For AI agents: read the machine-readable documentation index at /llms.txt or the single-file full reference at /llms-full.txt.
Form a Business

IN GENERAL

San Antonio City Code ch. 8, art. I
in effect

San Antonio City Code § 8-1 Definitions.

Sec. 8-1. - Definitions. The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this article: Civil emergency is hereby defined to be: (1) A riot or unlawful assembly characterized by the use of actual force or violence or any threat to use force if accompanied by immediate power to execute by three (3) or more persons acting together without authority of law. (2) Any natural disaster or manmade calamity including flood, conflagration, cyclone, tornado, earthquake or explosion within the corporate limits of the city resulting in the death or injury of persons or the destruction of property to such an extent that extraordinary measures must be taken to protect the public health, safety and welfare. Curfew shall mean a prohibition against any person or persons walking, running, loitering, standing or motoring upon any alley, street, highway, public property or vacant premises within the corporate limits of the city, excepting persons officially designated to duty with reference to such civil emergency. (Code 1959, § 2-11; Ord. No. 36235, § 1, 2-15-68)

San Antonio City Code § 8-2 Penalty for violation of article.

Sec. 8-2. - Penalty for violation of article. Any person violating the provisions of this article or executive order issued pursuant thereto shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished in accordance with section 1-5. (Code 1959, § 2-12; Ord. No. 36235, § 8, 2-15-68)

San Antonio City Code § 8-3 Proclamation by city manager.

Sec. 8-3. - Proclamation by city manager. (a) Authority of city manager. When in the judgment of the city manager a civil emergency as defined in this article is deemed to exist, the manager forthwith shall attempt to contact all members of the city council for an immediate emergency meeting. If it is not possible for city council to meet in an immediate emergency meeting, the manager may proclaim the existence of a civil emergency. Such proclamation by the manager is hereby determined to be a call for an emergency meeting of the city council. The emergency meeting shall be held as soon as the council members can assemble at city hall. (b) Filing of proclamation. Any proclamation and order of the city manager issued hereunder shall be filed as a public record in the office of the city clerk. (Code 1959, § 2-13; Ord. No. 36235, §§ 2, 6, 2-15-68)

San Antonio City Code § 8-4 Curfew powers.

Sec. 8-4. - Curfew powers. After proclamation of a civil emergency by the city manager, he may order a general curfew applicable to such geographical areas of the city or to the city as a whole, as he deems advisable, and applicable during such hours of the day or night as he deems necessary in the interest of the public safety and welfare. (Code 1959, § 2-14; Ord. No. 36235, § 3, 2-15-68)

San Antonio City Code § 8-5 Emergency powers.

Sec. 8-5. - Emergency powers. After proclamation of a civil emergency, the city manager of the city may also in the interest of public safety and welfare make any or all of the following orders: (1) Order the closing of all retail liquor stores; (2) Order the closing of all beer taverns; (3) Order the closing of all private clubs or portions thereof wherein the consumption of intoxicating liquor and/or beer is permitted; (4) Order the discontinuance of the sale of beer; (5) Order the discontinuance of selling, distributing or giving away gasoline or other liquid flammable or combustible products in any container other than a gasoline tank properly affixed to a motor vehicle; (6) Order the closing of gasoline stations and other establishments, the chief activity of which is the sale, distribution or dispensing of liquid flammable or combustible products; (7) Order the discontinuance of selling, distributing, dispensing or giving away of any firearms or ammunition of any character whatsoever; (8) Order the closing of any or all establishments or portions thereof, the chief activity of which is the sale, distribution, dispensing or giving away of firearms and/or ammunition; (9) Issue such other orders as are imminently necessary for the protection of life and property. (Code 1959, § 2-15; Ord. No. 36235, § 4, 2-15-68)

San Antonio City Code § 8-7 Seeking assistance from state military forces.

Sec. 8-7. - Seeking assistance from state military forces. In any instance of civil emergency within the city as described in section 8-1 resulting in violence to person or property by a body of men acting together by force, which required the exercise of superior force to suppress same and it is impracticable to furnish information to the governor of the state in time to secure military aid by his order, the mayor of the city is hereby authorized to call in writing for aid upon the commanding officer of the state military forces stationed within the city or adjacent thereto, and the mayor shall at once notify the governor of his action. (Code 1959, § 2-17; Ord. No. 36235, § 7, 2-15-68)
Source: City of San Antonio, City Code, City Charter and Unified Development Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/san_antonio/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICO_CH8CIEMEMMA_ARTIINGEFetched: 10/27/2026

Starting a business in Texas? Texas LLC guide: costs and requirements