VESSEL LICENSES

Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 23, art. V, div. 2

in effect

Houston Code of Ordinances § 23-152 Vessel license required.

Sec. 23-152. - Vessel license required. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a vessel equipped with a toilet, sewage holding tank or cabin upon the lake unless a vessel license has been issued for the vessel. (Ord. No. 2011-862, § 2(Exh. A), 10-12-2011)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 23-153 Listing of mooring location.

Sec. 23-153. - Listing of mooring location. Each vessel license must list the location(s) on the lake at which the vessel may be moored. (Ord. No. 2011-862, § 2(Exh. A), 10-12-2011)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 23-154 Inspection upon receipt of application.

Sec. 23-154. - Inspection upon receipt of application. As a condition for issuance of a vessel license, the owner must make the sanitary vessel available to the public works official for inspection. When inspecting the sanitary vessel, the public works official shall verify its identity, determine that the statements in the application correctly describe the vessel, verify that all sanitation devices are certified by the state, are designed by a sanitarian registered in the state, and are in good working order. (Ord. No. 2011-862, § 2(Exh. A), 10-12-2011)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 23-155 Term.

Sec. 23-155. - Term. A vessel license shall be issued for one calendar year. License applications for the succeeding calendar year may be submitted at times designated by the public works official. (Ord. No. 2011-862, § 2(Exh. A), 10-12-2011)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 23-156 Issuance of license tag.

Sec. 23-156. - Issuance of license tag. When a vessel license is issued, the public works official shall provide to the owner of the vessel a metal tag inscribed "City of Houston Vessel License." The license tag shall also indicate the calendar year for which the license is valid and the license serial number. (Ord. No. 2011-862, § 2(Exh. A), 10-12-2011)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 23-157 Display of license tag; license to be on board in certain cases.

Sec. 23-157. - Display of license tag; license to be on board in certain cases. It shall be unlawful to operate any sanitary vessel upon the lake unless there is attached to the stern or transom of the vessel, so as to be visible from the rear, a license tag issued pursuant to this chapter. It shall be unlawful to use or occupy any sanitary vessel unless the vessel license is on board the vessel. It shall be unlawful to display an illegible vessel license or vessel license tag. (Ord. No. 2011-862, § 2(Exh. A), 10-12-2011)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 23-158 Revocation of vessel licenses.

Sec. 23-158. - Revocation of vessel licenses. The public works official may revoke of any vessel license if the sanitary vessel is located on the lake and is in violation of any ordinance or state law regulating sanitation or pollution. The public works official shall remove the license tag from the vessel after revocation of the license and shall not return the license tag until he has determined that the owner has taken steps to comply with all applicable legal and permit requirements. (Ord. No. 2011-862, § 2(Exh. A), 10-12-2011)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 23-159 Mooring and docking of vessels.

Sec. 23-159. - Mooring and docking of vessels. It shall be unlawful to moor or dock sanitary vessels at any location on the lake except at a licensed pier, or a licensed shoreline. (Ord. No. 2011-862, § 2(Exh. A), 10-12-2011)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 23-160 Mooring in open water.

Sec. 23-160. - Mooring in open water. It shall be unlawful to moor any unattended vessel in open water for a period of more than 72 hours. If the vessel is connected to the shore or pier by a gangplank, it shall not be considered moored in open water for purposes of this section. (Ord. No. 2011-862, § 2(Exh. A), 10-12-2011)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 23-161 Abandonment of vessels or other property; anchoring at prohibited anchorage.

Sec. 23-161. - Abandonment of vessels or other property; anchoring at prohibited anchorage. (a) Any vessel left unattended at anchorage for more than 72 hours, or in a waterlogged or sunken condition, shall be deemed to be abandoned. (b) If a vessel or a portion thereof is abandoned, or anchored at a prohibited anchorage, a person authorized to enforce this chapter may remove the vessel or portion thereof and recover the costs of the removal against the owner. Provided, vessels may be temporarily anchored or beached while the owner or operator is engaged in recreational activity. (c) It is unlawful for any person to abandon any property on or in the lake. (Ord. No. 2011-862, § 2(Exh. A), 10-12-2011)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 23-162 Vessels with cabins to have sanitation device.

Sec. 23-162. - Vessels with cabins to have sanitation device. It shall be unlawful to own, use, operate, or occupy any vessel with a cabin unless the vessel has on board a sealed sanitary toilet, sewage holding tank, or other marine sanitation device that has been certified by the state, and is designed by a sanitarian registered in the state. (Ord. No. 2011-862, § 2(Exh. A), 10-12-2011)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 23-163 Inspection of vessels.

Sec. 23-163. - Inspection of vessels. All vessels on the lake are subject to inspection at any time by all persons authorized to enforce this chapter to determine the sanitary conditions and the structural condition of the vessels. (Ord. No. 2011-862, § 2(Exh. A), 10-12-2011)

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_CH23LAHO_ARTVSHVELI_DIV2VELIFetched: 10/26/2026