Houston Code of Ordinances § 2-501 Created.
Sec. 2-501. - Created.
There is hereby created a department to be designated the department of administration and regulatory affairs.
(Ord. No. 08-52, § 6, 1-16-08, eff. 1-26-08)
GENERALLY
Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 2, art. XVI, div. 1
in effectHouston Code of Ordinances § 2-502 Director—Position created; appointment.
Sec. 2-502. - Director—Position created; appointment.
There is hereby created the position of director of the department of administration and regulatory affairs, who shall be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city council. Except as provided or limited by the City Charter, the director of the department of administration and regulatory affairs shall mean the director or his designee.
(Ord. No. 08-52, § 6, 1-16-08, eff. 1-26-08)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 2-503 Same—Powers and duties.
Sec. 2-503. - Same—Powers and duties.
The director of the department of administration and regulatory affairs shall perform all duties and have all the responsibilities required and imposed by the laws of the United States and the state, the City Charter and ordinances of the city, and such other functions, duties and powers as may be assigned by the mayor. In addition to the foregoing duties, functions, powers and responsibilities, the director of the department of administration and regulatory affairs, subject to the direction and supervision of the mayor, shall:
(1) Be executive head of the department of administration and regulatory affairs, and as such, shall have control, supervision and authority over all officers and employees therein.
(2) Exercise and perform or cause to be exercised or performed all duties and functions assigned to the department of administration and regulatory affairs.
(3) Recommend such legislation as may be necessary to more efficiently operate and maintain the department of finance and administration.
(Ord. No. 08-52, § 6, 1-16-08, eff. 1-26-08)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 2-504 Duties.
Secs. 2-504. - Duties.
The department of administration and regulatory affairs and such employees of the department section as are assigned to it shall be charged with the following duties:
(1) Oversight and administration of the city's central payroll function.
(2) Oversight and administration of the city's records management.
(3) Administration of ordinances related to regulatory services, including utilities, vehicles for hire, certain permits for alcohol-related businesses, franchise fees, and other licenses and permits.
(4) Oversight and administration of the city's strategic alliance management functions.
(5) Supervision and administration of the city's requirements for insurance by establishing a risk management program, and supervision and administration of fidelity bonds and notary public commissions.
(6) Supervision of the establishment and implementation of a system of administrative procedures to improve city operations.
(7) Supervision and administration of the duties and responsibilities of the city as provided by this Code or other ordinance, the City Charter and state law in relation to its regulation of public utilities.
(8) In the event of an application by a utility for a change in rates, development of a recommendation and sponsorship of the city's case in the ensuing hearing.
(9) Responsibility for all actions necessary to ensure the delivery of services required of public utilities and charging of fair and reasonable rates for such services.
(10) Responsibility for provision of office services and reproduction management, including, but not limited to:
a. Pick-up and delivery of mail for all city departments.
b. Provision of printing and graphics services to city departments.
c. Coordination of acquisition and leasing of all types of reproduction equipment.
(11) Management of surplus city personal property and maintenance of a perpetual inventory thereof.
(12) Supervision, administration, and enforcement of the franchises granted by the city.
(13) Direct, control, and manage all on-street parking in residential and commercial areas, as more particularly described in chapter 26 of this Code.
(14) Responsibility for supervision, administration, and management of BARC animal services, including the development, recommendation, and implementation of the necessary policies and procedures to ensure the efficient operation of all city services regarding animal regulation and care.
(Ord. No. 08-52, § 6, 1-16-08, eff. 1-26-08; Ord. No. 2010-304, § 6, 4-21-2010, eff. 4-1-2010; Ord. No. 2010-398, § 2, 6-2-2010; Ord. No. 2013-603, § 8, 6-19-2013; Ord. No. 2022-44, § 3, 1-19-2022)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 2-505 Designation of temporary director.
Sec. 2-505. - Designation of temporary director.
The director of administration and regulatory affairs shall designate, with the approval of the mayor, an employee who, during the temporary absence or incapacity of the director, shall have and perform all of the powers and duties of the director of administration and regulatory affairs. Such appointee will serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the mayor and shall receive no additional compensation by reason of such appointment.
(Ord. No. 08-52, § 6, 1-16-08, eff. 1-26-08)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 2-506 Authority of director to function in other capacities.
Sec. 2-506. - Authority of director to function in other capacities.
(a) Whenever any provision of this Code or any other city ordinance provides for the taking of any action or the performance of any function by the director of the public service department or the public service director, then the director of the department of administration and regulatory affairs shall be authorized to take such action or perform such function, or to cause the same to be taken or performed.
(b) To the extent that this Code or any other ordinance or any motion, resolution, or other document devolves duties relating to the enforcement of parking regulations in the city upon the municipal courts department, the convention and entertainment facilities department, Houston Public Works, the general services department, or the directors or employees of those departments, then such references shall be construed to mean the department of administration and regulatory affairs or the director or employees thereof.
(c) To the extent that this Code or any other ordinance or any motion, resolution, or other document devolves duties relating to the regulation and care of animals upon the Houston Health Department or the director or employees of that department, then such references shall be construed to mean the department of administration and regulatory affairs or the director or employees thereof.
(Ord. No. 08-52, § 6, 1-16-08, eff. 1-26-08; Ord. No. 2010-304, § 7, 4-21-2010, eff. 4-1-2010; Ord. No. 2010-398, § 3, 6-2-2010; Ord. No. 2010-846, § 3, 11-3-2010; Ord. No. 2013-603, § 9, 6-19-2013; Ord. No. 2015-820, § 34, 8-26-2015; Ord. No. 2018-11, § 50, 1-10-2018)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 2-507 Management of surplus city personal property.
Sec. 2-507. - Management of surplus city personal property.
(a) The following words, terms, and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this subsection, except when the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Director means the director of administration and regulatory affairs.
Surplus city personal property, means supplies, materials and equipment, excluding vehicles, that are obsolete or in excess of the city's requirements.
(b) Surplus city personal property may be sold, disposed of or destroyed in accordance with the following procedures:
(1) Items that have an estimated market value of $25.00, or less, as determined by the director, may be donated to a nonprofit corporation or governmental entity in accordance with a policy developed by the director and approved by the mayor for use in providing services benefitting the residents of the city, or may be destroyed. Such items may be donated or destroyed only if, in the reasonable opinion of the director the cost of maintaining the item in inventory and the probable cost of attempting to sell the item exceed the market value of the item.
(2) Items that are not disposed of or donated in accordance with item (1) of this subsection that have an estimated market value of $5,000.00 or less, each as determined by the director, may be sold by informal bid, auction, negotiated sale or any other lawful method that in the opinion of the director will result in the best return to the city, taking into consideration storage and sale costs. The director shall provide at least one week's notice prior to such disposition. The notice may include any of the following: Internet; public posting; municipal channel advertisement; or any other reasonable public notice as determined by the director.
(3) Items that have an estimated market value of more than $5,000.00, as determined by the director, may be sold only at a publicly advertised auction, provided that if any such item does not sell at auction, then it may be disposed of as provided in item (2) of this subsection.
(Ord. No. 08-52, § 6, 1-16-08, eff. 1-26-08)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 2-508 Management of municipal courts parking lot.
Sec. 2-508. - Management of municipal courts parking lot.
The department shall have and exercise management of the municipal courts parking lot, being that parking lot bounded by Lubbock, Reisner, West Capitol, and Houston Avenue. The department shall collect and account for the revenues therefrom.
Users of the municipal courts parking lot shall be liable for payment of thefees stated for this provision in the city fee schedule, including sales tax, per vehicle.
(Ord. No. 08-568, § 26, 6-18-08; Ord. No. 2010-304, § 5, 4-21-2010, eff. 4-1-2010; Ord. No. 2011-1168, § 13, 12-14-2011)
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_CH2AD_ARTXVIDEADREAF_DIV1GEFetched: 10/26/2026