Tex. Loc. Gov't Code Ann. ch. 214 (subchs. A, B, C, G, H, I, Z) § 214.233
REGISTRATION.
Operative Text
Sec. 214.233. REGISTRATION. (a) A municipality located in a county with a population of 2.5 million or more may adopt an ordinance requiring owners of vacant buildings to register their buildings by filing a registration form with a designated municipal official.(b) A municipality, in an ordinance adopted under this subchapter, may exempt certain classifications of buildings as determined reasonable and appropriate by the governing body of the municipality. Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1157 (H.B. 3065), Sec. 1, eff. January 1, 2010.Amended by: Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1163 (H.B. 2702), Sec. 80, eff. September 1, 2011.Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 644 (H.B. 4559), Sec. 144, eff. September 1, 2023.
Under Tex. Loc. Gov't Code § 214.233, municipalities situated in Texas counties with a population of 2.5 million or more are authorized—but not required—to enact local ordinances that compel owners of vacant buildings to register those properties with a designated municipal official by submitting a registration form. The same ordinance authority allows the municipality's governing body to carve out exemptions for certain categories of buildings it deems reasonable and appropriate. This provision sets the outer boundary of what local governments in qualifying counties may do; it does not itself impose registration requirements directly on any property owner.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners with vacant buildings in large Texas counties should check whether their municipality has adopted a local ordinance under § 214.233, since qualifying cities may require a registration form to be filed with a designated official. Operators who stay current on local ordinance adoptions and amendments are generally better positioned to meet any filing deadlines that a municipality may establish. Because exemptions for certain building classifications are permitted under § 214.233, owners of specialized property types may want to review the specific local ordinance to understand whether their buildings qualify for an exemption.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 214.233 is primarily directed at vacant-building owners and the municipalities that regulate them, but tenants in large Texas counties may find it relevant when a neighboring or formerly occupied building sits vacant without apparent registration. If a local ordinance has been adopted under § 214.233, tenants or community members can generally inquire with the designated municipal official about whether a vacant building is properly registered. Tenant-rights organizations and local housing departments can help identify whether a municipality has enacted such an ordinance and what remedies or complaint processes may be available.
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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