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Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 5, art. V, div. 2
in effect

Houston Code of Ordinances § 5-136 Required.

Sec. 5-136. - Required. It shall be unlawful for a person to establish, maintain or operate, within the corporate limits of the city, a skeet club or shooting gallery without having first secured a license to do so from the chief of police. Such license shall not be issued by the chief of police unless the person applying therefor has secured a certificate of occupancy from Building Code Enforcement authorizing the occupancy of the premises for purposes of operating a skeet club or shooting gallery. Provided, however, this article governing the construction, licensing, use and occupancy of skeet clubs and shooting galleries shall not be applicable to any such installations which are constructed, operated and supervised in accordance with U.S. Army or Reserve Officers Training Corps regulations by school districts, colleges or universities. (Code 1968, § 36-94; Ord. No. 72-2007, § 2, 11-1-72; Ord. No. 90-635, § 18, 5-23-90; Ord. No. 2021-1037, § 20(Exh. I.7), 12-1-2021, eff. 4-1-2022)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 5-137 Application.

Sec. 5-137. - Application. Any person desiring a license required by this division shall make written application therefor to the chief of police on forms to be provided by the chief of police. (Code 1968, § 36-95)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 5-138 Inspection of applicant's premises.

Sec. 5-138. - Inspection of applicant's premises. The chief of police shall cause an investigation and inspection to be made of any skeet club or shooting gallery for which a license is desired, to determine if it is in compliance with the terms of this article. (Code 1968, § 36-96)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 5-139 Fee.

Sec. 5-139. - Fee. The annual fee for a license under this division is stated for this provision in the city fee schedule. Such fee shall be collected by the chief of police before the issuance of such license or a renewal thereof. When the license is issued during any current calendar year, the fee therefor shall be prorated and, for the purpose of determining the amount due, the month during which the license is issued shall be counted as one full month. No refund of any license fee paid hereunder shall be made by the city for any cause whatsoever. (Code 1968, § 36-97; Ord. No. 2011-1168, § 13, 12-14-2011)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 5-140 Issuance.

Sec. 5-140. - Issuance. If the chief of police determines that a skeet club or shooting gallery for which a license is applied for is in compliance with this article, he shall issue the license, upon payment of the required fee. (Code 1968, § 36-98)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 5-141 Special provisions for indoor trap ranges.

Sec. 5-141. - Special provisions for indoor trap ranges. (a) An applicant for a license to operate an indoor trap range shall submit, together with his application therefor, a copy of the proposed plans and specifications of such range and a description of the premises on which such range shall be operated. Such application shall also describe the nature, size and muzzle velocity of the firearms to be used in such indoor trap range, and the license, if issued, shall limit and restrict the operation of such range to the described firearms, and no other. Such application, or the plans and specifications submitted therewith, shall affirmatively disclose that the walls, floor and ceiling of the proposed range shall be of sufficient thickness to prevent penetration by the pellets, shot or ammunition fired from the described firearms. (b) Upon compliance with the foregoing provisions, an applicant may be issued a license by the chief of police under the terms and provisions of this division. (Code 1968, § 36-99)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 5-142 Contents.

Sec. 5-142. - Contents. A license issued under this division shall set forth the name and location of the skeet club or shooting gallery covered by such license, the name or names of those persons to whom such license is issued and any other information that the chief of police may deem necessary. (Code 1968, § 36-100)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 5-143 Display.

Sec. 5-143. - Display. A license issued under this division shall be placed and kept at all times in some open and prominent place within the skeet club or shooting gallery. (Code 1968, § 36-101)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 5-144 Expiration.

Sec. 5-144. - Expiration. All licenses issued under this division shall expire on the thirty-first day of December of the year for which issued. (Code 1968, § 36-102)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 5-145 Not transferable.

Sec. 5-145. - Not transferable. Licenses issued under this division shall be deemed personal to the licensee and shall not be assigned or transferred to any other person. (Code 1968, § 36-103)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 5-146 Does not bar prosecutions under or enforcement of other ordinances.

Sec. 5-146. - Does not bar prosecutions under or enforcement of other ordinances. No license granted under this division shall ever be held to bar a prosecution for violation of any other ordinance of this city, or to prevent the enforcement of any ordinance, or inhibit the exercise of powers and duties of any officer under the terms of any such ordinance. (Code 1968, § 36-104)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 5-147 Appeal from grant or refusal; notice of refusal.

Sec. 5-147. - Appeal from grant or refusal; notice of refusal. Any person dissatisfied with the decision of the chief of police in either granting or refusing a license to operate a skeet club or shooting gallery shall have the right of an appeal to the city council by notifying the city council in writing within ten days after the decision of the chief of police of his appeal therefrom. Every person who is refused a license to operate a skeet club or shooting gallery by the chief of police shall be notified in writing of the reasons for such refusal. (Code 1968, § 36-105)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 5-148 Suspension or revocation.

Sec. 5-148. - Suspension or revocation. (a) Any license issued under this division may be revoked on any of the following grounds: (1) Violation of any of the provisions of this article or any rules and regulations either now or hereafter adopted pursuant hereto, or of any laws of the state. (2) Permitting, aiding or abetting the commission of any illegal act in or on the licensed premises. (3) Selling or permitting the consumption of alcoholic beverages on the licensed premises. (4) Permitting any person under the influence of alcoholic beverages to use the facilities of the club or gallery. (5) Acts, conduct or practices detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of any person in the city. (b) Such revocation shall be subject to the same procedures specified in subsections (b) through (h) of section 5-85, as applicable to revocation of dance hall permits. (Code 1968, § 36-106)
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_CH5AM_ARTVSKCLSHGA_DIV2LIFetched: 10/26/2026

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