REQUIREMENTS FOR OPERATING A VALET PARKING SERVICE

Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 26, art. VII, div. 3

in effect

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-411 Insurance.

Sec. 26-411. - Insurance. The valet parking service operator shall maintain insurance coverage continuously during the term of its permit, in each case in accordance with the terms of this section through insurance carriers that are authorized or eligible by the Texas Department of Insurance to do business in the State of Texas and, in the case of claims made coverage, for an additional two years thereafter. The insurance required by this section shall insure against the following risks in at least the following amounts: Coverage | Limit of Liability Commercial General Liability: Including Broad Form Coverage | Bodily Injury and Property Damage, Combined Single Limits of $500,000.00 Each Occurrence and $500,000.00 Annual Aggregate Automobile Liability Insurance: Endorsed to Include Garage Keepers Legal Liability Including Comprehensive and Collision Coverage for Vehicle Storage and Coverage for Vehicle Driven by or at Direction of Permittee | $500,000.00 Combined Single Limit per Accident OR Garage Liability Insurance: Endorsed to Include Garage Keepers Legal Liability Insurance Including Comprehensive and Collision Coverage for Vehicle Storage and Coverage for Vehicle Driven by or at Direction of Permittee | $500,000.00 Combined Single Limit per Accident The city shall be named as an additional insured on the commercial general liability and garage liability policies. Each policy must state that it may not be canceled, materially modified, or non-renewed unless the insurance company gives the director 30 days' advance written notice. Defense costs are outside the limit of liability. Aggregate limits are per 12-month policy period unless otherwise indicated. Proof of insurance required by this section shall be on the authorized form approved for this purpose by the director. A permit shall be automatically suspended without any requirement for action by the city or notice to the permittee for any period of time that any of the insurance required by this section is not in effect. In addition, the director may cause the permit to be revoked for cause for failure to maintain insurance pursuant to section 26-418 of this Code. (Ord. No. 07-1111, § 2(Exh. A), 10-3-07)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-412 Valet parking service operations.

Sec. 26-412. - Valet parking service operations. A valet parking service permittee shall operate the permitted valet parking service in accordance with the following requirements: (1) The valet parking service permittee shall maintain one valet parking service stand that meets the requirements of section 26-416 of this Code at each location where the permittee provides valet parking service; (2) When pick-up and drop-off of vehicles occurs in the roadway, the permittee shall operate a pick-up and drop-off point only in a designated valet zone and in accordance with division 4 of this article; (3) The permittee shall not park or allow the parking of vehicles in a pick-up and drop-off point; (4) The permittee shall not cause or allow the standing of any vehicle in a pick-up and drop-off point for more than five minutes, inclusive of loading and unloading passengers, taking possession of or returning a vehicle and all other functions relating to the acceptance or return of a vehicle, as applicable; (5) The permittee shall ensure that the valet parking service does not unreasonably interfere with safe traffic operations of roadways, driveways, and intersections; (6) Except as provided in subsection 26-416(a) of this Code or otherwise authorized by a permit issued pursuant to article XVII of chapter 40 of this Code, the permittee shall not place signs, cones, or any other object in a roadway, parking space, or sidewalk, or otherwise block or hinder movement of pedestrian or vehicular traffic; (7) The permittee shall not place or allow the placement of a sign identifying or advertising the valet parking service on a roadway or sidewalk unless the sign is located on the valet parking service stand; (8) The permittee shall provide each patron with a pre-numbered receipt indicating the valet parking fee, if any; the name, address, and telephone number of the valet parking service operator; and information on obtaining a vehicle after the hours of valet parking service operation; (9) The permittee shall display a true and correct copy of the valet parking service permit required by this article at each valet parking service stand; (10) Promptly upon receipt of each vehicle for valet parking service, the permittee shall clearly identify the vehicle by affixing a ticket hang tag to the inside rear view mirror of the vehicle that identifies the valet parking service operator; (11) The permittee shall provide a secure location for the storage of keys and shall not store keys with the parked vehicle; (12) The permittee shall comply with all applicable traffic control laws, devices and markings and shall conduct valet parking services only where and when vehicles may lawfully park and stand; and (13) The permittee shall not discriminate against persons wishing to utilize valet parking services on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, or disability. (Ord. No. 07-1111, § 2(Exh. A), 10-3-07)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-413 Duty of valet parking operator.

Sec. 26-413. - Duty of valet parking operator. It shall be the duty of every valet parking operator to cause each of the operator's attendants to comply with the requirements of this article and any permit issued hereunder. Further, it shall be the duty of valet parking operators that are not required to be permitted to maintain a copy of proof of insurance coverage for valet parking operations at each location where valet operations are performed and to display it upon request. (Ord. No. 07-1111, § 2(Exh. A), 10-3-07)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-414 Additional valet parking service operations requirements in central business district.

Sec. 26-414. - Additional valet parking service operations requirements in central business district. For valet parking service operations within the central business district, the valet parking service permittee shall not cause or allow the standing of vehicles in any moving lane of traffic approaching the pick-up and drop-off point. (Ord. No. 07-1111, § 2(Exh. A), 10-3-07)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-415 Attendant requirements.

Sec. 26-415. - Attendant requirements. It is the duty of the valet parking service permittee to ensure that no person at any time performs as an attendant unless the person meets each of the criteria of this section for an attendant. All attendants at a valet parking service location shall wear similar uniforms. Each attendant shall: (1) Be 18 years of age or older; (2) Operate vehicles in compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws, and in a manner that assures the safety of persons and property; (3) Possess a valid class A, B, or C Texas driver's license with no more than two convictions for offenses that occurred within any 12-month period during the preceding three years as a result of moving traffic violations; (4) Wear a name tag identifying the attendant by name and the name of the valet parking company or the commercial establishment for which valet parking service is being provided; and (5) Perform his duties in a courteous and professional manner. If the valet parking service permittee, or any principal of a permittee, performs as an attendant, the permittee or principal must satisfy each of these requirements. The permittee shall maintain the information necessary to demonstrate compliance with item (3) of this section. The permittee shall retain the records at its principal office in the city for a period of three years. The director shall have the right, upon request, to inspect and copy these records of the permittee to determine compliance with the requirements of the permit. (Ord. No. 07-1111, § 2(Exh. A), 10-3-07)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-416 Valet parking service stand.

Sec. 26-416. - Valet parking service stand. (a) The valet parking service permittee shall provide one valet parking service stand at each location where the permittee provides valet parking service. The valet parking service stand may be located within the building for whose benefit the valet parking service is provided or wholly on private property. A valet parking service stand shall not be located on a roadway unless expressly allowed by a valet zone designation issued pursuant to division 4 of this article. Any valet parking service stand located in whole or in part on a roadway, sidewalk, or any portion of the public right-of-way shall: (1) Occupy a portion of the roadway, sidewalk, or public right-of-way no greater than four feet by four feet or one-half the width of the sidewalk if the sidewalk is less than eight feet wide; (2) Not be affixed to the roadway, sidewalk, or public right-of-way in any manner; (3) Be easily moveable by one person; (4) Be removed from the roadway, sidewalk, or public right-of-way when the valet parking service is not being operated; (5) Have affixed a sign not larger than four feet high by four feet wide with an area no smaller than 12 inches by 18 inches indicating: a. The name and the valet parking service permit number of the valet service parking operator; b. If the permittee is providing valet parking service for more than one establishment, the names of all such commercial establishments; c. The fee for the valet parking service, if any; d. The telephone number provided by the parking official for complaints or inquiries regarding operations of the valet parking service. (6) Be secured and locked when left unattended; and (7) Display a true and correct copy of the permit. (b) If the valet parking service stand is located within a building, the permittee shall provide a portable sign that meets the requirements of subsection (a)(5) of this section on the sidewalk or roadway at the pick-up and drop-off point. (Ord. No. 07-1111, § 2(Exh. A), 10-3-07)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-417 Parking areas.

Sec. 26-417. - Parking areas. All vehicles parked by an attendant shall be legally parked in conformance with applicable city ordinances and state law. (Ord. No. 07-1111, § 2(Exh. A), 10-3-07)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-418 Revocation.

Sec. 26-418. - Revocation. (a) A valet parking service permit may be revoked if: (1) Any information supplied in the permit application was materially false or incorrect; (2) The permit was issued through error; (3) The holder of the permit has failed to comply with any applicable provision of the permit or this article; (4) The permittee fails to perform under the release and indemnity required by section 26-391(b) of this Code; or (5) The permittee or any of its principals are not in compliance with the criminal history provisions of section 1-10 of this Code. (b) Notice of revocation shall be provided to the valet parking service permittee by depositing the same in the United States mail, first class, certified, return receipt requested, addressed to the address of the permittee shown in the permit application. The notice shall set forth the alleged grounds for the revocation and the opportunity to request a hearing regarding the revocation. If the revocation is based in whole or in part upon section 1-10 of this Code, then the notice and hearing procedures shall also include any requirements to comply with section 1-9 of this Code and applicable state laws. (c) If the permittee wishes to request a hearing, such request must be made in writing and provided to the director within twenty days of the date of the director's notice of revocation. Pending the hearing, the director may suspend the valet parking service operator's permit when the director determines that continued operation of the valet parking service constitutes a hazard to public safety and welfare, including, but not limited to, interfering with the safe operation of the streets for pedestrians and the normal flow of traffic. At the hearing, the burden of demonstrating that a permit should be revoked shall be upon the city. The permittee 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)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-419 Permit subject to police regulation.

Sec. 26-419. - Permit subject to police regulation. All valet operations are subject to temporary suspension when a police officer determines that the continued operation of the valet service constitutes a hazard to the public safety and welfare, including but not limited to, interfering with the safe operation of the streets for pedestrians and the normal flow of traffic. (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_DIV3REOPVAPASEFetched: 10/26/2026