Inspection by city—Generally.
Houston Code of Ordinances § 46-37
in effectSec. 46-37. - Inspection by city—Generally.
(a) The director shall cause each taxicab for which a permit has been issued to be inspected at the time that it is initially placed into service and thereafter at least once each year. The inspection shall be made to determine that the taxicab is in a reasonably good state of repair, clean, and equipped and being operated in compliance with all requirements of this article. The inspection shall be made at a place designated by the director. The director shall create a permanent record, in paper or electronic format, of all inspections, which shall be maintained for a period of at least two years.
(b) If the inspection reveals that a vehicle is not in a reasonably good operating condition, from the standpoint of the safety, health, and comfort of passengers, the director shall order the taxicab out of service until remedial repairs and corrections have been made. When the repairs and corrections have been made, the vehicle shall be reinspected to determine whether or not proper repairs and corrections have been made, and in no case shall the taxicab be permitted to resume its operation until the repairs and corrections have been made. It shall be unlawful for a permittee to utilize any taxicab that has been ordered out of service until the vehicle has been reinspected and the director authorizes resumption of its use.
(c) Inspections shall include, but not be limited to, the following items: vehicle identification number; taxicab number; date of purchase; foot brakes; parking brake; head lamps; tail lamps; license plate lights; stool light; dome light; horn; windshield wipers; heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems; rearview mirror; all glasses; cleanliness; safety; condition of paint; color scheme; certification decals; taximeter seals and readings; credit card payment device integrated with global positioning satellite system; rate card; signs; fumes; state license plates and registration sticker; speedometer readings; mileage; steering; tires; muffler and tail pipe; accuracy of taximeter; and condition of the body of the vehicle and fenders.
(Ord. No. 2014-754, § 2(Exh. A), 8-6-2014, eff. 2-2-2015; Ord. No. 2016-736, § 18, 10-5-2016; Ord. No. 2025-1050, § 7, 12-17-2025)
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_CH46VEHI_ARTIITA_DIV1GE_S46-37INCIENFetched: 10/26/2026