OFFENSES AND PENALTIES.
Austin City Code § 14-11-221
in effect§ 14-11-221 - OFFENSES AND PENALTIES.
(A) A person commits an offense if the person:
(1) performs an activity in the public right-of-way prohibited by this chapter;
(2) performs an activity for which a permit is required under this chapter without first obtaining a permit;
(3) fails to comply with Sections 14-11-102 (Insurance Required), 14-11-103 (Security Required), 14-11-163 (Information Required), 14-11-171 (Permit Required), 14-11-172 (Emergency Operations), or 14-11-180 (Excavation or Installation Performed Under Permit);
(4) performs an activity in a right-of-way in violation of a permit issued under this chapter; or
(5) except as provided by Section 14-11-172 (Emergency Operations), performs an activity in a right-of-way after a permit has been suspended or revoked.
(B) An owner commits an offense if the owner fails to:
(1) provide the director with the information required by this chapter; or
(2) relocate a permitted facility as required by Sections 14-11-162 (Administration) and 14-11-166 (Project Coordination).
(C) A person commits an offense if the person, without lawful authority, alters, damages, removes, or otherwise interferes with an official traffic-control device, including a temporary traffic-control device installed according to a permit issued under this chapter;
(D) A person commits and offense if the person, without lawful authority, damages, disables, or otherwise interferes with the traffic signal system or a component of the traffic signal system, to include a traffic light, control box, detector, or communication or power cable.
(E) An offense under this chapter is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $500. However, an offense under this chapter that breaches or endangers the integrity of a water line, waste water line, or other public utility or a traffic control device or traffic signal is a threat to public health and sanitation and is punishable by a fine not to exceed $2,000.
(F) Each instance of a violation of this chapter is a separate offense.
(G) A person commits an offense once in every 24-hour period that a violation of this chapter exists.
(H) A culpable mental state is not required for commission of an offense under this chapter.
Source: 1992 Code Section 15-12-191; Ord. 031204-12; Ord. 031211-11; Ord. No. 20170817-045, Pt. 3, 8-17-17.
Source: City of Austin, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/austin/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT14USSTPUPR_CH14-11USRI-W_ART3EN_S14-11-221OFPEFetched: 10/27/2026