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GENERAL PROVISIONS

Fort Worth City Code ch. 1
in effect

Fort Worth City Code § 1-1 HOW CODE DESIGNATED AND CITED.

§ 1-1 HOW CODE DESIGNATED AND CITED. The ordinances embraced in this and the following chapters and sections shall constitute and be designated the “Code of the City of Fort Worth, Texas,” and may be so cited. Such code may also be cited as “Fort Worth City Code.” (1964 Code, § 1-1) Charter reference: Council to provide for periodic revision and publication of ordinances, see Ch. XXV, § 5 Statutory reference: Provisions of Home Rule Act as to codification of ordinances, Texas Local Government Code Ch. 53; provisions of state law in regard to admission of printed codes in evidence, see Texas Local Government Code § 53.006

Fort Worth City Code § 1-2 RULES OF CONSTRUCTION AND DEFINITIONS.

§ 1-2 RULES OF CONSTRUCTION AND DEFINITIONS. In the construction of this code, and of all ordinances and resolutions passed by the city council, the following rules shall be observed, unless such construction would be inconsistent with the manifest intent of the council. CITIZEN. Unless otherwise defined, a citizen shall be a person who resides within the city limits of Fort Worth. CITY. The words “the city” or “this city” shall mean the City of Fort Worth, in the County of Tarrant and State of Texas. CITY SECRETARY, CHIEF OF POLICE OR OTHER OFFICERS. The words “city secretary,” “chief of police” or other city officers or departments shall be construed to mean the city secretary, chief of police or such other municipal officers or departments, respectively, of the City of Fort Worth, Texas. COMPUTATION OF TIME. In computing a period of days, the first day is excluded and the last day is included. If the last day of any period is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the period is extended to include the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday. If a number of months is to be computed by counting the months from a particular day, the period ends on the same numerical day in the concluding month as the day of the month from which the computation is begun, unless there are not that many days in the concluding month, in which case the period ends on the last day of that month. COUNCIL. Whenever the words “council” or “this council” or “the council” are used, they shall be construed to mean the city council of the City of Fort Worth, Texas. DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY. Whenever a provision appears requiring a city officer or employee to do some act or make certain inspections it is to be construed to authorize the head of the department to designate, delegate and authorize subordinates to perform the required act or make the required inspection unless the terms of the provision or section designates otherwise. GENDER. A word importing the masculine gender only shall extend and be applied to females and to firms, partnerships and corporations as well as to males. HIGHWAY. The term “highway,” when used herein, shall include any street, alley, highway, avenue or public place or square, bridges, viaducts, tunnels and causeways, in the city, dedicated or devoted to public use. Charter reference: Similar provision, see Ch. XXII, § 2 JOINT AUTHORITY. Words purporting to give authority to three or more officers or other persons shall be construed as giving such authority to a majority of such officers or other persons, unless it is otherwise declared. MONTH. The word “month” shall mean a calendar month. Statutory reference: Similar provisions, see V.T.C.A., Government Code § 312.011(7) NUMBER. Any words importing the singular number shall include the plural and any word importing the plural number shall include the singular. OATH. The word “oath” shall be construed to include an affirmation in all cases in which by law an affirmation may be substituted for an oath, and in such cases the words “swear” and “sworn” shall be equivalent to the words “affirm” and “affirmed.” Statutory reference: Similar provisions, see V.A.C.S. Art. 23(4) OR, AND. “Or” may be read “and,” and “and” may be read “or” if the sense requires it. OWNER. The word “owner,” applied to a building or land, shall include any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, tenant in partnership, joint tenant or tenant by the entirety, of the whole or of a part of such building or land. PERSON. The word “person” shall extend and be applied to associations, corporations, firms, partnerships and bodies politic and corporate as well as to individuals. The knowledge and acts of agents or employees of corporations or firms shall be held to be the knowledge and acts of such corporation or firm. Statutory reference: “Person” to include “corporation,” see V.T.C.A., Government Code § 312.011(10) PRECEDING, FOLLOWING. The words “preceding” and “following” mean next before and next after, respectively. ROADWAY. The word “roadway” shall mean that portion of a street improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular traffic. SIDEWALK. The word “sidewalk” shall mean any portion of the street between the curb, or the lateral line of the roadway and the adjacent property line, intended for the use of pedestrians. SIGNATURE or SUBSCRIPTION. The word “signature” or “subscription” shall include a mark when a person cannot write. Statutory reference: Similar provisions, see V.T.C.A., Government Code § 312.011(14); references to state statutes may be cited as follows: “V.A.C.S.,” “V.T.C.S.;” “Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann.;” “Revised Civil Statutes;” “Revised Civil Statutes of Texas.” STREET. The term “street,” when used herein, shall include any highway, alley, street, avenue or public place or square, bridges, viaducts, tunnels and causeways, in the city, dedicated or devoted to public use. Charter reference: Similar provisions, see Ch. XXII, § 2 TENSE. Words used in the past or present tense include the future as well as the past and present. WRITTEN OR IN WRITING. The words “written” or “in writing” shall be construed to include any representation of words, letters or figures, whether by printing or otherwise. YEAR. The word “year” shall mean a calendar year. Statutory reference: Similar provisions, see V.T.C.A., Government Code § 312.011(18)

Fort Worth City Code § 1-3 PROVISIONS CONSIDERED AS CONTINUATION OF EXISTING ORDINANCES.

§ 1-3 PROVISIONS CONSIDERED AS CONTINUATION OF EXISTING ORDINANCES. The provisions appearing in this and the following chapters and sections, so far as they are the same as those of ordinances existing at the time of the adoption of “The Code of the City of Fort Worth,” shall be considered as a continuation thereof and not as new enactments. (1964 Code, § 1-2)

Fort Worth City Code § 1-4 CATCHLINES OF SECTIONS.

§ 1-4 CATCHLINES OF SECTIONS. The catchlines of the several sections of this code printed in boldface type are intended as mere catchwords to indicate the contents of the section and shall not be deemed or taken to be titles of such sections, nor as any part of the section, nor, unless expressly so provided, shall they be so deemed when any of such sections, including the catchlines, are amended or reenacted. (1964 Code, § 1-3) Charter reference: Corporate seal, see Ch. II, § 1

Fort Worth City Code § 1-5 SEVERABILITY OF PARTS OF CODE.

§ 1-5 SEVERABILITY OF PARTS OF CODE. It is hereby declared to be the intention of the city council that the sections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses and phrases of this code are severable, and if any phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or section of this code shall be declared unconstitutional by the valid judgment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction, such unconstitutionality shall not affect any of the remaining phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs and sections of this code, since the same would have been enacted by the city council without the incorporation in this code of any such unconstitutional phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or section. (1964 Code, § 1-4)

Fort Worth City Code § 1-6 GENERAL PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS OF CODE; CONTINUING VIOLATIONS.

§ 1-6 GENERAL PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS OF CODE; CONTINUING VIOLATIONS. (a) Whenever in this code or in any ordinance of the city an act is prohibited or is made or declared to be unlawful or an offense or a misdemeanor, or whenever in this code or such ordinance the doing of any act is required or the failure to do any act is declared to be unlawful, and no specific penalty is provided therefor, the violation of any such provision of this code or any such ordinance shall be punished by a fine. (b) A fine or penalty for the violation of a rule, ordinance or police regulation that governs fire safety, zoning or public health and sanitation, including the dumping of refuse, may not exceed $2,000, nor exceed $500 for all other violations. (c) Unless otherwise specifically stated in this code, any violation of this code or of any ordinance that is punishable by a fine that does not exceed $500 does not require a culpable mental state, and a culpable mental state is hereby not required to prove any such offense. Unless otherwise specifically stated in this code, any violation of this code or of any ordinance that is punishable by a fine that exceeds $500 shall require a culpable mental state as specified by Tex. Penal Code § 6.02(c). (d) If the amount of any penalty imposed by this code or in any ordinance conflicts with a penalty amount specified by state law, the penalty amount specified by state law shall govern. (e) Unless otherwise stated in this code or in any ordinance, each day any violation of this code or of any ordinance shall continue shall constitute a separate offense. (1964 Code, § 1-5) (Ord. 10423, § 1, passed 10-31-1989; Ord. 23569-02-2019, § 1, passed 2-12-2019, eff. 2-23-2019) Cross-reference: Courts, see Ch. 10 Motor vehicles and traffic, see Ch. 22 Offenses and miscellaneous provisions, see Ch. 23 Police, Ch. 27 Statutory reference: Penalty for ordinance violations, see V.T.C.A., Government Code § 29.003

Fort Worth City Code § 1-7 ORDINANCES - AMENDMENTS OR ADDITIONS TO CODE.

§ 1-7 ORDINANCES - AMENDMENTS OR ADDITIONS TO CODE. All ordinances of a general and permanent nature, and amendments to such ordinances, hereinafter enacted or presented to the city council for enactment, shall be drafted, so far as possible, as specific amendments of, or additions to, this code. Amendments to this code shall be made by reference to the chapter and section of the code which is to be amended, and additions shall bear an appropriate designation of chapter and section. (1964 Code, § 1-7) Charter reference: Charter provision as to ordinances, resolutions, etc., generally, see Ch. XXV, §§ 1 to 7 Charter provision providing that the ayes and noes shall be taken upon the passage of all ordinances or resolutions and entered upon the minutes of the proceedings of the council and requiring a majority vote for final passage, see Ch. III, § 5

Fort Worth City Code § 1-8 SAME - RECORDING; ORDINANCE BOOKS AS EVIDENCE.

§ 1-8 SAME - RECORDING; ORDINANCE BOOKS AS EVIDENCE. All ordinances adopted or passed by the city council shall be inscribed at large by the city secretary, not only in the minutes of the council, but also in a special book to be kept for that purpose by the city secretary, and wherein at the foot of each ordinance so inscribed the city secretary shall make a note stating the time of the adoption of such ordinance. Such book of ordinances and all copies and extracts therefrom shall be evidence of the tenor and contents of the ordinances therein inscribed, as well of such as have been heretofore or as may be hereafter therein so inscribed. (1964 Code, § 1-8) Statutory reference: Provisions of state law in regard to admission of printed codes in evidence, see Tex. Local Government Code § 53.006

Fort Worth City Code § 1-9 PROSECUTION NOT REQUIRED TO NEGATIVE EXCEPTIONS.

§ 1-9 PROSECUTION NOT REQUIRED TO NEGATIVE EXCEPTIONS. In any prosecution for any violation of this code, it shall not be necessary for the prosecution to negative any provisions of exception, but the same may be raised by the defendant by way of defense. (1964 Code, § 1-9)

Fort Worth City Code § 1-10 CITY EXEMPT FROM POSTING BOND.

§ 1-10 CITY EXEMPT FROM POSTING BOND. It shall not be necessary in any action, suit or proceeding in which the city shall be a party, for any bond, undertaking or security to be executed in behalf of the city; but all such actions, suits and proceedings shall be conducted in the same manner as if such bond, undertaking or security had been given. (1964 Code, § 1-10) (Ord. 7198, § 1, passed 7-21-1975)

Fort Worth City Code § 1-11 RESERVED.

§ 1-11 RESERVED. Editor’s note: Section 1(A) of Ord. 11592, adopted June 6, 1994, repealed § 1-11 in its entirety. Formerly, § 1-11 pertained to state of emergency and derived from § 1-11 of the 1964 Code and § 1 of Ord. 8023, adopted December 27, 1979. For current provisions regarding emergency management, see Ch. 11.5 of this code.

Fort Worth City Code § 1-11.1 STANDARD OF CARE FOR EMERGENCY ACTION.

§ 1-11.1 STANDARD OF CARE FOR EMERGENCY ACTION. Every officer, agent or employee of the city, including, but not limited to, every unit of government or subdivision thereof, while responding to emergency calls or reacting to emergency situations, regardless of whether any declaration of emergency has been declared or proclaimed by a unit of government or subdivision thereof, is hereby authorized to act or not to act in such a manner to effectively deal with the emergency. An action or inaction is “effective” if it in any way contributes or can reasonably be thought to contribute to preserving any lives or property. This section shall prevail over every other ordinance of the city and, to the extent to which the city has the authority to so authorize, over any other law establishing a standard of care in conflict with this section. Neither the city nor the employee, agent or officer thereof, or other unit of government or subdivision thereof or its employees, agents or officers, shall be liable for the failure to use ordinary care in such emergency. (Ord. 9528, § 1, passed 12-12-1985) Cross-reference: Emergency management, see Ch. 11.5 Editor’s note: Section 1 of Ord. 9528, adopted December 12, 1985, adding § 1-12 to the 1964 Code, has been included herein as § 1-11.1 at the editor’s discretion.

Fort Worth City Code § 1-12 CERTAIN ORDINANCES NOT AFFECTED BY CODE.

§ 1-12 CERTAIN ORDINANCES NOT AFFECTED BY CODE. (a) Nothing in this code or the ordinance adopting this code shall affect any ordinance: (1) Promising or guaranteeing the payment of money for the city, or authorizing the issuance of any bonds of the city or any evidence of the city’s indebtedness, or any contract or obligations assumed by the city; (2) Granting any right or franchise and establishing any rates therefor; (3) Dedicating, naming, establishing, locating, relocating, opening, paving, widening, vacating, etc., any street or public way in the city; (4) Making any appropriation; (5) Levying, imposing or otherwise concerning taxes not in conflict or inconsistent with the provisions of this code; (6) Establishing or prescribing street or road grades in the city; (7) Providing for local improvements and assessing taxes therefor; (8) Dedicating or accepting any plat or subdivision in the city; (9) Adopting, extending or contracting the boundaries of the city; (10) Prescribing the number, classification or compensation of any city officers or employees, not inconsistent with this code; (11) Prescribing traffic or parking regulations for specific streets or portions thereof, not inconsistent with this code; (12) Pertaining to zoning; (13) Adopted after November 18, 2014; (14) All ordinances in effect upon the effective date of this code not inconsistent with any of the provisions of this code which are omitted from such revision or codification; and (15) Any other ordinance, or part thereof, which is not of a general and permanent nature. (b) And all such ordinances are hereby recognized as continuing in full force and effect to the same extent as if set out at length in this code. Such ordinances are on file in the city secretary’s office. (Ord. 21653-02-2015, § 2, passed 2-17-2015)
Source: City of Fort Worth, Code of Ordinances, City Charter and Zoning Ordinance (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/ftworth/latest/ftworth_tx/0-0-0-745Fetched: 10/26/2026

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