The City of Cleburne Code Enforcement Department handles a wide variety of issues. You may contact Code Enforcement at (817)556-8807 if you have a code complaint. It is helpful to provide the address of the violation, type of violation, and any other specific information that might expedite taking care of the problem. 

Code Violations

High Grass and/or Weeds

City Ordinances require that weeds and grass be kept below 12 inches in height, and that trimmings are not allowed to accumulate in any gutter, street, sidewalk, alley or any other public or private property.  The owner or occupant of the property is required to maintain the property from the street in the front to the middle of the alley in the back (or the property line.) This includes the front, back and side yards, the right-of-way (the area between the sidewalk and the curb,) and the alley and easement (the area behind the property.) Any acreage over 3 acres must be maintained with a perimeter of a minimum of 100 feet from any property line adjacent to any developed residential or non-residential property.

Junk Vehicles
No junk vehicles are allowed on private or public property. A junk motor vehicle is any vehicle that is inoperative and remains inoperative for more than 45 days or is inoperative and does not have a current registration sticker or inspection sticker. A junk vehicle is also any vehicle which is wrecked, dismantled or discarded. These vehicles may not be visible anywhere in the public view, public right-of-way, street or any other private property.  Junk vehicles must be removed from the property or screened within an enclosed garage or privacy fence.

Junk Debris (Trash, Brush or Refuse)
Trash is debris, rubble, stone, fragments of building materials and any other materials. Refuse is any type of accumulation of worn-out, used up, broken, rejected or worthless materials. These items are not allowed to be stored or accumulate upon public or private property. The front, back and side yards, and the alley and easement must remain free of all litter, trash and refuse.   The City allows one free dump a month (pickup load only) at the Transfer Station with proof of a paid water / sanitation bill.  The city Transfer Station is located at 2625 Pipeline Rd.  All trailer loads must be weighed and a fee accessed.

Trash collection is scheduled twice a week (Monday & Thursday or Tuesday & Friday).  Contact Utility Billing (817)645-0921 to determine your areas schedule.  All trash must be bagged and set at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on the schedule day of pickup.  Do not set trash out in advance.  Loose brush / limbs must be cut 4 feet or shorter, bundled with rope/twine and set out with normal trash.  Loose brush or unbundled limbs will not be picked up by the Sanitation Department. 

 Signs (Garage Sales, For Sale, Lost Animals, Etc.)

It is illegal to erect or affix a sign in the right-of-way (the area from the curb to the sidewalk,) in the median (the area in the middle of a street,) on trees, public fences, buildings or utility/telephone poles. Any signs located in these areas are subject to be removed by a police officer, code enforcement officer, or other City employee.  A fine of up to $200 may also be accessed for illegal posting of signs.

Garage sales are allowed to run for three consecutive days and can be held two times per calendar year.  A permit must be obtained 24 hours prior to beginning your sale.  Garage sale permits can be obtained at Water Utility Billing office located at 418 W. Henderson.     The city requires all residents who have a garage sale permit to place one sign in their front yard advertising the sale. Two additional signs may be placed at the end of the block with the owner's permission. However, signs cannot be placed in medians, on utility poles or in rights-of way.

Signs (Portable)

A permit is required to acquire and set a portable sign or temporary sign. A sign permit may be obtained from the Building Inspections Department.  Portable signs may only be in place for a maximum of 15 days for 5 times a year. (Exception:  Portable signs on the official “registered list of 1996” must remain in place at the same location.)   No off-premise advertising is allowed on a portable sign.

Fences

The fence on your property should be maintained at all times. It is unlawful to allow your fence to lean or to have missing, loose or broken slats or panels. The fence is not allowed to have symbols, writings or other graffiti except for signs which pertain to the address or occupancy of the property. It is prohibited to have barbed wire, hog wire or chicken wire or to have an electric fence. 

Fences (around pools)

If you have a swimming pool, a fence, structure or gate is required to completely surround the swimming pool to prevent small children from inadvertently wandering near the pool and falling in. The fence, structure or gate shall not be lower than four feet in height, and not have any openings that will allow a four-inch diameter sphere to pass through; and all gates should have a self-closing and self-latching device designed to keep gates closed and locked at all times.