Definitions.
Houston Code of Ordinances § 25-151
in effectSec. 25-151. - Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings assigned to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Directors means the fire chief, chief of police, and traffic engineer, as well as the directors of the planning and development department, the administration and regulatory affairs department, and Houston Public Works and the director of any city department or other public agency that is acting as the host for a nationally competitively bid event or their designees.
National bid event period means the period commencing at 12:01 a.m. on the fourteenth day prior to commencement of and ending at 11:59 p.m. on the third day after the end of a nationally competitively bid event for which the city has been designated and by action of city council accepted the role of host-city.
Nationally competitively bid event means an event approved by city council and subsequently secured and awarded to the city in its capacity as a host-city through a competitive bid process that requires the provision of city services and is expected to draw 75,000 or more persons to simultaneously congregate in an area of one square mile or less at or near a convention and/or sporting venue within the city.
Safety zone means a zone, zones, or portions thereof as described below, which may be limited upon the request of the event producing entity with the approval of the directors.
(1) Central Business District zone means the area within and bounded by:
BEGINNING at the intersection of the northeasterly right-of-way line of Congress St. and the southeasterly right-of-way line of Dowling St.; then northwest along the northeasterly right-of-way line of Congress St. to its intersection with the southeasterly right-of-way line of Hutchins St.; then northeast along the southeasterly right-of-way line of Hutchins St. to its intersection with the northeasterly right-of-way line of Commerce St.; then northwest along the northeasterly right-of-way line of Commerce St. to its intersection with the northwesterly easterly right-of-way line of Milam Travis St.; then southwest north along the northwesterly right-of-way line of Milam St. to its intersection with the northeasterly right-of-way line of Franklin St.; then northwest along the easterly and northwest along the northeasterly right-of-way line of Franklin St. Travis St. to its intersection with the centerline of Interstate Highway 10; then northwest along the centerline of Interstate Highway 10 to its intersection with the centerline of Interstate Highway 45; then southwest along the centerline of Interstate Highway 45 to its intersection with the northerly right-of-way line of Memorial Dr.; then west along the northerly right-of-way line of Memorial Dr. to its intersection with the northerly extension in the same course of the westerly right-of-way line of Taft St.; then south along the northerly extension in the same course of the westerly of right-of-way line of Taft St. to its intersection with the southerly right-of-way line of Allen Parkway; then east along the southerly right-of-way line of Allen Parkway to its intersection with the centerline of Interstate 45; then south and southeast along the centerline of Interstate 45 to its intersection with the southeasterly right-of-way line of Dowling St.; then northeast along the southeasterly right-of-way line of Dowling St. to the point of BEGINNING; provided, however, that the following area shall be excluded from the safety zone: BEGINNING at the intersection of the centerline of U.S. 59 and the southwesterly right-of-way line of Rusk St.; then northwest along the southwesterly right-of-way line of Rusk St. to its intersection with the southeasterly right-of-way line of Avenida de las Americas; then southwest along the southeasterly right-of-way line of Avenida de las Americas to its intersection with the southwesterly right-of-way line of McKinney St.; then northwest along the southwesterly right-of-way line of McKinney St. to its intersection with the southeasterly right-of-way line of La Branch St.; then southwest along the southeasterly line of La Branch Street to its intersection with the northeasterly right-of-way line of Lamar St.; then southeast along the northeasterly right-of-way line of Lamar St. to its intersection with the southeasterly right-of-way line of Avenida de las Americas; then southwest along the southeasterly right-of-way line of Avenida de las Americas to its intersection with the southwesterly right-of-way line of Dallas St.; then northwest along the southwesterly right-of-way line of Dallas St. to its intersection with the southeasterly right-of-way line of Crawford St.; then southwest along the southeasterly right-of-way line of Crawford St. to its intersection with the southwesterly right-of-way line of Polk St.; then northwest along the southwesterly right-of-way line of Polk St. to its intersection with the southeasterly right-of-way line of La Branch St.; then southwest along the southeasterly right-of-way line of La Branch St. to its intersection with the northeasterly right-of-way line of Leeland St.; then southeast along the northeasterly right-of-way line of Leeland St. to its intersection with the northwesterly right-of-way line of Jackson St.; then northeast along the northwesterly right-of-way line of Jackson St. to its intersection with the northeasterly right-of-way line of Polk St.; then southeast along the northeasterly right-of-way line of Polk St. to its intersection with the centerline of U.S. 59; then northeast along the centerline of U.S. 59 to the point of BEGINNING.
(2) Memorial City zone means the area within and bounded by:
BEGINNING at the intersection of the centerline of south feeder road of Interstate Highway 10 freeway and the easterly right-of-way line of Bunker Hill Rd.; thence in a southerly direction along the easterly right-of-way line of Bunker Hill Rd. to its intersection with the southerly right-of-way line of Barryknoll Ln.; thence in a westerly direction along the southerly right-of-way line of Barryknoll Ln. to its intersection with the westerly right-of-way line of Frostwood Dr.; thence in a northerly direction along the westerly right-of-way line of Frostwood Dr. to its intersection with the southerly right-of-way line of Kingsride Ln.; thence in a westerly direction along the southerly right of way line of Kingsride Ln. to its intersection with the westerly right-of-way line of Benignus Rd.; thence in a northerly direction along the westerly right-of-way line of Benignus Rd. to its intersection with the centerline of south feeder road of Interstate Highway 10 freeway; thence in an easterly direction along the centerline of south feeder road of Interstate Highway 10 freeway to its intersection with the easterly right-of-way line of Bunker Hill Rd., the point of BEGINNING.
(3) Galleria Area zone means the area within and bounded by:
BEGINNING at the intersection of the centerline of the 610 West Loop Freeway and the centerline of the US 59 Freeway; thence in a southwesterly direction along the centerline of US 59 to its intersection with the westerly right-of-way line of Hillcroft Rd.; thence in a northerly direction along the westerly right-of-way line of Hillcroft Rd. and continuing in the same northerly direction along the westerly right-of-way line of Voss Rd. to its intersection with centerline of Buffalo Bayou; thence in a generally easterly direction along the meanders of the centerline of Buffalo Bayou to its intersection with the centerline of 610 West Loop, thence in a southerly direction along the centerline of 610 West Loop to its intersection with the northerly right-of-way line of Post Oak Boulevard; then in an easterly direction along the northerly right-of-way line of Post Oak Boulevard to its intersection with the easterly right-of-way line of Briar Hollow Lane; thence in a southerly direction along the easterly right-of-way line of Briar Hollow Lane to its intersection with the northerly right-of-way line of South Briar Hollow Lane; thence in an easterly direction along the northerly right-of-way line of South Briar Hollow Lane to its intersection with the easterly boundary line of East Briar Hollow Lane; thence in a southerly direction along the easterly boundary line of East Briar Hollow Lane to its intersection with the southerly right-of-way line of San Felipe St., thence in a westerly direction along the southerly right-of-way line of San Felipe St. to its intersection with the easterly right-of-way line of Mid Lane; thence southerly along the easterly right-of-way line of Mid Lane to its intersection with the southerly right-of-way line of Richmond Avenue; then westerly along the southerly right-of-way line of Richmond Avenue to its intersection with the centerline of 610 West Loop Freeway; thence southerly along the centerline of 610 West Loop Freeway to its intersection with the centerline of US 59 Freeway, the point of BEGINNING.
(4) NRG Park zone means the area within and bounded by:
BEGINNING at the intersection of the centerline of north service road of 610 South Loop and the northwesterly right-of-way line of S. Main St.; thence in a northeasterly direction along the northwesterly right-of-way line of S. Main St. to its intersection with the centerline of Brays Bayou; thence in a generally northeasterly direction along the meanders of the centerline of Brays Bayou to its intersection with the southeasterly right-of-way line of Almeda Rd.; thence in a southwesterly direction along the southeasterly right-of-way line of Almeda Rd. to its intersection with the centerline of the north service road of 610 South Loop; thence in a westerly direction along the centerline of the north service road of the 610 South Loop to its intersection with the easterly right-of-way line of Fannin St.; thence in a southerly direction along the easterly right-of-way line of Fannin St. to its intersection with the southerly right-of-way line of W. Bellfort St.; thence in a westerly direction along the southerly right-of-way line of W. Bellfort St. to its intersection with westerly right-of-way line of Kirby Dr.; thence in a northerly direction along the westerly right-of-way line of Kirby Dr. to its intersection with the centerline of the north service road of 610 South Loop; thence in a westerly direction along the centerline of north service road of 610 South Loop to the point of BEGINNING.
(5) Midtown zone means the area within and bounded by:
BEGINNING at the intersection of the northeasterly extension in the same course of the northwesterly right-of-way line of Travis Street and the northwesterly extension in the same course of the northeasterly right-of-way line of McGowen Street;
THENCE in a southeasterly direction along that northwesterly extension, that northeasterly right-of-way line of McGowen Street and its southeasterly extension in the same course to its intersection with the northeasterly extension in the same course of the southeasterly right-of-way line of Main Street;
THENCE in a southwesterly direction along that northeasterly extension, that southeasterly right-of-way line of Main Street and its southwesterly extension in the same course to its intersection with the southeasterly extension in the same course of the southwesterly right-of-way line of Anita Street;
THENCE in a northwesterly direction along that southeasterly extension, that southwesterly right-of-way line of Anita Street and its northwesterly extension in the same course to its intersection with the southwesterly extension in the same course of the northwesterly right-of-way line of Travis Street;
THENCE in a northeasterly direction along that southwesterly extension, that northwesterly right-of-way line of Travis Street and its northeasterly extension in the same course to its intersection with the northwesterly extension in the same course of the northeasterly right-of-way line of McGowen Street, such point being the POINT OF BEGINNING.
(6) East Downtown (EaDo) & East End Zone means the area within and bounded by:
BEGINNING at the intersection of centerline of Navigation Blvd. and the centerline of Palmer St.;
THENCE in a southwesterly direction along the centerline of Palmer St. and its southwesterly extension to its intersection with the centerline of Harrisburg Blvd.;
THENCE in a generally northwesterly direction along the centerline of Harrisburg Blvd. to its intersection with the northeasterly extension of the centerline of Nagle St.;
THENCE in a southwesterly direction along the extension and the centerline of Nagle St. to its intersection with the centerline of Leeland St.;
THENCE in a southeasterly direction along the centerline of Leeland St. to its intersection with the centerline of Velasco St.;
THENCE in a southwesterly direction along the centerline of Velasco St. to its intersection with the centerline of the Northbound Interstate-45 South to Northbound US-59 North/Pease Ramp;
THENCE northwesterly along the centerline of the Northbound Interstate-45 South to Northbound US-59 North/Pease Ramp to its intersection with the centerline of Emancipation Ave.;
THENCE in a northeasterly direction along the centerline of Emancipation Ave. to the centerline of Congress St.; thence in a northwesterly direction along the centerline of Congress St. to the centerline of Hutchins St.;
THENCE in a northeasterly direction along the centerline of Hutchins St. to the centerline of Commerce St.; thence in a northwesterly direction along the centerline of Commerce St. to its intersection with the centerline of North US-59 to Interstate-10 West Ramp;
THENCE in a generally northeasterly direction along the centerline of North US-59 to Interstate-10 West Ramp to its intersection with the centerline of Runnels St.;
THENCE in a southeasterly direction along the centerline of Runnels St. to its intersection with the centerline of Lottman St.;
THENCE in a northeasterly direction along the centerline of Lottman St. to its intersection with the centerline of Ann St.;
THENCE in a southeasterly direction along the centerline of Ann St. to its intersection with the centerline of North St. Charles St.;
THENCE in a southwesterly direction along the centerline of North St. Charles St. to its intersection with the centerline of Navigation Blvd.;
THENCE in a southeasterly direction along the centerline of Navigation Blvd. to the centerline of Palmer St., the beginning point.
Tent shall mean a temporary structure covered with fabric or another type of membrane. The term is intended to also include canopies and air-supported, air-inflated, and tensioned membrane structures, as well as conventional tents.
(Ord. No. 2015-1302(Corrected Ord.), § 2, 12-16-2015; Ord. No. 2016-174, § 2, 3-9-2016; Ord. No. 2016-730, §§ 2, 3, 9-28-2016; Ord. No. 2018-11, § 19, 1-10-2018; Ord. No. 2026-0228, § 2, 3-25-2026)
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_CH25SPEV_ARTIVNACOBIEV_S25-151DEFetched: 10/26/2026