Sidewalk access doors.
Houston Code of Ordinances § 40-12
in effectSec. 40-12. - Sidewalk access doors.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to construct, maintain or operate, or cause or permit to be constructed, maintained or operated, any sidewalk access door without lifts or chutes, on a sidewalk or street or other public area of the city serving the basement of any building or structure adjacent thereto, without first obtaining from the Director of Houston Public Works a written permit to make such installation. Such permit shall only be issued on a written application in form approved by the city legal department, which shall provide for indemnity to the city for damage to persons or property by reason of such installation. Such application shall be duly acknowledged by the applicant and, where the applicant is not the owner of the abutting property, by the owner of such abutting property, and it shall contain a covenant running with the land, binding the fee owner of the land abutting the installation and on which the sidewalk and installation are constructed, and his heirs and assigns.
(b) Such permit shall require that such sidewalk door shall be opened only between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., so as to impede pedestrian traffic as little as possible. The type of door and the exact location of the door shall be subject to the inspection and approval by the Director of Houston Public Works, and such permit shall be issued subject to all the pertinent requirements of this chapter.
(Code 1968, § 41-12; Ord. No. 90-635, § 101, 5-23-90; Ord. No. 93-514, § 69, 5-5-93; Ord. No. 2018-11, § 49, 1-10-2018)
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_CH40STSI_ARTIINGE_S40-12SIACDOFetched: 10/26/2026