TRAILERS, TRAILER PARKS AND TOURIST CAMPS

Dallas City Code ch. 47

in effect

Dallas City Code § 47-1 DEFINITIONS.

SEC. 47-1. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) COTTAGE UNIT means any fixed building or structure or part thereof located in a tourist court, licensed tourist camp or house trailer park as defined in this section and used as sleeping quarters or temporary dwelling by one or more persons living together as one family. (2) DEPENDENT HOUSE TRAILER means a trailer which does not have sewer and water connections to accommodate a flush water closet, a tub or shower and a lavatory or sink within the unit. (3) DIRECTOR means the director of the department designated by the city manager to enforce and administer this chapter, or the director’s authorized representative. (4) HOUSE TRAILER means a vehicle used or intended to be used as a conveyance upon the public streets or highways, and duly licensed as such, and shall include self-propelled and non-self-propelled vehicles so designed, constructed, reconstructed or added to by means of accessories in such manner as will permit the occupancy thereof as a temporary dwelling or sleeping place for one or more persons, and having no foundation other than wheels, jacks or skirtings so arranged as to be integral to or portable by the house trailer. (5) HOUSE TRAILER PARK means a lot, tract or parcel of land used in whole or in part and divided into unit plots for the parking of house trailers or mobile homes which are used by persons for temporary or permanent dwelling places. Where cottages and facilities for house trailers or mobile homes are provided at one site, the whole shall also be known as a house trailer park. (6) INDEPENDENT HOUSE TRAILER means a trailer which has approved sewer and water connections to accommodate and containing a flush water closet and a tub or shower and a lavatory or sink within the unit. (7) MASTER METER means a meter used to measure for billing purposes electric, gas and water consumption of a tourist court, tourist camp, or house trailer park, including common areas, common facilities and unit plots. (8) MOBILE HOME means a structure transportable in one or more sections, which is eight body feet or more in width and is 32 body feet or more in length, and which is built on a permanent chassis and designated to be used as a dwelling with or without a permanent foundation when connected to the required utilities, and includes the plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and electrical systems contained therein. (9) OWNER OR MANAGER means any person or society who has the control, direction, maintenance or supervision of a tourist court, tourist camp or house trailer park. Executors, administrators, guardians, conservators or trustees shall also be regarded as owner. (10) SUBMETERING means unit plot metering performed by the owner or manager of the tourist court, tourist camp or house trailer park. (11) TOURIST CAMP means a lot, tract, or parcel of land used in whole or in part for the accommodation of transients by day or week, or for a longer period of time with or without compensation and where parking facilities are provided for automobiles and accommodations are provided where transients may pitch their own tents, to be used for temporary dwellings. Where such facilities are provided in connection with house trailers or cottage units at one site, the whole shall be known as a tourist camp. (12) TOURIST COURT means a lot, tract or parcel of land upon which one or more cottages are located and maintained for the accommodation of transients by the day or week, or for a longer period of time, with or without compensation. (13) UNIT PLOT means an area of land for a cottage and parking space in a tourist court, a tent and parking space in a tourist camp, or a house trailer and parking space in a house trailer park. (14) UTILITY COMPANY means the company or municipal service authorized to provide electric, gas or water service. (Ord. Nos. 5424; 15147; 16130; 19312)

Dallas City Code § 47-2 PURPOSE OF CHAPTER.

SEC. 47-2. PURPOSE OF CHAPTER. The purpose and intent of this chapter is to: (a) Provide certain minimum standards, provisions and requirements for safe, sanitary, and suitable methods of construction and operation of house trailer parks, tourist courts, and tourist camps. (b) Assure that house trailer parks, tourist courts and tourist camps shall not become a menace to public health, morals, safety or welfare. (Ord. 4720)

Dallas City Code § 47-3 SCOPE OF CHAPTER.

SEC. 47-3. SCOPE OF CHAPTER. New buildings and structures and new additions to existing buildings and structures hereafter constructed or erected in the city for or in conjunction with tourist courts, tourist camps and house trailer parks shall conform to the requirements of the Building Code and zoning regulations, and in addition, shall conform to the requirements of this chapter. All tourist courts, tourist camps and house trailer parks now existing or hereafter constructed or laid out within the city shall conform to or be made to conform to the requirements of this chapter. (Ord. 4720)

Dallas City Code § 47-4 BUILDING PERMIT - REQUIRED.

SEC. 47-4. BUILDING PERMIT - REQUIRED. No person shall erect or construct or proceed with the erection or construction of any building or structure, nor add to, enlarge, move, improve, alter, repair, convert, extend or demolish any building or structure or any part thereof or install any plumbing, electrical or mechanical equipment as part of a building or structure, or make any other improvement in any building or structure or cause the same to be done within a tourist court, tourist camp or house trailer park as defined in Section 47-1 without first obtaining a building permit therefor from the building inspector. (Ord. 4720)

Dallas City Code § 47-5 SAME - APPLICATION.

SEC. 47-5. SAME - APPLICATION. Application for a building permit shall be filed with the building inspector in writing on a form to be furnished for that purpose. (Ord. 5424)

Dallas City Code § 47-6 SAME - BUILDING INSPECTOR TO APPROVE PLANS.

SEC. 47-6. SAME - BUILDING INSPECTOR TO APPROVE PLANS. Every application for a building permit shall be accompanied by two copies of plans and specifications and a camp plan or site plot plan showing the unit plots the tourist court, tourist camp or house trailer park will consist of, together with the unit plots which will be set aside for exclusive use of independent house trailers, the location of the proposed buildings to be erected and all existing buildings, if any, on the property or premises. The camp plan or site plot plan shall also clearly indicate all streets, roads, drives, property lines, administrative buildings, toilet buildings, plumbing connections for independent house trailers, accessory buildings and fences, together with the necessary space for parking passenger vehicles. Before proceeding with the actual work of constructing the tourist court, tourist camp or house trailer park, the applicant shall have such plans approved by the building inspector. Such plans shall be drawn to scale upon either substantial, clean, colorless paper, or shall be good blueprints. All the essential parts shall be drawn to a scale of not less than one-eighth inch to one foot. Plans and specifications shall be of sufficient clarity to indicate the nature and character of the work proposed. (Ord. 5424)

Dallas City Code § 47-7 through 47-10 RESERVED. (Repealed by Ord. 15147)

Dallas City Code § 47-11 LOCATION OF COURT, CAMP OR PARK.

SEC. 47-11. LOCATION OF COURT, CAMP OR PARK. All land used as a tourist court, tourist camp or house trailer park shall be located on a well-drained site of amply size and in an area zoned for such use. (Ord. 4720)

Dallas City Code § 47-12 REQUIREMENTS FOR EACH UNIT PLOT GENERALLY.

SEC. 47-12. REQUIREMENTS FOR EACH UNIT PLOT GENERALLY. A unit plot in a tourist court shall not contain more than one cottage unit, but each cottage unit may have attached to it a roof or enclosure to provide cover for one automotive vehicle. Each cottage unit shall have not less than one bedroom space and each bedroom space shall be not less than nine feet by 12 feet in size. Each cottage unit shall have hot and cold running water together with one lavatory or one sink within the unit and shall have accessible thereto in the same building one water closet and one tub or shower bath. Ceilings in cottages shall be not less than eight feet high and each cottage room shall be provided with light and ventilation by means of windows with an area of not less than one-eighth of the floor area. Window and door openings shall be fully screened with screen wire which shall be not less than 16 mesh per inch. Inside walls and ceilings shall be covered with incombustible material, and, together with floors and fixtures, shall be constructed in a manner that will minimize the breeding and harboring of vermin. Heating and cooking facilities shall be provided with asbestos board or metal backing or shields where required by the Fire Code. Each cottage unit shall adjoin a road or driveway and shall not be closer to any other cottage unit or building than 10 feet, unless satisfactory and acceptable fire separations are constructed between units as required by the Building Code. Hotels, lodginghouses or administrative buildings when a part of a tourist court, tourist camp, or house trailer park shall conform to the requirements of the Building Code relating to the respective occupancy. Each unit plot for the accommodation of one house trailer and automotive vehicle or for the accommodation of one tent and automotive vehicle shall be not less than 900 square feet in size, which space shall be at least 25 feet wide and shall adjoin a road or driveway. Each such unit plot shall be clearly defined on the ground by proper permanent markers at each corner. The use of tents or trailers provided by the management at a tourist camp or house trailer park to create what is commonly called a tent city or trailer city is hereby declared to be unlawful as it is the intent of this chapter to provide sanitary and safe accommodations for persons who are considered transients to use tents or trailers owned by themselves as temporary dwellings. Toilet buildings shall be provided at all tourist camps and house trailer parks hereafter constructed or enlarged. All existing tourist courts, tourist camps and house trailer parks in newly annexed areas not having upon annexation the toilet facilities required by this chapter shall provide same within 24 months after annexation. No cottage or tent shall be erected or placed closer than five feet from any adjacent property line. House trailers shall be so harbored on each unit plot that there shall be at least a 15 foot clearance between house trailers. No house trailer shall be located closer than 10 feet from any property line bounding the park. No building, structure, cottage, tent or house trailer shall be located nearer a public street than the building line as provided in the zoning ordinance for the use district in which the premises are located. In no case shall such structures be set closer than 15 feet to the front property line be closer than 10 feet from any side street property line. The premises shall be surrounded by a suitable fence which is constructed in accordance with the Building Code and having openings only for necessary entrance and exit facilities. Well-drained driveways which are passable with motor vehicles during inclement weather shall be provided in each court or park. These driveways shall not be less than 18 feet in width, and well marked in daytime, and lighted at night, and so located that each unit of the court or park is easily accessible. Lateral or branch driveways less than 50 feet in length may be not less than 10 feet in width. All entrances and exits from the premises shall be well marked and shall be located and so arranged that they are easily controlled and easily supervised. (Ord. 5424)

Dallas City Code § 47-13 TOILET BUILDINGS GENERALLY.

SEC. 47-13. TOILET BUILDINGS GENERALLY. Each tourist camp or house trailer park shall be provided with a toilet building for each sex, each of which toilet buildings shall be located not more than 200 feet from any unit plot. The toilet buildings shall be roofed and shall be provided with light and ventilation by means of windows with an area of not less than one-eighth of the floor area of the room which they serve. The openings shall be screened with mesh not less than 16 per inch. The toilet buildings shall be provided with artificial lights having an intensity of not less than 10 foot candles which lights shall be kept burning all time at night. The toilet buildings shall have floors and side walls to a height of six inches of concrete or other impervious material. Each of such buildings shall have the following facilities as a minimum: (a) One slop sink. (b) One floor drain. (c) Hot and cold running water. (d) One laundry tray for each 15 unit plots shall be provided in a separate compartment from the water closets and lavatories. Automatic washing machines may be substituted for each laundry tray required in excess of one. In addition to the above-mentioned facilities, the toilet building for males shall contain the following minimum facilities based upon the number of unit plots set aside for use by either tents or house trailers: (a) One flush water closet for every 15 unit plots or fraction thereof. (b) One urinal for every 15 unit plots or fraction thereof. (c) One lavatory or wash basin for every 10 unit plots or fraction thereof. (d) One shower bath for every 10 unit plots or fraction thereof. Each toilet building for females shall have the following facilities based on the unit plots set aside for use by either tents or house trailers: (a) One flush water closet for every 10 unit plots or fraction thereof. (b) One lavatory or wash basin for every 10 unit plots or fraction thereof. (c) One shower bath for every 10 unit plots or fraction thereof. All plumbing installation shall comply with the Plumbing Code, this Code and other health ordinances of the city. (Ord. 5424)

Dallas City Code § 47-14 UNIT PLOTS OCCUPIED BY INDEPENDENT TRAILERS.

SEC. 47-14. UNIT PLOTS OCCUPIED BY INDEPENDENT TRAILERS. Unit plots occupied by independent trailers that have a minimum of one flush water closet, one tub or shower, and one sink or lavatory integral within the unit and connected to the public sewer through an approved sewer connection or otherwise to an adequate septic tank constructed in accordance with the requirements of the department of code compliance and provided with an ample and adequate supply of water of safe, potable quality approved by the health officer, and when such unit plot is set aside as provided in Section 47-5 for exclusive use of such trailer, the unit plot may be disregarded in the counting of the unit plots for determining required sanitary facilities for the purposes of this section. (Ord. Nos. 5424; 22026; 27697)

Dallas City Code § 47-15 SANITARY FACILITIES FOR DEPENDENT TRAILERS.

SEC. 47-15. SANITARY FACILITIES FOR DEPENDENT TRAILERS. It is hereby declared to be unlawful to locate a dependent trailer upon a unit plot unless the sanitary facilities as required in Section 47-13 are sufficient to accommodate such dependent trailer. (Ord. 5424)

Dallas City Code § 47-16 WATER SUPPLY.

SEC. 47-16. WATER SUPPLY. Each site used as a tourist court, tourist camp or house trailer park shall be supplied with water from city water lines if such line is within 150 feet of the site. Otherwise, each site shall be provided with an ample and adequate supply of water of safe, potable quality approved by the health officer. Water supply faucets shall be located not more than 100 feet from any camping space. Each cottage unit shall be supplied with running water. (Ord. 4720)

Dallas City Code § 47-17 WASTE DISPOSAL.

SEC. 47-17. WASTE DISPOSAL. (a) All waste water from tourist courts, tourist camps, and house trailer parks must be wasted into a public sewer through an approved sewer connection where within 150 feet of a public sewer, or otherwise to an adequate septic tank constructed in accordance with the requirements of the department of code compliance. (b) All garbage must be placed into garbage cans with tops, and waste paper must be placed in suitable containers. (c) A person commits an offense if he permits garbage, waste water, or material from sinks, showers, or other fixtures or utensils in house trailers or tents to be disposed of on any street or premises or in any other manner except as provided in this section. (Ord. Nos. 4720; 22026; 27697)

Dallas City Code § 47-18 CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.

SEC. 47-18. CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY. No building, cottage or house trailer or tent site or other permanent structure within the meaning and scope of this chapter shall be occupied in any part thereof unless or until a certificate of occupancy for the respective tourist court, tourist camp or house trailer park has been issued by the building inspector. An application for the certificate of occupancy shall be filed by the owner or by his agent with the building inspector who shall cause an inspection to be made to determine whether the premises comply with the requirements of this chapter. Upon the incorporation of any area to the city, any person maintaining or operating a tourist court, tourist camp or house trailer park in such area shall immediately make application as provided in this section for a certificate of occupancy to continue the operation of such tourist court, tourist camp or house trailer park. (Ord. 4720)

Dallas City Code § 47-19 PARKING HOUSE TRAILER IN CITY.

SEC. 47-19. PARKING HOUSE TRAILER IN CITY. It shall be unlawful to park or place any house trailer being used for human occupancy on any street, lot, tract or parcel of land in the city fora period longer than four hours except in a licensed tourist camp or house trailer park, as provided for in this chapter. (Ord. 4720)

Dallas City Code § 47-20 RECORDS TO BE KEPT - INSPECTION.

SEC. 47-20. RECORDS TO BE KEPT - INSPECTION. Each tourist court, tourist camp, or house trailer park must have on the site an office in which copies of all records pertaining to the management and supervision of the premises must be kept. Such records must always be available for inspection by any member of the state and county law enforcement agencies, the police department, the department of code compliance, the building official, the fire marshal, and other agents of the city authorized to inspect. (Ord. Nos. 4720; 22026; 27697)

Dallas City Code § 47-21 SAME - REGISTRATION OF GUESTS.

SEC. 47-21. SAME - REGISTRATION OF GUESTS. It shall be the duty of the owner of each tourist court, tourist camp or house trailer park to keep a register of all persons furnished accommodations. Such register shall include the names of all persons furnished accommodations, the permanent home addresses, the license number and make of their automobiles and trailers, and the duration of their stay. (Ord. 4720)

Dallas City Code § 47-22 FIRE REGULATIONS.

SEC. 47-22. FIRE REGULATIONS. Campfires shall not be permitted. The use and handling of gasoline or flammable liquids shall conform to the requirements of the Fire Code. An adequate fire extinguisher shall be provided for each 10 unit plots or fraction thereof. (Ord. 4720)

Dallas City Code § 47-23 ONE FAMILY TO USE ONE UNIT PLOT.

SEC. 47-23. ONE FAMILY TO USE ONE UNIT PLOT. It shall be unlawful to use any unit plot for more than one family concurrently. (Ord. 4720)

Dallas City Code § 47-24 UTILITIES.

SEC. 47-24. UTILITIES. (a) If a tourist court, tourist camp, or house trailer park provides utility service through a master meter, the master meter must be in the name of the person to whom a certificate of occupancy is issued under this chapter. (b) A tourist court or tourist camp may provide utility submeters to unit plots. A house trailer park may provide submeters or individual metering by the utility companies to unit plots. (c) Where the owner or manager of a tourist court, tourist camp, or house trailer park provides submeters to the unit plots, the submeter or submeters shall comply with the standards of accuracy required by law for the master meter. (d) The owner or manager of a house trailer park that receives utility service through a master meter shall bill tenants for the utility service in accordance with one of the following methods: (1) rent the unit plots on a ‘bills paid’ basis and collect for utilities through the rent; (2) charge separately for utility services and allocate the charges in a fair and reasonable manner among all unit plots in the park occupied during the billing period; or (3) if submeters are used, charge to each occupied unit plot based on its submeter reading an amount that does not exceed the residential rate for that utility service then in effect in the city. (e) A house trailer park is not required to bill all utility services under the same method but may bill each utility under a different method. (f) If a house trailer park charges separately for utility services and allocates the charges as provided in Subsection (d)(2), then the owner or manager of the house trailer park must comply with the following requirements: (1) The house trailer park must allocate either by use of submeters or based on the size of the house trailer or mobile home and the utility consuming devices it contains. (2) The house trailer park must apply the allocation to all unit plots occupied by tenants during the billing period. (3) The house trailer park may include in its allocation utilities consumed in the common areas of the park related to the park operation, including, but not limited to swimming pools, wash rooms, and outdoor lighting. (4) The owner or manager of a house trailer park shall not charge to its tenants an aggregate amount for a utility service that exceeds the amount that the park is billed for that utility service. (5) The owner or manager of a house trailer park that inadvertently bills an overcollection shall adjust the collections to compensate the tenants for that overcollection within 90 days from the date the overcollection was billed. (g) If a house trailer park charges separately for utility services based on an amount not exceeding the current residential rate as provided in Subsection (d)(3), then the owner or manager of the house trailer park must provide the same services to its tenants that are required of retail utility companies, including, but not limited to meter testing and investigation of complaints. (h) The director shall enforce this section and may by written order, after a public hearing, establish such rules or regulations, not inconsistent with this section, as he determines are necessary to effect the policy of this section. (i) The owner or manager of a house trailer park shall keep accurate records that demonstrate compliance with this section and shall make the records available to the director upon request. (Ord. Nos. 7772; 15147; 16130; 17226; 19312)

Source: City of Dallas, Dallas City Code and City Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/dallas/latest/dallas_tx/0-0-0-122744Fetched: 10/26/2026