VALET ZONES

Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 26, art. VII, div. 4

in effect

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-441 Designation of valet zones.

Sec. 26-441. - Designation of valet zones. (a) The owner or tenant of one or more commercial establishments located on a blockface may apply to the parking official for designation of a valet zone. (b) In carrying out the functions assigned by this division, the parking official shall consult with and obtain the concurrence of the traffic engineer. (Ord. No. 07-1111, § 2(Exh. A), 10-3-07)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-442 Characteristics of a valet zone.

Sec. 26-442. - Characteristics of a valet zone. (a) A valet zone shall be located in the curbside lane of a roadway or, under certain conditions, in the portion of a roadway adjacent to a curbside that provides angled or parallel parking. (b) A valet zone shall include not more than three parallel parking spaces, unless, under certain conditions, the traffic engineer approves the use of more spaces; provided, however, for a major event venue, a valet zone may include up to nine parallel parking spaces per blockface. (c) A valet zone may be utilized for valet parking service only during the days and times authorized by the parking official in the valet zone designation. (Ord. No. 07-1111, § 2(Exh. A), 10-3-07)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-443 Application.

Sec. 26-443. - Application. (a) Application for a valet zone designation shall be made upon a form promulgated by the director, shall be accompanied by the nonrefundable application fee stated for this provision in the city fee schedule, and shall include, at a minimum, the following: (1) The name, address and phone number of the applicant; (2) The name and location of each commercial establishment to be served by a valet parking service in the requested valet zone, and the name, address and telephone number of the owner or tenant of each commercial establishment; (3) The days and hours during which the valet zone will be utilized for valet parking service. (4) A copy of the valet parking service permit held by the valet parking operator who will provide valet parking service for the applicant; (5) A copy of the applicant's valet parking plan, including: a. A traffic flow plan, including a map, describing the route(s) that vehicles will be driven between the proposed valet zone and the valet parking storage location; b. Information about the valet parking storage location, i.e.: [1] Within the central business district, a copy of the contract or agreement to allow the valet parking operator to use an off-street parking facility to store vehicles, including the name and address of the off-street parking facility; or [2] Outside the central business district, a copy of the contract or agreement to allow the valet parking operator to use an off-street parking facility, if applicable, and, if any vehicles will be stored on the roadway, a description of the area the valet parking operator will use to store vehicles, including names of streets, block designations, and an indication whether both sides of the block are intended to be used; and c. A description of the applicant's plan for making safe and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities who wish to utilize valet parking services at the proposed valet zone; and (6) Any other information reasonably required by the parking official to make any determination required under this division. (b) The parking official initially shall review each application for completeness. If the parking official determines that the application is incomplete, he shall return the application with written notice of the deficiencies. (c) If the parking official determines that the application is complete, the application shall be acted upon as further provided in this article following provision of notice of the application by furnishing of a written notice by regular mail to the owners of property within 200 feet of the valet zone designation at the name and address as indicated by the most recent appraisal district records. The parking official may provide the notice, but require the applicant to pay the costs of providing notice. The notice shall be in a form prescribed by the parking official and shall contain the street address of the proposed valet zone designation, the name of the commercial establishment making the application, a city office, city telephone number and city e-mail address that interested persons may call or contact by e-mail to obtain further information or to provide input regarding the impact of the proposed valet zone designation. Input received by the parking official within ten business days after the date of the notice will be considered by the parking official and the traffic engineer in reviewing the application. (Ord. No. 07-1111, § 2(Exh. A), 10-3-07; Ord. No. 2010-1016, § 2, 12-15-2010; Ord. No. 2011-1168, § 13, 12-14-2011)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-444 Review and designation by traffic engineer.

Sec. 26-444. - Review and designation by traffic engineer. (a) The parking official shall immediately forward a copy of an application determined to be complete to the traffic engineer, who is hereby authorized to determine whether the location of a valet zone within the blockface and the valet operator's parking plan are feasible and consistent with sound traffic engineering and mobility practices. (b) The traffic engineer shall determine the number of on-street parking spaces required for each valet zone, which shall not exceed the equivalent of three parallel parking spaces, or for a valet zone serving a major event venue, the equivalent of nine parallel parking spaces; provided that the traffic engineer may authorize the use of additional spaces by a hotel when he determines that traffic conditions and hotel operations warrant. (c) The traffic engineer may authorize more than one valet zone on a blockface only upon determining that special conditions exist relating to the configuration of the blockface or to the land uses located on the blockface and that the operation of more than one valet zone will not adversely affect vehicular and pedestrian traffic. (d) As a condition of designating or renewing designation of a valet zone, the parking official and the traffic engineer may require holders of and applicants for valet zone designations to cooperate with each other where more than one commercial establishment located on a blockface desires designation of a valet zone. (e) The traffic engineer shall review and approve or disapprove the proposed valet zone and parking plan. If the traffic engineer disapproves the valet zone or valet parking plan, he shall return the application to the parking official with notice of the reasons for his disapproval. (f) If the traffic engineer determines that a valet zone and the valet parking plan are feasible and consistent with sound traffic engineering and mobility practices, he shall submit his determination and designation to the parking official. (Ord. No. 07-1111, § 2(Exh. A), 10-3-07)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-445 Approval or denial.

Sec. 26-445. - Approval or denial. Based upon the traffic engineer's determination, the parking official shall approve or disapprove the application for a valet zone designation and provide written notice to the applicant. If the parking official disapproves the application, he shall advise the applicant of the reasons for the denial. The applicant, upon written request, shall be afforded an opportunity for a hearing regarding the denial before a hearing officer appointed by the director for that purpose. The determination of the hearing officer shall be final. (Ord. No. 07-1111, § 2(Exh. A), 10-3-07)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-446 Fees; term; renewal.

Sec. 26-446. - Fees; term; renewal. Each approved valet zone shall be designated for a period of one year and shall require payment to the director of the annual fee stated for this provision in the city fee schedule, plus a one-time fee to cover the city's actual cost of making and installing signage designating the valet zone. A valet zone designation may be renewed by filing an application pursuant to section 26-443 of this Code at least 30 days prior to the expiration of the zone designation. A valet zone designation renewal application shall be reviewed and approved or denied pursuant to section 26-445 of this Code. (Ord. No. 07-1111, § 2(Exh. A), 10-3-07; Ord. No. 2011-1168, § 13, 12-14-2011)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-447 Signage.

Sec. 26-447. - Signage. (a) Upon the traffic engineer's receipt of the one-time fee to cover the city's actual cost of making and installing the signage for an approved designation of a valet zone, he shall place and maintain appropriate signs indicating the same and stating the days and hours during which the valet zone is authorized to operate. The parking official is hereby authorized to install, maintain, and remove signs with the approval of the traffic engineer. (b) For valet zones operating at commercial event venues where valet operations are provided for events when scheduled but not during regularly-fixed days and times, the traffic engineer shall place and maintain appropriate flip signage. Such flip signage shall be designed so that the signage may be manipulated to display an indication either that the valet parking service zone is in operation or that public parking is available in the zone. The signage indicating a valet zone shall be displayed not more than two hours prior to a scheduled event and while the zone is in operation for a scheduled event. At all other times the signage shall indicate that the public may park in the zone, subject to any other parking restrictions applicable to such zone. (Ord. No. 07-1111, § 2(Exh. A), 10-3-07; Ord. No. 2011-1168, § 13, 12-14-2011)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-448 Transfer; notice and approval of changes.

Sec. 26-448. - Transfer; notice and approval of changes. (a) Any transfer of a zone designation to another owner or tenant of one or more commercial establishments shall be subject to an application to be filed in the same manner as under section 26-443 of this Code along with the transfer application review fee stated for this provision in the city fee schedule. Such transfer shall only be authorized to the extent that the applicant is qualified under this division. The director may authorize the parking official to utilize modified application forms and procedures when the location and parking plan will remain unchanged. The parking official may authorize the applicant to operate in the valet zone on a temporary basis pending his determination if, based upon an initial review of the application, it appears that the applicant will be qualified. If the application is denied, the applicant must cease to utilize the designated valet zone, which shall terminate on the 30th day following notice of denial and any appeal therefrom, unless the applicant comes into compliance with this article. (b) The holder of a valet zone designation shall notify the parking official not less than ten days prior to any proposed change in times/days of operation of the valet zone, any change of valet parking service operator, or any changes in the parking plan in a designated valet zone. After receipt of such notification and the fee stated for this provision in the city fee schedule, the parking official, in consultation with the traffic engineer, will review and approve or disapprove the proposed changes and notify the holder of his decision. The parking official shall provide signage to reflect approved changes in times/days of operation. (Ord. No. 07-1111, § 2(Exh. A), 10-3-07; Ord. No. 2011-1168, § 13, 12-14-2011)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-449 Temporary valet zones.

Sec. 26-449. - Temporary valet zones. (a) An application for a temporary valet zone designation shall be submitted to the parking official not later than seven business days prior to the desired effective date of the zone designation. Upon receipt of an application for a temporary valet zone designation the owner or tenant of one or more commercial establishments located on a blockface containing the information required in section 26-443 of this Code and the fee stated for this provision in the city fee schedule, the parking official, in consultation with the traffic engineer, may establish a temporary valet zone upon a determination: (1) By the parking official that the valet parking service will be provided by a valet parking operator permitted to operate in accordance with division 3 of this article; and (2) By the traffic engineer that the temporary valet zone designation is feasible and consistent with sound traffic engineering and mobility practices and the parking of vehicles pursuant to the valet parking plan will not create a public safety hazard. (b) The temporary valet zone designation shall allow the operation of valet parking service during specified hours and days for up to a 14-day period. Upon approval of the temporary valet zone designation, the parking official shall provide a temporary valet zone designation certificate, which shall indicate the authorized days and hours of operation, and appropriate nonpermanent signage to the applicant, who shall be responsible for placing the signage in the locations determined by the traffic engineer. (c) The owner or tenant of one or more commercial establishments may receive designation of a temporary valet zone up to six times in a 12-month period, provided that for a major event venue, the owner or tenant may receive designation of a temporary valet zone up to 20 times in a 12-month period. (Ord. No. 07-1111, § 2(Exh. A), 10-3-07; Ord. No. 2010-1016, § 2, 12-15-2010; Ord. No. 2011-1168, § 13, 12-14-2011)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-450 Special events.

Sec. 26-450. - Special events. A valet parking operator shall notify the parking official not later than 48 hours before a special event that it will provide valet parking services for the special event and provide the following information: (1) The name, address and telephone number of the valet parking operator; (2) The address of the establishment or residence to be served; (3) The days and times of operation; (4) The locations, including street names and block designations, where the valet parking operator will store vehicles, and a description of the portions of the roadway, if any, to be utilized for pick-up and drop-off of vehicles. (Ord. No. 07-1111, § 2(Exh. A), 10-3-07)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-451 Suspension of valet zone designation.

Sec. 26-451. - Suspension of valet zone designation. (a) Each valet zone is subject to temporary or permanent suspension by the director upon the traffic engineer's determination that the continued operation of the valet zone will interfere with the safe and efficient flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic, without refund of any portion of the annual fee. (b) A temporary suspension shall specify the number of days that the valet zone operation is suspended. The holder of a valet zone designation, upon written request made within ten days of receipt of the notice of the suspension, shall be afforded an opportunity for a hearing before a hearing officer appointed by the director regarding the permanent suspension of a valet zone or the temporary suspension of a valet zone of more than seven days. The hearing officer's determination shall be final. (Ord. No. 07-1111, § 2(Exh. A), 10-3-07)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-452 Revocation of valet zone designation.

Sec. 26-452. - Revocation of valet zone designation. (a) A valet zone designation may be revoked without refund of any portion of the annual and signage fees if the director determines that: (1) A violation of any condition of the valet zone designation exists; (2) The holder of a valet zone designation has failed to regularly provide or maintain valet parking service during any day or time period designated on the signs posted in the valet zone; (3) The holder of a valet zone designation or the valet parking service permittee has allowed or provided valet parking service on days or times other than those authorized in the valet zone designation; (4) The holder of a valet zone designation has failed to renew the designation in accordance with section 26-446 of this Code; (5) The valet parking service permittee has failed to operate in accordance with the parking plan for the associated valet zone designation; or (6) The valet parking service permittee has failed to operate in accordance with the requirements for operating a valet parking service as set forth in division 3 of this article. (b) Notice of a revocation shall be provided to the holder of a valet zone designation by depositing the same in the United States Mail, first class, certified, return receipt requested, addressed to the address of the holder shown in the valet zone application. The notice shall set forth the alleged grounds for the revocation and the opportunity to request a hearing regarding the revocation. (c) If the holder of the valet zone designation wishes to request a hearing, such request must be made in writing and provided to the director within 20 days of the date of the director's notice of revocation. Pending the hearing, the director may suspend the valet zone designation pursuant to section 26-451(a). At the hearing, the burden of demonstrating that a valet zone designation should be revoked shall be upon the city. The holder of the valet zone designation may also present evidence and cross examine witnesses. The hearing shall be conducted by a hearing officer appointed by the director, who shall revoke the permit if he determines by a preponderance of the evidence that grounds exist for revocation. The decision of the hearing officer to revoke a permit shall be made in writing and shall set forth the grounds therefor. The hearing officer's determination shall be final. (Ord. No. 07-1111, § 2(Exh. A), 10-3-07)

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_CH26PA_ARTVIIVAPASE_DIV4VAZOFetched: 10/26/2026