BOATING REGULATIONS

Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 23, art. VII

in effect

Houston Code of Ordinances § 23-196 Compliance with state and federal law.

Sec. 23-196. - Compliance with state and federal law. All persons operating vessels in or upon the lake shall comply with the requirements of the Texas Water Safety Act, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code Chapter 31, and regulations promulgated by United States Coast Guard. Any persons authorized to enforce this chapter may eject from the lake any vessel not in compliance with this chapter, and applicable state and federal laws or regulations. Except as may be otherwise provided, such regulations are hereby adopted as standards governing the regulation, operation and equipment of all vessels located in or upon the lake. (Ord. No. 2011-862, § 2(Exh. A), 10-12-2011)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 23-197 Posted and buoyed areas.

Sec. 23-197. - Posted and buoyed areas. All vessels are to comply with the instructions of posted and buoyed areas erected or placed on the lake for public safety. (Ord. No. 2011-862, § 2(Exh. A), 10-12-2011)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 23-198 Motorboat exhaust systems.

Sec. 23-198. - Motorboat exhaust systems. All inboard motorboats shall be equipped with through-hull exhaust. Noise level may not exceed 80 decibels within 100 feet of the vessel on the lake, and at the boundary of the lake, noise levels should not exceed those regulated in chapter 30 of this Code. (Ord. No. 2011-862, § 2(Exh. A), 10-12-2011)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 23-199 Records to be kept by vessel liveries.

Sec. 23-199. - Records to be kept by vessel liveries. The owner of a vessel livery on the lake shall keep a record of the name and address of each person who hires a vessel and the time and date of departure and the expected time of return. The record shall be kept for six months and made available upon request to all persons authorized to enforce this chapter. (Ord. No. 2011-862, § 2(Exh. A), 10-12-2011)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 23-200 Vessel livery not to rent vessel without required equipment.

Sec. 23-200. - Vessel livery not to rent vessel without required equipment. Neither the owner of a vessel livery nor its employee or agent shall permit any vessel to depart from the premises unless the vessel carries all equipment required by applicable laws and regulations. (Ord. No. 2011-862, § 2(Exh. A), 10-12-2011)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 23-201 Use of siren prohibited.

Sec. 23-201. - Use of siren prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person on any vessel operated on the lake to use a siren while on the lake. Vessels operated by persons authorized to enforce this chapter are exempted from this section to the extent such persons are authorized to use sirens for the performance of their duties. (Ord. No. 2011-862, § 2(Exh. A), 10-12-2011)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 23-202 Towing persons on water skis or other devices.

Sec. 23-202. - Towing persons on water skis or other devices. (a) No person may tow a person on water skis or other devices that skim the water's surface unless: (1) The motorboat is equipped with a rearview mirror of a size not less than four inches in measurement from bottom to top and across from one side to the other. The mirror shall be mounted firmly so as to give the boat operator a full and complete view beyond the rear of the boat at all times; or (2) A person 13 years of age or older observes the progress of the person being towed. (b) No person may tow or shall otherwise assist a person on water skis or other devices that skim the water's surface during the period from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise. (c) Each person who tows or otherwise assists a person on water skis or other devices that skim the water's surface shall operate the motorboat in a careful and prudent manner and at a reasonable distance from persons and property so as not to endanger the life or property of any person. (d) No person shall operate or manipulate any vessel, tow rope or other device by which the direction or location of water skis or other devices that skim the water's surface may be affected or controlled in such a way as to cause them, or any person on them, to collide with or strike against any person or object other than ski jumps, markers and like objects normally used in competitive or recreational skiing. (e) It shall be unlawful for any person to ski or skim the water's surface on the lake within a distance of less than 200 feet from any bridge, pier, anchored vessel, or person on the lake surface. (f) It shall be unlawful for any person to ski or skim the water's surface on the lake in restricted areas marked by buoys or official city signage. (Ord. No. 2011-862, § 2(Exh. A), 10-12-2011)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 23-203 Operation of airboats or similar devices prohibited.

Sec. 23-203. - Operation of airboats or similar devices prohibited. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate an airboat or similar device upon the lake. (b) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that the operator is a person designated by the Director of Houston Public Works, or by section 23-9 of this chapter, engaged in official business. (Ord. No. 2011-862, § 2(Exh. A), 10-12-2011; Ord. No. 2018-11, § 49, 1-10-2018)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 23-204 Event permit required for certain recreational activities.

Sec. 23-204. - Event permit required for certain recreational activities. (a) Public events such as regattas, vessel or other races, tournaments, exhibitions, or organized water activity practice sessions are prohibited unless authorized by an event permit issued by the parks official. It shall be unlawful to erect or permit the erection of race or course markers, ski jumps or any similar recreation item in the lake unless authorized by an event permit issued by the parks official. (b) The parks official may issue event permits authorizing the holding or scheduled events on the lake and the erection of course markers, ski jumps or similar recreation items as described in subsection (a) of this section. To apply for an event permit, the person in charge thereof shall, at least 15 days prior thereto, file an event permit application with the parks director. The application must set forth the date, beginning and ending times, types of related markers, jumps and/or other related items, and the proposed event location. (c) The parks official, upon full payment of all required fees and security deposits, shall grant the permit unless he determines that the proposed activity: (1) Would cause an unreasonable hazard to the health and safety of the event participants or the general public; or (2) Would cause an unreasonable inconvenience to the general public due to noise levels, scheduling or other factors; or (3) Would conflict with another event that is permitted by the parks official; or (4) Is proposed to be conducted at a location on the lake that is not suited to the intended use; or (5) Discharges or threatens to discharge waste into the lake; or (6) Is inconsistent with the lake's use as a source of city drinking water. (Ord. No. 2011-862, § 2(Exh. A), 10-12-2011)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 23-205 Collisions, accidents and casualties.

Sec. 23-205. - Collisions, accidents and casualties. (a) It shall be the duty of the operator of a vessel involved in a collision, accident or casualty, so far as is possible without serious danger to himself or his own vessel, crew and passengers, if any, to render to other persons affected by the collision, accident or casualty such assistance as may be practicable and as may be necessary in order to save them from or minimize any danger caused by the collision, accident or casualty and also to give his name, address and identification of his vessel in writing to any person injured and to the owner of any property damaged in the collision, accident or other casualty. (b) In the case of collision, accident or other casualty involving a vessel, the operator thereof, if the collision, accident or other casualty results in death or injury to a person or damage to property in excess of $500.00, shall file with the parks director a full description of the collision, accident or other casualty on or before 30 days from the date of such accident or casualty. (c) Accident reports filed under this section shall not be admissible in court as evidence, and each such report shall be confidential as to all persons except to persons directly involved in such accident or casualty, and except to agencies of the state for their official use in compiling statistics. (Ord. No. 2011-862, § 2(Exh. A), 10-12-2011)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 23-206 Arrest procedure.

Sec. 23-206. - Arrest procedure. (a) Persons authorized by section 23-9 of this chapter to enforce this article shall have the authority to stop and board any vessel subject to this article. Officials so boarding any vessel shall first identify themselves by proper credentials. (b) In the event a peace officer shall find that such person is or has been operating a vessel in a manner not in compliance with this article, such peace officer may arrest such person for violation of this article without a warrant. (c) Any peace officer arresting a person for a violation of this article shall take such alleged violator to the nearest judge of the municipal court of the city where a complaint shall be filed; provided, however, that such peace officer may release the alleged violator upon the execution of a written promise to appear before a judge of the municipal court at a certain date and time. (Ord. No. 2011-862, § 2(Exh. A), 10-12-2011)

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_CH23LAHO_ARTVIIBOREFetched: 10/26/2026