Estimated fees; civil penalty.
Houston Code of Ordinances § 28-325
in effectSec. 28-325. - Estimated fees; civil penalty.
(a) Should an adult establishment fail to keep accurate records of the number of customers admitted to its business, the city may estimate the amount of fee liability based on any available information that includes, but is not limited to, any reports filed previously filed under this article.
(b) An adult establishment that fails to file a report or to pay the fee as required by this article when due shall be liable, in addition to the amount of the fee owed, interest on the principal amount due at the rate of ten percent per annum, and a civil penalty equal to 15 percent of the total amount. Should legal action be instituted for the recovery of the fees, such business shall also be liable for the city's reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred for the recovery of the fee and penalties.
(c) In addition to the civil penalty provided in this section, the failure of an adult establishment to timely file a report, make a payment, or maintain the records required by this article shall constitute a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, the owner of the adult establishment shall be punished by a fine of not less than $100.00 nor more than $500.00. Each day that any violation continues shall constitute and be punishable as a separate offense.
(Ord. No. 2012-597, § 2, 6-26-2012)
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_CH28MIOFPR_ARTXIADES_S28-325ESFECIPEFetched: 10/26/2026