hereby authorized to promulgate, from time to time, reasonable rules and regulations to carry out the intent and purposes of articles I through VII, IX and X of this chapter, including, but not limited to rules for the conduct of hearings. The director shall also be responsible for promulgation of forms and establishment of fees in articles I through VII, IX and X of this chapter. A copy of the rules, regulations, forms and fee schedules shall be maintained in the office of the parking official for inspection, and copies may be purchased at the fee prescribed by law.
(Ord. No. 07-464, § 7(Exh. B), 4-11-07; Ord. No. 2011-1175, § 3, 12-14-2011)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-6 Regulatory investigators.
Sec. 26-6. - Regulatory investigators.
(a) Regulatory investigators shall enforce the provisions of this chapter by issuance of a parking citation on the official form prescribed by the director for such notices. Regulatory investigators shall not have any power of arrest under the authority conferred by this section. Regulatory investigators shall be issued appropriate identification by the parking official and shall be issued the necessary forms to carry out their duties.
(b) Peace officers and other persons designated by the parking official for that purpose shall enforce the provisions of this chapter and state laws and regulations relating to the stopping, standing and parking of motor vehicles by issuance of citations on the official form prescribed by the director. Persons who are not peace officers may issue citations, but they shall not have the power of arrest. Persons designated under this section shall be issued appropriate identification and the necessary citation forms to carry out their duties. The persons shall account to the parking official for all citations issued and for all citation forms provided to them.
(c) Pursuant to Texas Occupations Code section 2308.354, regulatory investigators and other employees designated by the parking official are authorized to immobilize a vehicle or remove an immobilized vehicle upon any street or highway within the city, or upon any other property under the ownership or control of the city. Regulatory investigators and other employees designated by the parking official are also authorized to request the removal and storage of a vehicle that is located in an area where on-street parking is regulated by the city and is:
(1) Parked illegally; or
(2) Parked legally and has been unattended for more than 48 hours and the employee has reasonable grounds to believe is abandoned.
(Ord. No. 07-464, § 7(Exh. B), 4-11-07; Ord. No. 09-1135, § 10, 11-18-09; Ord. No. 2019-1015, § 6, 12-11-2019; Ord. No. 2021-837, § 2, 9-29-2021; Ord. No. 2023-548, § 3, 7-12-2023)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-7 Parking meter service technicians and maintenance mechanics.
Sec. 26-7. - Parking meter service technicians and maintenance mechanics.
(a) There shall be employment positions within ParkHouston for persons who shall be known as 'parking meter service technicians' or 'maintenance mechanics.' The parking meter service technicians and maintenance mechanics shall be selected and appointed in accordance with the established hiring practices of the city. The employees holding those positions shall be under the direction and control of the parking official or his designee.
(b) It shall be the duty of each parking meter service technician or maintenance mechanic to collect revenues from assigned parking meters in the city at the times and in the manner prescribed by the parking official.
(Ord. No. 07-464, § 7(Exh. B), 4-11-07; Ord. No. 2019-1015, § 7, 12-11-2019; Ord. No. 2023-548, § 3, 7-12-2023; Ord. No. 2026-0803, § 9, 9-23-2026)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-8 Signs and markings.
Sec. 26-8. - Signs and markings.
In this chapter, a sign, marking, or other device relating to any traffic control issue including, but not limited to, parking shall be construed to be a traffic-control device authorized under article IV of chapter 45 of this Code.
(Ord. No. 07-464, § 7(Exh. B), 4-11-07)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-9 Application of chapter to drivers of government vehicles.
Sec. 26-9. - Application of chapter to drivers of government vehicles.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to the driver of any vehicle owned by or used in the service of the United States Government, this state, county or city, and it shall be unlawful for any such driver to violate any of the provisions of this chapter, except as otherwise permitted in this chapter or by state statute.
(Ord. No. 07-464, § 7(Exh. B), 4-11-07)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-10 Penalty for violation of chapter.
Sec. 26-10. - Penalty for violation of chapter.
(a) It is a criminal offense for any person to violate any of the provisions of this chapter other than the provisions of articles II (except for section 26-102), IV, VI, XI, or XII of this chapter or of division 1 of article III of this chapter. Every person convicted of violating any of those provisions of this chapter for which another penalty is not specifically provided shall be punished by a fine of not less than $1.00 nor more than $200.00; provided that the penalty for violation of any provision of section 26-102 of this Code or Article X (Immobilization ("Booting") of Vehicles) of this chapter shall be a fine of not less than $300.00 nor more than $500.00; further provided, however, that no penalty shall be greater or less than the penalty for the same offense under the laws of this state.
(b) It is a civil offense for any person to violate any of the provisions of Article II (Stopping, Standing, Parking and Operation of Vehicles) except for section 26-102 of this chapter, Division 1 of Article III (Parking Meters), Article IV (Commercial Vehicle Loading Zones), Article VI (Residential Parking Permits), Article XI (Parking Benefit Districts), or Article XII (Community Parking Program) of this chapter. Unless another fine is specifically provided by this Code or by state law, the penalty for violation of any of the aforesaid civil offense provisions shall be as follows:
Violation of | Civil Fine
Article II (except for sections 26-88 and 26-102) | $1.00—$200.00
Article III, Division 1 | $1.00—$200.00
Article VI | $1.00—$200.00
Article XI | $1.00—$200.00
Article XII | $1.00—$200.00
Article II, Section 26-88 | $500.00—$750.00
Article IV | $200.00—$500.00
(c) For violations under this chapter that are of a continuing nature, each day that the violation shall continue shall constitute a separate offense.
(Ord. No. 07-464, § 7(Exh. B), 4-11-07; Ord. No. 08-847, § 3, 9-24-08; Ord. No. 2011-83, § 2, 2-2-2011; Ord. No. 2012-1097, § 3, 12-12-2012; Ord. No. 2019-1015, § 8, 12-11-2019; Ord. No. 2021-205, § 3, 3-24-2021)
Source: City of Houston, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH26PA_ARTIINGE_DIV1PAFetched: 10/26/2026