A letter from the city about your property is stressful, especially if the house is vacant, inherited or already in rough shape. The good news is that open violations do not automatically stop a sale. They do change how you can sell.
What the City Is Allowed to Do
Under Texas Local Government Code section 214.001, a city can set standards for buildings that are dilapidated, substandard or unfit to live in, as well as buildings that are empty and unsecured. The process involves notice, a hearing and an order. An owner generally has 30 days to comply, with longer periods possible when a work plan is shown. If the owner does nothing, the city can do the work and charge the cost to the property, though that charge is not placed as a lien on a Texas homestead.
Why Violations Complicate a Normal Listing
Lenders hesitate to finance a house with unresolved safety issues, inspections reveal the problems, and title companies flag liens and fines that must be settled at or before closing. Meanwhile deadlines keep running.
Practical Steps
Gather every notice, case number and hearing date. Note whether a mortgage or tax lien is also on the property. Never ignore a hearing notice, because an order can be issued whether or not you attend.
Your options are to fix the issues and list, list as-is and negotiate, or sell to a buyer who takes the house as it stands. We explain how that last option works on our page about selling a Houston house with code violations. If liens are involved, see selling a house with a lien.