EASEMENTS

Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 42, art. III, div. 5

in effect

Houston Code of Ordinances § 42-210 Public utility easements.

Sec. 42-210. - Public utility easements. (a) An easement for one or more public utilities shall meet the standards of this section and the location, design and width requirements of the design manual and of the respective utility companies. (b) A public utility easement located along the boundary of a subdivision plat or a development plat shall contain the full width required for the easement, except that one-half of the required width may be shown and dedicated when one of the following conditions is satisfied: (1) The property adjacent to the proposed public utility easement is within a recorded subdivision plat as the property that is the subject of the application and which provided for the dedication of a public utility easement contiguous to the proposed easement; or (2) The additional public utility easement width is or was previously dedicated by the owner of the adjacent property by separate instrument. (Ord. No. 2013-343, § 3(Exh. A), 4-24-2013)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 42-211 Drainage easements.

Sec. 42-211. - Drainage easements. Each drainage easement shall be located in conformity with the requirements of the design manual and all other governmental agencies with jurisdiction over surface water drainage or flood control within the area in which the proposed subdivision or development is located. Each subdivision plat or development plat that contains a drainage easement shall contain a restriction on the plat that: (1) Prohibits all properties abutting the easement from the construction of fences or buildings, whether temporary or permanent, and the installation or maintenance of plantings or other obstructions to the operation and maintenance of the drainage facility within the drainage easement; and (2) Prohibits any property abutting the drainage easement from draining directly into the drainage easement except by means of a drainage structure approved by the Director of Houston Public Works or the authorized public drainage or flood control official. (Ord. No. 2013-343, § 3(Exh. A), 4-24-2013; Ord. No. 2018-11, § 49, 1-10-2018)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 42-212 Private easements; fee strips.

Sec. 42-212. - Private easements; fee strips. All easements or fee strips created prior to the subdivision or development of any tract of land shall be shown on the subdivision plat or development plat with appropriate notations indicating the name of the holder of the easement or fee strip, the purpose of the easement, the dimensions of the easement or fee strip tied to all adjacent lot lines, street rights-of-way and plat boundary lines and the recording reference of the instruments creating and establishing the easement or fee strip. If an easement has not been defined by accurate survey dimensions, such as an "over and across" easement, the subdivider shall request the owner of the easement to define the limits and location of the easement through the property within the plat boundaries. If the holder of an undefined easement does not define the easement involved and the applicant certifies to the director the owner's refusal to define the easement, the subdivision plat or the development plat shall provide accurate information about the centerline location of all existing pipelines or other utility facilities placed in conformance with the easement owners' rights. (Ord. No. 2013-343, § 3(Exh. A), 4-24-2013)

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_CH42SUDEPL_ARTIIIPLST_DIV5EAFetched: 10/26/2026