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Code Compliance
Who We Are
The Code Compliance Program enforces all city ordinances to protect property owners’ investments and promote the health and welfare of the community.
Code Compliance officers obtain compliance with nuisance, building, zoning, land development, environmental, and other codes and ordinances through effective, expeditious, and equitable enforcement of the codes.
The Code Compliance Department follows a specific process:
- A complaint is submitted by a resident or code staff then assigned to a code compliance officer.
- A code officer makes an initial inspection within 72 hours.
- Code officers determine whether the property is in violation.
- If violations exist, the property owner is given notification to comply.
- The code officer will conduct a follow-up inspection.
- If compliance is not met, the code officer determines appropriate enforcement action from three options:
- Obtain a warrant for involuntary abatement
- Issue a written citation
- Coordinate volunteer resources to meet compliance
Meet the Team
Justin Bradford
Code Compliance Officer
817-728-3620
Email Justin
Lawrence Chambers
Code Compliance Officer
817-728-3638
Email Lawrence
Common Zoning Violations
Fences
- Dilapidated or structurally unsound fences are the responsibility of the property owner to repair, remove or replace.
- Swimming pools must be completely surrounded by a fence, wall or barrier not less than 4 feet high with a self-closing and self-latching gate.
- Replacing a fence over 5 feet high and that includes more than 50 percent of the total fence requires a fence permit from the Planning Department at City Hall. All vertical posts must be 2 to 3 by 8 inches minimum outside diameter standard pipe gauge galvanized steel.
Overhanging Tree Limbs
- Maintain 14 foot clearance for mature trees overhanging or adjacent to streets, fire lanes or other access ways.
- Maintain 9 foot minimum vertical clearance for mature trees overhanging or adjacent to walkways and paths.
- Owners must remove all dead, diseased or dangerous trees or broken or decayed limbs that pose a risk to the public’s safety.
- The city has a right to prune trees overhanging within the public right-of-way that interfere with street lights or traffic controls devices and signs.
Boats/Trailers/Recreational Vehicles
- Only passenger vehicles such as cars, pickup trucks and vans may park on a driveway between the house and the street
- Non-passenger vehicles such as boats, campers, trailers or RVs cannot park between the front of the house and the street, on corner lots, non-passenger vehicles cannot park on the driveway between the side of the house and the street
- Vehicles less than 25-feet long may park on concrete pavement in a side or rear yard behind the front building line, vehicles may park on a non-paved surface in this area if it is enclosed by an opaque screening fence at least 6 feet high
- Vehicles greater than 25 feet long may park on a residential lot if:
- It’s enclosed in a three-sided building with an opaque gate or door
- It’s parked at least behind the house at least 50 feet from the property line
- It’s parked at least 75 feet from the front property line and 10 feet from side and rear property lines
- No setback required if the property is zoned for non-residential uses
- No setback required on property a half-acre in size and fronting an asphalt roadway
Donation Boxes
- Recycling collection center or freestanding donation boxes are prohibited in residential areas and within 250 linear feet of another donation box, hospitals, or parks and recreational facilities.
- They are allowed with a specific use permit and approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council in 2F, MF-1, MF-2, OP, C-1, C-2, C-3, and I-1 zoning districts. They are permitted by right in the I-2 zoning district.
- They are allowed as an accessory use on lots or tracts of land for places of worship, nonprofit organizations, and schools with the written consent of the property owner.
- All Donation Boxes, whether allowed by right, Specific Use Permit, or as an accessory use, are required to apply for and maintain a valid permit to place a donation box and may apply for the permit through the Department of Regulatory Compliance.
- Read more about Donation Boxes here.
Open Storage
- No open storage or display of building materials or materials for sale.
- No machinery storage other than what is incidental to the use of the premises.
- No truck or commercial vehicle storage except one panel delivery or truck not exceeding one ton capacity that is incidental to the main use of the premises.
Garage Sales
- Application for permit (PDF) to the Development Services Department required prior to the sale.
- No more than 2 garage sale permits issued for any one premise per calendar year.
- Garage sales may not be conducted as a commercial enterprise or for selling items purchased for resale.
- The garage sale must not restricted sidewalks or roadways that front or abut the premises where the sale is being conducted.
- Permitted garage sale may not open before 7 a.m. of any day and must close no later than 7 p.m. on any day.
- Permit must be issued prior to placement of signs. No more than 3 signs allowed per garage sale.
- Off-site signs are allowed with the consent of the property owner. Signs are allowed in city street right-of-way but not in medians or on fences, utility poles or other fixed objects. Signs must not obscure vision at intersections or traffic signals.
- Signs are limited to a maximum area of four square feet and maximum height of three feet (from ground to top of the sign). No balloons, streamers, flags or other similar devices are allowed on the signs.
- The address of the sale must be on the sign.
- Signs must be removed promptly after the garage sale.
- Illegally placed signs will be removed and discarded.
Sign Permits
- Permits are required for all signs including but not limited to permanent wall or monument signs, banners, flags and promotional signs.
- The total area of a window sign must not obscure more than 25 percent of the total window area. No flashing signs allowed.
- All signage in violation must be removed until it is permitted.
- Application for permit is made in the Development Services Department at City Hall.
Apply for a Sign Permit using our Online Permitting Application Portal here
Realtor/Open House Directional Signs
- These signs must be no larger than 24 inches by 18 inches in size and cannot be higher than 3 feet above ground.
- Signs may not be placed closer than 30 feet from an intersection measured from the edge of the right-of-way. Signs are not allowed in the medians.
- Signs may not be placed closer than 3 feet from the back of the curb.
- These signs must not obstruct the view of traffic on the roadway and cannot be placed on utility poles, street lights, trees or fences.
- Signs must only direct to properties within the Mansfield city limits.
- They must contain the words open or open house as well as a directional arrow. In a smaller font below, the sign must include the realty company, the listing agent and a current cell phone number.
- Signs are limited to no more than 4 for each address, including the sign on the property.
- Signs must be non-illuminating, self-supporting and kept good repair and made of metal or plastic only.
- Open House signs are only allowed on Friday, Saturdays, Sundays and official city holidays. They must be removed no later than 2 hours after the open house event.
- Signs in violation will be removed by the city.