Code Compliance
New Braunfels Municipal Code
A complete list of ordinances adopted by New Braunfels City Council.
Online Complaint Form
For non-emergency complains like high grass, abandoned vehicles, and graffiti.
Code Compliance is responsible for investigating and processing general nuisance violations, applicable statutory provisions, and specific ordinance violations, including, but not limited to:
- Junk and abandoned vehicles on private property.
- Tall grass and weed violations on private property.
- Outside storage of junk & trash on private property.
- Bandit Signs on public right of ways.
- Graffiti Abatement
The Code Compliance office is responsible for monitoring both public and private property, commercial and residential, to ensure that there are no health or safety hazards that might endanger the public and determining compliance with certain City codes and ordinances. These code requirements are the minimum standards the City has adopted to protect the interests and eliminate hazards that could affect public safety, health, and general welfare. The City’s codes and ordinances address a wide variety of areas, including nuisance violations, public health, zoning violations and sign violations.
Code Compliance Officers are not Police Officers and cannot issue citations. However, officers can still file complaints with the City’s Municipal Court, which requires a property owner or occupant to appear in court to answer to charges of code violation. In addition, for certain types of violation, the City may remove the nuisance and charge the property owner for the cost of work, including placing a lien on the property to recover the costs. However, the primary focus of the officers in enforcement is education, and officers will normally work with first-time offenders and allow them time to remove the nuisance themselves.
Resources
- Short Term Rentals
- Signs
- Outdoor Lighting
- Excess Brush & Bulky Items
- Building Code
- Deed Restrictions
- Citizen Portal
Short Term Rental
The rental for compensation of one- or two-family dwellings, as defined in the IRC (International Residential Code), for the purpose of overnight lodging for a period of not less than one night and not more than 30 days other than ongoing month-to-month tenancy granted to the same renter for the same unit. This is not applicable to hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, resort properties as defined in Chapter 144-5.17 of the municipal code or resort condominiums.
If you would like to report an illegal Short Term Rental property please use the link below. If the complaint occurs after hours or on the weekend the complaint will be reviewed the next business day. Short Term Rental Complaint Form
If you have a noise complaint related to a Short Term Rental property do not use the form and contact the New Braunfels Police Department non emergency dispatch at 830-221-4100.
Signs
In order to protect the beautiful and safe community of New Braunfels. The City of New Braunfels Code Compliance Division kindly reminds residents and business of prohibited signs.
Prohibited Signs
Off-premise and on-premise signs prohibited include:
- Portable signs
- Roof signs
- Signs affixed to a tree or utility pole
- Banners attached to the ground
- Bandit signs (see below)
- Stake signs
- Billboards
Bandit signs
Any sign other than signs owned by the city, the state or a county, or authorized by the city, posted on a utility pole, street sign, street furniture or sign posted in the public right-of-way, of any size, including signs with wood or wire framing, post or stakes. Such signs are hereby declared to be abandoned trash at the time of posting and may be removed and discarded without notice.
View additional sign information including applications on the Planning Division's webpage.
Outdoor Lighting
An outdoor lighting ordinance has been in effect in the City of New Braunfels since 2006. This ordinance covers the night-time illumination of an outside area or object by any man-made device located outdoors that produces light by any means of both commercial and residential properties. The ordinance includes glare, height of the light source and shielding along with other lighting aspects.
Excess Brush & Bulky Items
Bulky items such as furniture, appliances or brush are not collected during routine curbside service. The Solid Waste & Recycling Division can schedule a collection of bulky items at the request of the resident. There is a fee for this service.
Building Code
The Code Compliance Division does not enforce Building Codes or construction occurring without Building Permits. Use the Building Division online complaint form if you have any questions about construction related concerns.
The Code Compliance Division does not enforce deed restrictions or Home Owners Association (HOA) covenants. These are civil processes and are not enforceable by the city unless they correspond with a city ordinance. The city does not enforce ordinances outside of the city limits. Please contact your HOA or county for additional information.