Tex. Loc. Gov't Code Ann. ch. 214 (subchs. A, B, C, G, H, I, Z) § 214.005
PROPERTY BID OFF TO MUNICIPALITY.
Operative Text
Sec. 214.005. PROPERTY BID OFF TO MUNICIPALITY. A municipality may adopt an ordinance under Section 214.001(a) that applies to property that has been bid off to the municipality under Section 34.01(j), Tax Code. Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 413, Sec. 11, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. SUBCHAPTER B. PLUMBING AND SEWERS
Section 214.005 of the Texas Local Government Code allows a municipality to extend its substandard-building ordinance authority—originally established under Section 214.001(a)—to cover properties that the municipality has acquired through the tax-sale bid-off process under Section 34.01(j) of the Tax Code. In other words, when a property goes unsold at a tax foreclosure auction and title passes to the municipality, the city retains the power to apply its housing and building standards ordinances to that property. This provision clarifies that municipal ownership through tax bid-off does not exempt a property from local substandard-building regulations.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating near or involved with tax-delinquent properties should be aware that under Section 214.005, a municipality that acquires a property through a tax-sale bid-off can still subject that property to the same substandard-building ordinance framework that applies to privately held properties. Compliant operators generally monitor the status of adjacent or portfolio properties that may be moving through tax foreclosure, since municipal acquisition does not create a regulatory gap. Understanding this provision helps operators anticipate how a city may manage and potentially redevelop bid-off properties in their area.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in properties that have been acquired by a municipality through a tax-sale bid-off should know that Section 214.005 preserves the city's authority to enforce substandard-building standards on those properties. This means that even when a municipality holds title, it is not exempt from its own housing ordinances, and tenants may still have avenues to raise habitability concerns through local code enforcement channels. Tenant-rights organizations in Texas can help residents of municipally owned properties understand what complaint processes may be available under the applicable local ordinance.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 28, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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