SUBDIVISION SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS

Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 34, art. V

in effect

Houston Code of Ordinances § 34-151 Definitions.

Sec. 34-151. - Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: (1) Chief of police shall mean the chief of police of the city, or his duly designated representative. (2) Department shall mean the city's police department. (3) Subdivision security organization or organization shall mean a non-profit corporation, organization, or association organized by and maintained for the sole benefit of property owners within the residential subdivision organizing same, which provides or causes to be provided security and guard services within such subdivision located within the city. (Code 1968, § 34-131; Ord. No. 81-2514, § 1, 12-22-81)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 34-152 Qualifications.

Sec. 34-152. - Qualifications. To be qualified under this article, an organization shall comply with the following requirements: (1) The security and guard services shall be provided through a "guard company" as defined in the Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies Act (art. 4413(29bb) Tex. Rev. Civ. Stats.) and duly licensed as a `security services contractor' under said act which is operated by or under contract to the organization; and (2) The security personnel utilized shall be "commissioned security officers" under such act; and (3) The security service provided shall include an automobile security patrol maintained in the organization's subdivision or subdivisions on a 24-hour a day, seven-day a week basis; and (4) The guard company operated or employed by the organization shall maintain a central office radio dispatch system on a 24-hour a day, seven-day a week basis; and (5) The guard company operated or employed by the organization shall maintain a central dispatching office which has the necessary equipment to receive digital-dial alarm signals directly from the residential property owners within its subdivisions; and (6) The guard company operated or employed by the organization shall be prepared to respond to all alarm calls from within its subdivisions which it receives through its receiver or from other alarm companies; and (7) All costs and expenses of operation of the organization's security and guard services shall be borne solely by the organization and at no cost or expense to the city. (Code 1968, § 34-132; Ord. No. 81-2514, § 1, 12-22-81)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 34-153 Access to police department radio frequencies—Requirements.

Sec. 34-153. - Access to police department radio frequencies—Requirements. Subject to the following conditions, any organization qualified under the terms of this article may apply for and receive access to the radio frequencies of the department for its guard company's transmission and reception purposes: (1) The organization shall file a written application for such access with the chief of police on forms prepared and provided by the chief of police; and (2) The organization or its guard company shall at its own cost and expense acquire and provide the city the necessary radio equipment for proper communication and interface with the department's communication system. The organization and its guard company shall agree in writing that all equipment so provided shall be and remain the property of the city, subject to the organization's right to utilize the same in conformity with this article. The department shall establish minimum standards for such equipment and the organization shall provide or cause to be provided only equipment which meets or exceeds such standards. The organization's guard company shall only access the department's communications system with communication equipment provided to the city under this subsection; and (3) The chief of police shall establish reasonable rules and regulations for the maintenance, operation, calibration, methods of access, training, frequencies which may be utilized, circumstances under which transmission is authorized, kinds of transmissions which are authorized and any other provisions necessary or desirable to prevent abuse or overloading of department frequencies by the organizations. Each organization shall agree in writing to comply and shall comply with all such rules and regulations, including all amendments thereto. (Code 1968, § 34-133; Ord. No. 81-2514, § 1, 12-22-81)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 34-154 Same—Approval; recision of approval.

Sec. 34-154. - Same—Approval; recision of approval. Upon approval by the chief of police as provided in section 34-153 of this Code, the organization shall have access to the radio frequency or frequencies designated in the rules and regulations of the department for transmission and reception purposes in accordance therewith. The chief of police may suspend or revoke any such approval and the organization's guard company shall discontinue use of the department's radio frequencies and surrender the equipment upon a finding by the chief of police that the organization or its guard company: (1) Is no longer qualified under section 34-152 of this Code; or (2) Has failed to substantially comply with the rules and regulations of the department; or (3) By its use of the department's radio frequencies impairs or overloads the proper operation of the department's radio communication system. (Code 1968, § 34-134; Ord. No. 81-2514, § 1, 12-22-81)

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_CH34POFIPR_ARTVSUSEORFetched: 10/26/2026