Garage Sales

One garage sale is allowed per residential address every six months. The garage sale cannot be held for longer than two days. The permit costs $6.00 and can be obtained from the Planning & Inspections Department from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Properties other than residential (commercial, churches, schools, apartments) cannot hold a garage sale but can apply for a special event permit for a sale or event being held at the facility. Three week notice is required for a special event permit. Contact the Permits Office for additional information (817) 427-6300.

High Grass & Weeds

Grass and weeds growing in excess of 10 inches in height on average is considered a violation of the high grass and weed ordinance. When a complaint is received or high grass and weeds are observed by the Code Compliance Officer, the property owner is contacted by mail and given 7 days to abate the violation. If the property owner fails to mow the grass, citations will be issued, or the City's Contract Mower will mow the property and such charges will be assessed to the property owner, in addition to a $105 Administration Fee. Failure to pay all costs incurred for the mowing service within 30 days results in a lien being filed against the property. To view the City of North Richland Hills ordinance related to high weeds and grass, please see the Online Code of Ordinances, Chapter 34, Article III

Nuisance

There are several different types of nuisance problems that are investigated by the Code Compliance Officers. Some general nuisances include the following:

• An inoperative vehicle is defined as a motor vehicle which is inoperative, within public view, wrecked, or partially dismantled, and remains inoperable. This includes a vehicle that is rendered temporarily or permanently inoperable due to conditions such as, but not limited to, flat tire or tires, missing tires or wheels, partially wrecked or dismantled, in a state of disrepair or otherwise unserviceable or not drivable. Each single-family or 2-family residence is allowed to park not more than 1 inoperable vehicle that is awaiting repair for a period not to exceed 15 days. Each single-family or 2-family residence may park or store not more than 1 inoperable vehicle on their property provided the vehicle is screened from view in all directions by a permanent screening fence of masonry and/or wood of redwood, cedar or other wood material that is approved for outdoor applications, not less than 6 feet in height. Violators are issued a written notice to repair or remove the vehicle within 7 days. Failure to comply results in the issuance of citations.
• A vehicle may be parked or stored in the front yard, rear yard and side yard adjacent to a street provided it is parked on a hard paved surface of concrete or asphalt not less than 9 feet by 18 feet or at least of sufficient size to accommodate the horizontal area projected by the extreme limits of the vehicle. A vehicle may be parked or stored in the side yard, side yard adjacent to a street or a rear yard provided it is screened from view from public ways by not less than a 6 foot tall solid fence (exception: R-1-S zoning).
• Septic tanks that present a potential injurious threat to the health and safety of the public.
• Fences or screening walls that are in disrepair and that constitutes a public hazard to persons or property. Any fence or screening wall that is deteriorated or leaning 15 degrees or more must be repaired, replaced or removed.
• Discharging of sewage onto the ground, or into a Stream, creek, waterway or other body of water.
• Causing the emission of foul, offensive, noisome, nauseous, noxious or disagreeable odors.
• Permitting an unsafe, unsecured, unclean, unsanitary, or unsound swimming pool, hot tub, and their related accessory structures.
• Permitting the accumulation or the dumping of garbage, rubbish, or debris, that provides a breeding place for insects or rodents.
• Permitting water to become stagnant, foul, or provides harborage for mosquitoes, flies, and other insects.
• Permitting a lawn irrigation system to spray or overflow water into a public street during periods of freezing weather and resulting in a potentially dangerous condition.
• Maintaining graffiti on public or private structures.
• Failure to pick up trash prior to mowing and trim all grass 10" or taller along all fences, structures and within 3' of the perimeter of the property.

For more specific information, please click on the ordinance link below. To view the City of North Richland Hills ordinances related to Public Nuisance, please see the Online Code of Ordinances, Chapter 34.

Parking

In addition to the inoperable vehicle and parking regulations mentioned in the nuisance section above, there are several additional parking regulations in place in the City of North Richland Hills. These include:

Parking & Storage of Recreational Vehicles & Equipment:

A recreational vehicle is "a vehicle designed and used primarily for recreational purposes." This includes, but is not limited to, motor homes, trailers with living accommodations, campers, boats, trailers, jet skis, four wheelers, fifth wheel trailers, animal carrier trailers, and camper shells or tops.

No more than one recreational vehicle shall be allowed in the front yard of any residence. The vehicle must be parked in the driveway or on an improved surface and at right angles to the street. One recreational vehicle may be stored in a side yard if on an improved surface. More than one vehicle may be stored in the rear yard, if either on an improved surface large enough to accommodate the vehicle(s,) or screened from public view by a solid fence at least six feet in height. No major recreational equipment may be used for living, sleeping, home occupation or household purposes when parked on a residential lot. An exception is provided for those individuals that are not residents of the property to use and park a recreational vehicle in the driveway or on an approved surface for a period up to 16 consecutive days during any calendar year.

To view the ordinance related to Parking & Storage of Recreational Vehicles and Equipment, please see the Online Code of Ordinances, Chapter 118, Article V, Division 5, Section 724.

Parking and storage of vehicles and other equipment

No vehicle, boat, trailer, camper or camper top more than seven feet in height shall be parked, placed, or stored in any public right-of-way between the back of the street curb and a point 9 ½ feet back from the curb. (Or in the case of a street without a curb, a point 9 ½ feet back from the edge of the pavement). An exception is provided for 5th wheel trailers. The elevated portion of the trailer body (tongue, gooseneck) may protrude into the 9 ½ feet from back of curb, or pavement if no curb, if that portion of the trailer is elevated at least 5 feet above ground level. To view the ordinance related to these restrictions, please see the Online Code of Ordinances, Chapter 54, Article IV, Section 177.

Parking Across Sidewalks

It is unlawful to park any motor vehicle or trailer across or upon any sidewalk for pedestrians. Any person who leaves any motor vehicle or trailer unattended across or upon any sidewalk is guilty of a misdemeanor. The code compliance officer will leave a warning for the first offense and citations will be written for any violations following the initial warning. Violation of this ordinance is punishable by fines up to $200. Each day the violation exists is considered a separate offense. To view the City of North Richland Hills ordinance related to Parking Across Sidewalks, please see the Online Code of Ordinances, Chapter 54, Article IV, Section 161.

Truck, Truck Tractors, Trailer Parking

The owner or operator of any truck tractor, truck trailer or truck tractor trailer rig cannot park or store their rig on any street, right-of-way, athletic field, public property, parking lot, playground, vacant lot, public or private school, church premises, or residential property within the City of North Richland Hills, unless they are loading or unloading merchandise on the property. The rig cannot be left unattended at any time. The Code Compliance Officer will issue a warning notice for the first offense and begin writing citations 24 hours after the warning is issued. Such violation is deemed a misdemeanor and the fine can be up to $500. Each day the violation exists shall constitute a separate violation. Vehicles that are continually found in violation may be moved and stored at the expense of the owner. The vehicle will be released only upon payment of all outstanding charges for removal and storage plus an administrative fee of $100. To view the City of North Richland Hills ordinance related to Truck, Truck Tractors, Trailer Parking, please see the Online Code of Ordinances, Chapter 54, Article IV, Section 176.