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Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 26, art. IX, div. 2

in effect

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-616 Signage required.

Sec. 26-616. - Signage required. (a) Signage prohibiting unauthorized vehicles on a parking facility shall comply with Sections 2308.301 and 2308.302 of the Texas Occupations Code. In addition, signage must be: (1) Located at all pay stations; and (2) Unobstructed by vegetation or any other obstruction. (b) In addition to the requirements of Sections 2308.301 and 2308.302 of the Texas Occupations Code, signage prohibiting unauthorized vehicles must contain lettering at least one inch in height in a solid color that contrasts with the background that clearly states: (1) How to pay for parking in the parking facility (i.e., "pay uniformed attendant," "pay drop box," "pay by phone," etc., as applicable), and the hourly or other fee for such service; provided, however, for parking facilities utilizing different rates for various periods of parking, fee information may be contained on a separate sign adjacent to the pay station; (2) If unauthorized vehicles may be booted in the parking facility, the telephone number for the police department's auto dealers detail; (3) If unauthorized vehicles may be booted in or towed from the parking facility, the following: "Paper receipts must be displayed on dashboard"; and "Save digital receipt in mobile phone as proof of payment", as applicable; (4) Notice to "See receipt for expiration time" and; (5) "No in-and-out privileges" if applicable. (c) In addition to the requirements listed in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, signage located at pay stations shall clearly state the street address of the parking facility in lettering at least one inch in height in a solid color that contrasts with the background. (d) Unless otherwise provided in this article, lettering on all signs shall be at least one inch in height in a solid color that contrasts with the background. (e) When the fee to park in a parking facility during a special event is a different amount than the hourly, daily or monthly rate, conspicuous temporary signage at least two feet high and two feet wide shall be posted at all entrances to the parking facility and at all pay stations, clearly stating the amount of the special event parking fee in letters not less than six inches high. (Ord. No. 08-846, § 2, 9-24-08; Ord. No. 09-1235, §§ 2, 10, 12-2-09; Ord. No. 2011-1175, § 30, 12-14-2011)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-617 Receipt and enforcement.

Sec. 26-617. - Receipt and enforcement. (a) It shall be unlawful for a parking facility general manager to have a vehicle immobilized ("booted") or towed for non-payment of parking fees in a parking facility that does not provide receipts for payment of parking fees. (b) Each paper receipt issued by an attendant or printed by a pay station for payment of a parking fee shall have printed thereon in bold type the following directive "Display receipt face up on dashboard" and shall contain the name and logo of the parking facility, street address of the parking facility, the parking space number, if applicable, the date and time parking fees were paid and the expiration time. Lettering for the directive "Display receipt face up on dashboard" and expiration dates and times shall be printed on receipts in at least 14 point font size. (c) It shall be unlawful for a parking facility general manager to allow a receipt to be printed or issued for a space that is not available due to being "Reserved." (d) It shall be unlawful for a parking facility general manager to have a vehicle booted for any reason (e.g., being parked on or across the parking space lines, on or across areas marked with hash marks, in driving lanes or in other unauthorized areas on the parking facility) other than non-payment. (e) When a parking fee was paid by digital payment, it shall be unlawful for a parking facility general manager to have a vehicle immobilized or towed for: (1) Failing to display a receipt; or (2) Non-payment of parking fees. (Ord. No. 08-846, § 2, 9-24-08; Ord. No. 09-1235, §§ 2, 10, 12-2-09; Ord. No. 2011-1175, §§ 31, 32, 12-14-2011)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-618 Attendant requirements.

Sec. 26-618. - Attendant requirements. It shall be the duty of any owner or manager of a parking facility to ensure that no individual at any time performs as a parking facility attendant unless the individual meets each of the requirements of this section. Each parking facility attendant shall: (1) Be 16 years of age or older; (2) Wear a picture ID, name tag with the employee's first name and employee identification number, and shirt, jacket or vest with the name and logo of the parking facility operating company; (3) If the parking facility general manager intends to have vehicles immobilized ("booted") or towed for non-payment of parking fees, provide a written receipt to the operator of a vehicle parked on the parking facility with the name and logo of the parking facility, the street address of the parking facility, the parking space number if the parking facility utilizes "pay by space," and the date and time parking fees were paid; and (4) Perform his duties in a courteous and professional manner. (Ord. No. 08-846, § 2, 9-24-08; Ord. No. 09-2, § 19, 1-7-09; Ord. No. 09-1235, §§ 2, 11, 12-2-09)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-619 Access to money in unmanned pay stations.

Sec. 26-619. - Access to money in unmanned pay stations. It shall be unlawful for third-party enforcement services, including but not limited to vehicle immobilization services and tow companies, to possess keys or to have any other means of access to move or remove money from any unmanned pay station in a parking facility. (Ord. No. 08-846, § 2, 9-24-08; Ord. No. 09-1235, § 2, 12-2-09)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-620 Closure of parking facility entrances.

Sec. 26-620. - Closure of parking facility entrances. (a) The parking facility operator or manager of a parking facility that is closed for business shall barricade all entrances to and exits from the parking facility by means of a barrier gate, chain, or other durable barrier equipment. (b) The use of caution tape, plastic tape, rope, or other such non-durable equipment to indicate the closure of entrances and exits is prohibited. (c) Barriers shall not be attached to signage, trees, or any such object in the public right-of-way. (Ord. No. 08-846, § 2, 9-24-08; Ord. No. 09-1235, § 2, 12-2-09)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-621 Pay stations.

Sec. 26-621. - Pay stations. If unauthorized vehicles may be booted in the parking facility, pay stations shall be bagged or rendered non-operational during special events during any time when attendants are collecting payment for parking in a parking facility. (Ord. No. 09-1235, § 12, 12-2-09)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-622 Lighting.

Sec. 26-622. - Lighting. If a parking facility will be operating at night or if no attendant will be collecting payment for parking, the parking facility must have lighting to illuminate pay stations to at least 0.7 foot-candles between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. on the following day. (Ord. No. 09-1235, § 12, 12-2-09)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-623 Special events.

Sec. 26-623. - Special events. A parking facility that wishes to charge a special event parking fee may collect such fee only prospectively from the drivers of vehicles entering and paying for parking after the initiation of the special event parking fee for that special event. (Ord. No. 09-1235, § 12, 12-2-09)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-624 Records of digital parking payments.

Sec. 26-624. - Records of digital parking payments. Records of digital payments shall be maintained by the parking operator for a period of one year from the date of the digital payment. Any peace officer shall have the right, upon request, to inspect and copy such records to determine compliance with this article." (Ord. No. 2011-1175, § 33, 12-14-2011)

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_ARTIXMISTPAFA_DIV2BUPRFetched: 10/26/2026