Operation of yards used by a metal recycler; hours for purchasing materials.
Houston Code of Ordinances § 7-70
in effectSec. 7-70. - Operation of yards used by a metal recycler; hours for purchasing materials.
(a) Compliance. All lots or tracts of land owned, used or operated within the city by a metal recycler for the following purposes shall comply with all city ordinances including this Code, and specifically section 28-34 of this Code:
(1) To store loose or bailed inventory outside of an enclosed structure;
(2) To store equipment outside of an enclosed structure; or
(3) To process scrap metal outside of an enclosed structure.
(b) Removal of flammable liquids from vehicles. All gasoline, gasohol, diesel fuel or other flammable liquids shall be completely drained and removed from any junked, wrecked or abandoned automotive vehicle before the vehicle is placed in any lot or tract of land described in subsection (a) of this section. All flammable liquids drained from any vehicle shall be stored in a safe manner and in strict accordance with the Fire Code.
(c) Fencing, wall requirements. Every lot or tract of land described in subsection (a) of this section shall be completely surrounded and enclosed by a solid fence or wall as follows:
(1) All fences or walls must be at least six feet in height.
(2) The term "solid" as used in this section shall mean constructed and maintained so that the outer surface is continuous and without interstices, gaps, spaces or holes. This shall not be construed to prohibit any spaces or gaps left by a properly constructed and maintained chain link fence with strips or slats as provided in this section.
(d) Construction, maintenance of fence or wall. Every fence or wall required in this section shall be constructed and maintained in good repair as follows:
(1) All fences shall be constructed of wood, masonry, corrugated sheet metal, chain link, or any combination thereof; provided, however, that any one side shall be bounded by a fence or wall constructed of only one of the above materials.
(2) Chain link fences shall be constructed of galvanized chain link fencing with wood or metal slats or strips run through all links of the chain link fence.
(3) All fences or walls shall extend downward to within three inches of the ground and shall test plumb and square at all times.
(4) All fences or walls shall be constructed in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Construction Code.
(e) Use of wall, door of structure as part of fence or wall. Any part of a fence or wall required by subsection (c) of this section may consist, in whole or in part, of a solid wall and door, or walls and doors of any completely enclosed structure on said premises, if such wall or door meets all construction requirements set forth in subsection (d) of this section.
(f) Gates at openings in enclosure. Openings in the enclosed fence or wall which are necessary to permit reasonable access to a lot or tract of land shall be equipped with a gate or gates, constructed and maintained in accordance with the requirements for a fence or wall described in subsection (d) of this section. Such gates shall be closed and securely locked at all times except during normal business hours.
(g) Use of premises outside enclosed fence or wall. It shall be unlawful for a metal recycler to display, store or work on any junked or wrecked automotive vehicle, home appliances, or any parts, accessories or junk thereof or any other new or used metal materials outside of the fence or wall required in this section.
(h) Arrangement of materials. All automotive vehicles, parts and other materials located in or on any lot or tract of land described in subsection (a) of this section shall be so arranged to allow reasonable access to, and inspection of, the premises at any time during ordinary business hours by authorized representatives of the city's fire, health and police departments and the department of neighborhoods. No materials shall be stored at a height greater than six feet within ten feet of the fence required in this section.
(i) Control of vegetation. It shall be unlawful to allow grass or other vegetation to grow to a height of more than nine inches above the ground in any lot or tract of land described in subsection (a) of this section.
(j) Improved surface. All lots or tracts of land described in subsection (a) of this section shall have an all-weather surface of concrete, asphalt, black-top, stone, macadam, limestone, iron ore, gravel, shell, slag or other hard fill surface and appropriate drainage. This subsection shall not include those areas of a yard which are utilized for purposes of inventory storage and processing.
(k) Vector and rodent control. Any materials stored on a lot or tract of land described in subsection (a) of this section must be stored in a manner that will allow adequate vector and rodent control measures. A metal recycler shall provide for vector and rodent control at least once within a 90-day period or more frequently as needed.
(l) Hours of operation. A metal recycler may only purchase scrap metal from the general public on Monday through Saturday between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
(Ord. No. 2016-964, § 4(Exh. A), 12-7-2016)
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_CH7ANDECOMASCMEPRSEREREBU_ARTIIIMERE_DIV3OPRURE_S7-70OPYAUSMEREHOPUMAFetched: 10/26/2026