Houston Code of Ordinances § 45-1 Short title.
Sec. 45-1. - Short title.
This chapter may be known and cited as the Traffic Ordinance.
(Code 1968, § 46-1)
IN GENERAL
Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 45, art. I
in effectHouston Code of Ordinances § 45-2 Definitions.
Sec. 45-2. - Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Alley means any street, as herein defined, of 20 feet or less in width having no legal or official name other than "alley."
Animal has the meaning ascribed in Texas Agricultural Code section 141.001 which states an animated being that is not human and has the power of voluntary action.
Authorized emergency vehicle means any vehicle of the fire department (fire patrol), any police vehicle, any public or private ambulance for which a permit has been issued by the state board of health, any emergency vehicles of a municipal department or public service corporation as may be designated or authorized by the city council, any private vehicle operated by volunteer fire fighter or certified emergency medical services volunteer while answering a fire alarm or responding to a medical emergency, and any vehicle operated by a blood bank or tissue bank, accredited or approved under the laws of this state or the United States, while making emergency deliveries of blood, drugs or medicines, or organs.
Bicycle means every device propelled by human power upon which any person may ride, having two tandem wheels either of which is 14 inches or over in diameter.
Bus means every motor vehicle designed for carrying more than ten passengers and used for the transportation of persons, and every motor vehicle, other than a taxicab or limousine, designed and used for the transportation of persons for compensation.
Bus zone means the area or space officially set apart within a roadway by appropriate signs or markings for the exclusive use of buses operating under franchise granted by the city, for loading and unloading passengers.
Business district means the territory contiguous to and including a roadway when, within any 600 feet along such roadway, there are buildings in use for business or industrial purposes which occupy 300 feet of frontage on one side or 300 feet collectively on both sides of the roadway.
Crosswalk means that part of a roadway at an intersection included within the connections of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on opposite sides of the street measured from the curbs, or in the absence of curbs, from the edges of the traversable roadway. The word "crosswalk" also includes any portion of a roadway at an intersection or elsewhere distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surfaces.
Department means Houston Public Works.
Director means the Director of Houston Public Works or his designee.
Driver means every person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle.
Driveway means entrances to and exits from private premises where it is possible to park completely off the street, and which are not open for vehicle traffic except by permission of the owner of such private premises.
Esplanade has the meaning ascribed in section 33-101 of this Code.
House trailer means a trailer or semitrailer:
a. That is designed, constructed and equipped as a dwelling place, living abode or sleeping place (either permanently or temporarily) and is equipped for use as a conveyance on streets and highways; or
b. Whose chassis and exterior shell is designed and constructed for use as a house trailer, as defined in subsection a., but is used instead permanently or temporarily for the advertising, sales, display or promotion of merchandise or services, or for any other commercial purpose except the transportation of property for hire or the transportation of property for distribution by a private carrier.
Intersection means the area embraced within the prolongation or connection of the lateral curb lines, or if none, then the lateral boundary line of the roadways of two streets which join one another at, or approximately at, right angles, or the area within which vehicles traveling upon different highways joining at any other angle may come in conflict. Where a street includes two roadways, 30 feet or more apart, then every crossing of each roadway of such divided street by an intersecting street shall be regarded as a separate intersection. In the event such intersecting street also includes two roadways 30 feet or more apart, then every crossing of two roadways of such streets shall be regarded as a separate intersection. The junction of an alley with a street or highway shall not constitute an intersection.
Legal holidays means the term "legal holidays" shall include only such holidays as are officially designated by the city council.
Limited-access or controlled-access highway means any highway, street or roadway in respect to which owners or occupants of abutting lands and other persons have no legal right of access to or from the same except at such points only and in such manner as may be determined by the public authority having jurisdiction over such highway, street or roadway.
Livestock has the meaning ascribed in Texas Agricultural Code Section 1.003.
Median strip means the dividing area, either landscaped or paved, between opposing highway traffic lanes.
Meter has the meaning ascribed in section 26-181 of this Code.
Micromobility device means a self-propelled transportation device designed primarily for individual use for short-distance travel with: (1) a deck designed to allow a person to stand or sit while operating the device; (2) a braking system capable of stopping the device under typical operating conditions; and (3) is capable of propulsion by an electric motor, by human power, or by a combination thereof. The term includes electric scooters, hoverboards, electric skateboards, and electric roller skates. The term does not include all-terrain vehicles, mopeds, motorcycles, electric bicycles, motorized mobility devices, electronic personal assistive mobility devices, or a neighborhood electric vehicle, all of which are defined and subject to regulations pursuant to the Texas Transportation Code.
Minor has the meaning ascribed in section 28-17 of this Code.
Motor vehicle means every vehicle which is self-propelled and every vehicle which is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails.
Motorcycle means every motor vehicle having a saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, but excluding a tractor.
Neighborhood electric vehicle means a vehicle subject to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 500 (49 C.F.R. Section 571.500).
Off-highway vehicle means a vehicle as defined in Chapter 551A.001 of the Texas Transportation Code, as amended.
Owner means a person, other than a lienholder, having the property in or title to a vehicle. The term includes a person entitled to the use and possession of a vehicle subject to a security interest in another person, but excludes a lessee under a lease not intended as security.
Park or parking means the standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading passengers or merchandise except an involuntary stopping of such vehicle by reason of mechanical failure or direction of a police officer.
Pedestrian means any person afoot.
Pole trailer means every vehicle without motive power designed to be drawn by another vehicle and attached to the towing vehicle by means of a reach, or pole, or by being boomed or otherwise secured to the towing vehicle, and ordinarily used for transporting long or irregularly shaped loads such as poles, pipes, or structural members, capable, generally, of sustaining themselves as beams between the supporting connections.
Police officer means every officer authorized to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violations of traffic regulations.
Private driveway means every way or place in private ownership and used for vehicular travel by the owner and those having express or implied permission from the owner but not by other persons.
Rent means the payment of any money, fee, charge, consideration, thing of value, reward, tip, donation, or gratuity, whether on a recurring or one-time basis, by a person for the right to possess or use a micromobility device or off-highway vehicle, including but not limited to possession and use of the micromobility device or off-highway vehicle pursuant to a lease, sublease, license, timeshare agreement, or other agreement.
Right-of-way means the right of one vehicle or pedestrian to proceed in a lawful manner in preference to another vehicle or pedestrian approaching under such circumstances of direction, speed and proximity as to give rise to danger of collision unless one grants precedence to the other.
Roadway means that portion of a street or highway improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel. In the event a street or highway includes two or more separate roadways, the term "roadway" shall refer to any such roadway separately but not to all such roadways collectively.
Semitrailer means every vehicle with or without motive power, other than a pole trailer, designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that some part of its weight and that of its load rests upon or is carried by another vehicle.
Sidewalk means that portion of a street between the curb lines, or the lateral lines of a roadway, and the adjacent property lines intended for the use of pedestrians.
Stop, when required, means complete cessation of movement.
Stop, stopping, standing, when prohibited, means any stopping or standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic-control sign or signal.
Street or highway means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.
Taxi zone means the area or space officially set apart within a roadway by appropriate signs or markings for the exclusive use of taxicabs licensed as such by the city.
Temporary structure means any structure or vehicle which is designed to be easily transported or dismantled after its function has been fulfilled, and which is used for the purposes of renting or facilitating the rental of a micromobility device.
Through street or express street means every highway or portion thereof on which vehicular traffic is given preferential right-of-way, and at the entrances to which vehicular traffic from intersecting highways is required by law to yield right-of-way to vehicles on such through highway in obedience to a stop sign, yield sign or other official traffic-control device, when such signs or devices are erected as provided by law.
Traffic means pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, and other conveyances, either singly or together, while using any street or highway for purposes of travel.
Traffic island means a raised area over which vehicles may not pass, placed at a junction of streets or between opposing traffic lanes.
Traffic-control devices means all signs, signals, markings, and devices not inconsistent with this chapter placed or erected by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction, for the purpose of regulating, warning, or guiding traffic.
Traffic-control signal means any device, whether manually, electrically, or mechanically operated, by which traffic is alternately directed to stop and to proceed.
Trailer means every vehicle with or without motive power, other than a pole trailer, designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that no part of its weight rests upon the towing vehicle.
Truck or commercial vehicle means every motor vehicle designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property.
Vehicle means every device in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a street or highway, excepting devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.
(Code 1968, § 46-2; Ord. No. 80-3073, § 1, 10-22-80; Ord. No. 90-635, § 148, 5-23-90; Ord. No. 91-62, §§ 1, 2, 1-9-91; Ord. No. 93-514, § 102, 5-5-93; Ord. No. 03-703, § 6, 7-30-03; Ord. No. 04-679, § 2, 6-23-04; Ord. No. 05-935, § 2, 8-3-05; Ord. No. 05-1315, § 1, 11-30-05; Ord. No. 07-464, § 9(Exh. C), 4-11-07; Ord. No. 07-1111, § 5, 10-3-07; Ord. No. 09-2, § 21, 1-7-09; Ord. No. 2018-11, §§ 49, 50, 1-10-2018; Ord. No. 2021-205, § 5, 3-24-2021; Ord. No. 2025-971, §§ 3, 4, 11-19-2025)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 45-3 Compliance.
Sec. 45-3. - Compliance.
It is unlawful and, unless otherwise declared in this chapter with respect to particular offenses, it is a misdemeanor for any person to do any act forbidden or fail to perform any act required in this chapter.
(Code 1968, § 46-3)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 45-4 Houston Public Works.
Sec. 45-4. - Houston Public Works.
The city's former department of traffic and transportation has been merged into Houston Public Works. Any reference in this Code or other ordinances or documents of the city to the department of traffic and transportation shall be construed to mean Houston Public Works. Similarly, any reference to the director of traffic and transportation or to the director of the traffic and transportation department shall be construed to mean the Director of Houston Public Works.
(Code 1968, § 46-4; Ord. No. 90-635, § 149, 5-23-90; Ord. No. 93-514, § 103, 5-5-93; Ord. No. 2018-11, § 30, 1-10-2018)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 45-5 General powers and duties of traffic engineer.
Sec. 45-5. - General powers and duties of traffic engineer.
(a) The Director of Houston Public Works or such other person as the director may from time to time designate in writing to perform such function shall be the traffic engineer of the city. The traffic engineer shall exercise the powers and duties as provided in this Code and the other traffic ordinances of the city.
(b) The city traffic engineer shall have the responsibility and authority to determine the installation and proper timing and maintenance of traffic-control devices, to conduct engineering analyses of traffic accidents and to devise remedial measures, to conduct engineering investigation of traffic conditions, to plan the operation of traffic on the streets and highways of this city, and to cooperate with other city officials in the development of ways and means to improve traffic conditions, and to carry out the additional powers and duties imposed by ordinances of this city.
(Code 1968, § 46-5; Ord. No. 90-635, § 150, 5-23-90; Ord. No. 93-514, § 104, 5-5-93; Ord. No. 2018-11, § 49, 1-10-2018)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 45-6 Authority of traffic engineer to make regulations.
Sec. 45-6. - Authority of traffic engineer to make regulations.
(a) The traffic engineer is hereby empowered to make regulations necessary to make effective the provisions of this chapter and other traffic ordinances of the city.
(b) The city traffic engineer is hereby empowered to make temporary or experimental traffic regulations to cover emergencies or special conditions. No such temporary or experimental regulations shall remain in effect for more than 90 days; provided however, the traffic engineer shall have no authority to eliminate established school zone speed limits without city council authorization.
(Code 1968, § 46-6; Ord. No. 87-2025, § 1, 12-16-87)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 45-7 Traffic engineer's regulations, designations, etc., to be recorded and kept on file.
Sec. 45-7. - Traffic engineer's regulations, designations, etc., to be recorded and kept on file.
Every regulation, designation, delineation or determination promulgated by the traffic engineer pursuant to the authority granted in this chapter shall, unless otherwise provided herein, be described and recorded, and a true record thereof shall be maintained on file and available for public inspection in the offices of the traffic engineer. The original records may be maintained in the data base of a data processing system, provided that the system has the capability to generate printed copies upon request therefor. Each such record shall constitute public record, and all persons shall be charged with notice of the contents of the same.
(Code 1968, § 46-7; Ord. No. 88-726, § 1, 5-4-88)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 45-8 Enforcement generally.
Sec. 45-8. - Enforcement generally.
It shall be the duty of the officers of the police department or such officers as are assigned by the chief of police to enforce all street traffic laws of this city and all of the state vehicle laws applicable to street traffic in this city. Additionally, parking compliance officers are authorized to enforce the provisions of this chapter relating to stopping, standing or parking by issuance of a parking citation on the official form prescribed by the city for such notices.
(Code 1968, § 46-8; Ord. No. 77-1069, § 1, 5-31-77; Ord. No. 07-464, § 10, 4-11-07; Ord. No. 2019-1015, § 37, 12-11-2019)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 45-9 Authority of police officers to direct traffic.
Sec. 45-9. - Authority of police officers to direct traffic.
Officers of the police department or such officers as are assigned by the chief of police are hereby authorized to direct all traffic by voice, hand, or signal in conformance with this chapter and other traffic laws, provided that, in the event of a fire or other emergency or to expedite traffic or to safeguard pedestrians, officers of the police department may direct traffic as conditions may require notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter or other traffic laws.
(Code 1968, § 46-9)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 45-10 Authority of officers of fire department to direct traffic.
Sec. 45-10. - Authority of officers of fire department to direct traffic.
Officers of the fire department, when at the scene of a fire, may direct or assist the police in directing traffic thereat or in the immediate vicinity.
(Code 1968, § 46-10)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 45-11 Obedience to traffic officers generally.
Sec. 45-11. - Obedience to traffic officers generally.
No person shall willfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order, direction or signal, visual or audible, of any police officer or officer of the fire department vested by law with authority to direct, control or regulate traffic. No police officer shall be directed or required to have a quota on the minimum amount of traffic stops during a normal working shift.
(Code 1968, § 46-11; Ord. No. 2025-457, § 2, 5-28-2025)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 45-12 Reserved.
Houston Code of Ordinances § 45-13 Pedestrians, bicycles, etc., upon limited or controlled-access highways.
Sec. 45-13. - Pedestrians, bicycles, etc., upon limited or controlled-access highways.
(a) No pedestrian shall go upon, walk along, or cross over any limited-access or controlled-access highway within the corporate limits of the city, except upon the portions along the outer margins thereof, which are designed for and known as "service roadways."
(b) No person shall ride any bicycle or take any bicycle upon any limited-access or controlled-access highway within the corporate limits of the city, except upon the portions along the outer margins thereof, which are designed for and known as "service roadways."
(c) No person shall drive or operate any wheeled vehicle which is not motor-propelled upon any limited-access or controlled-access highway within the corporate limits of the city, except upon the portions along the outer margins thereof which are designed for and known as "service roadways."
(d) To avoid any doubt, if any doubt might otherwise exist, it is the purpose of the city council by this section to prohibit, within the center or middle portions of limited-access or controlled-access highways which are designed to accommodate through traffic, and to and from which connecting roadways lead to and from the service roadways, any use except for the operation thereupon of motor vehicles.
(e) Any person violating any of the terms of this section shall be guilty of an offense and shall be fined not less than $25.00 and not more than $200.00.
(Code 1968, § 46-16)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 45-14 Riding on portion of vehicle not intended for passengers.
Sec. 45-14. - Riding on portion of vehicle not intended for passengers.
No person shall ride on any vehicle upon any portion thereof not designed or intended for the use of passengers. This provision shall not apply to an employee engaged in the necessary discharge of a duty, or to persons riding within truck bodies in space intended for merchandise.
(Code 1968, § 46-17)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 45-15 Boarding or alighting from moving vehicles.
Sec. 45-15. - Boarding or alighting from moving vehicles.
No person shall board or alight from any vehicle while such vehicle is in motion.
(Code 1968, § 46-20)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 45-16 Use of coasters, toy vehicles and similar devices on roadway.
Sec. 45-16. - Use of coasters, toy vehicles and similar devices on roadway.
No person riding in or by means of any coaster, toy vehicle or similar vehicle, shall go upon any roadway, except while crossing such roadway in accordance with the pedestrian crossing regulations. The provisions of this section shall not apply to persons on roller skates.
(Code 1968, § 46-22; Ord. No. 90-1182, § 1, 10-3-90)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 45-17 Removal of foliage restricting vision.
Sec. 45-17. - Removal of foliage restricting vision.
(a) Whenever the traffic engineer shall find a tree, shrub, hedge, or other natural growth of any sort or description located and growing within the boundaries of any public street in the city, which interferes with the vision of automobile drivers driving upon such street, therefore constituting a traffic hazard, he is authorized and directed to cause the traffic hazard to be abated by trimming or removing any such obstruction. If deemed advisable and without materially increasing the danger to the public, the traffic engineer is authorized to give notice to the owner of the abutting property and afford such owner an opportunity to do the work of abating the hazard himself, but the traffic engineer shall never be compelled to await the owner's action in any case where he shall find that the public safety requires the immediate abatement of the hazard.
(b) The mayor is authorized to detail skilled employees of the parks and recreation department or other employees of the city other than classified police officers and fire fighters to assist the traffic engineer in the actual work of abating and removing such traffic hazards and such employees shall perform the work under the direction and supervision of the traffic engineer.
(Code 1968, § 46-24; Ord. No. 07-464, § 12, 4-11-07)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 45-18 Operation of neighborhood electric vehicles and off-highway vehicles by minors prohibited.
Sec. 45-18. - Operation of neighborhood electric vehicles and off-highway vehicles by minors prohibited.
(a) It shall be unlawful for a minor to operate a neighborhood electric vehicle or off-highway vehicle on a public roadway, street, alley, sidewalk, trails, or city park within city limits.
(b) It shall be unlawful for the parent or guardian of a minor to allow or permit the minor to operate a neighborhood electric vehicle or an off-highway vehicle on any public roadway, street, alley, sidewalk, trail, or city park within the city limits.
(c) It is a defense to prosecution under this section if a minor presents evidence of being a qualified individual with a disability pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sections 12131 and 12132).
(Ord. No. 05-935, § 3, 8-3-05; Ord. No. 2025-971, § 5, 11-19-2025)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 45-19 Application of chapter to drivers of government vehicles.
Sec. 45-19. - Application of chapter to drivers of government vehicles.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to the driver of any vehicle owned by or used in the service of the United States government, this state, county or city, and it shall be unlawful for any such driver to violate any of the provisions of this chapter, except as otherwise permitted in this chapter or by state statute.
(Code 1968, § 46-26)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 45-20 Application of chapter to persons propelling push carts, riding animals, etc.
Sec. 45-20. - Application of chapter to persons propelling push carts, riding animals, etc.
Every person propelling any push cart or riding an animal upon a roadway, and every person driving any animal-drawn vehicle, shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter applicable to the driver of any vehicle, except those provisions of this chapter which, by their very nature, can have no application.
(Code 1968, § 46-27)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 45-21 Removing materials from highway.
Sec. 45-21. - Removing materials from highway.
Any person who drops or permits to be dropped or thrown, upon any street or highway any destructive or injurious material, or other material such as dirt, shell, oil, etc., which would be detrimental to the use or appearance of such street or highway, shall immediately remove the same or cause it to be removed.
(Code 1968, § 46-23(b))
Houston Code of Ordinances § 45-22 Penalty for violation of chapter.
Sec. 45-22. - Penalty for violation of chapter.
(a) It is a misdemeanor for any person to violate any of the provisions of this chapter. Every person convicted of a misdemeanor for a violation of those provisions of this chapter for which another penalty is not specifically provided shall be punished by a fine of not less than $1.00 nor more than $200.00; provided however that no penalty shall be greater or less than the penalty for the same offense under the laws of this state.
(b) For violations under this chapter that are of a continuing nature, each day that the violation shall continue shall constitute a separate offense.
(Ord. No. 95-81, § 2, 1-25-95; Ord. No. 01-759, §§ 4, 5, 8-15-01; Ord. No. 04-679, § 3, 6-23-04; Ord. No. 04-799, § 3, 7-28-04; Ord. No. 07-464, § 13, 4-11-07)
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_CH45TR_ARTIINGEFetched: 10/26/2026