Tex. Loc. Gov't Code Ann. ch. 214 (subchs. A, B, C, G, H, I, Z) § 214.015
SEIZURE AND SALE OF PROPERTY TO RECOVER EXPENSES.
Operative Text
Sec. 214.015. SEIZURE AND SALE OF PROPERTY TO RECOVER EXPENSES. A home-rule municipality or Type A general-law municipality may foreclose a lien on property under this subchapter in a proceeding relating to the property brought under Subchapter E, Chapter 33, Tax Code. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 1017, Sec. 6, eff. Aug. 28, 1995. SUBCHAPTER C. SWIMMING POOLS AND SPAS
Under Texas Local Government Code § 214.015, certain Texas municipalities—specifically home-rule municipalities and Type A general-law municipalities—are authorized to place a lien on property when they have incurred expenses related to substandard building enforcement, and then to foreclose that lien through a tax-lien foreclosure proceeding under Subchapter E of Chapter 33 of the Texas Tax Code. This mechanism allows a city to recover costs it spent addressing dangerous or substandard conditions on private property. The provision does not require the municipality to pursue this remedy, but it grants the legal authority to do so.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners subject to municipal enforcement actions under the substandard structures provisions should be aware that § 214.015 gives qualifying Texas municipalities a powerful cost-recovery tool: if the city spends money remedying conditions on a property, it may attach a lien and ultimately foreclose on that property through a tax-lien proceeding. Compliant operators generally address municipal notices of violation promptly and in full to avoid accumulating city-incurred remediation costs that could trigger this lien process. Keeping records of all repairs and correspondence with the municipality is a practice commonly associated with avoiding escalation to the lien-and-foreclosure stage.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
For tenants, § 214.015 is relevant context for understanding how seriously Texas law treats substandard housing conditions—municipalities have authority to act against a property and recover their costs through foreclosure if an owner fails to address violations. If you are living in a property that has received municipal enforcement attention, tenant-rights organizations in your area can help you understand how ongoing enforcement actions might affect your tenancy. Tenants may also contact the local municipality's code enforcement or housing department to learn the status of any liens or proceedings associated with a property under this provision.
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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