When removal required.
Houston Code of Ordinances § 45-203
in effectSec. 45-203. - When removal required.
(a) The police department shall remove from the public streets, alleys, sidewalks, and public ways of the city:
(1) Any abandoned motor vehicle, as that term is herein defined;
(2) Any motor vehicle which has remained unlawfully overparked at any parking meter for a period of time in excess of five times the minimum time limit which may be purchased from the parking meter where the motor vehicle is unlawfully overparked;
(3) All other motor vehicles which are illegally parked in violation of any ordinance of the city or of the laws of the state not otherwise provided for.
(b) An "abandoned motor vehicle," within the meaning of this article, shall be any motor vehicle standing, parked or remaining unattended on the public streets, alleys, sidewalks and public ways of the city for 48 or more continuous hours.
(c) Any abandoned motor vehicle, any motor vehicle which shall remain overparked at a parking meter as provided in subsection (a)(2) above, and any other motor vehicle which is illegally parked, is hereby declared to be a detriment and a menace to traffic and shall be a nuisance per se.
(Code 1968, § 46-184; Ord. No. 76-185, § 1, 2-10-76)
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_CH45TR_ARTVIIIREIMVE_S45-203WHREREFetched: 10/26/2026