Boarding Home Enforcement Unit

Boarding-Homes

The City of Houston recently amended Chapter 28 to include City Ordinance Numbers 2018-225, 2018-226 and 2018-227 which regulate Boarding Homes, Lodging Facilities, Correctional Facilities and Alternate Housing Facilities. The following sections define each type of facility and include amendments to the ordinances.

1) Boarding Homes (City Ordinance No. 2018-225)

Boarding Homes are facilities that provide lodging and personal care services to three or more persons with disabilities and/or elderly persons (65+). The previous law required a one-time registration. Under the new ordinance, it shall be unlawful for any person to own or operate a Boarding Home within the city limits without a permit. Each permit shall be valid for a period of one year and shall expire on the anniversary of the date of issuance. Boarding homes are regulated by the Mental Health Division’s, Boarding Home Enforcement Detail (BHED).

Boarding Homes are additionally mandated to obtain a Certificate of Occupancy (CO). The owner or operator of a Boarding Home facility shall provide a separate framed bed at least six feet long and three feet wide equipped with supportive springs and a clean supportive mattress 24 hours a day for each resident at the facility.

If you locate a suspected non-permitted boarding home or have questions related to boarding homes, please notify the Mental Health Division, Boarding Homes Investigation Unit at 832-394-4200 or hpd.cit@houstonpolice.org.

2) Lodging Facilities (City Ordinance No. 2018-226)

Lodging Facility means an establishment that furnishes lodging to three or more persons who are unrelated to the owner of the establishment by blood or marriage. The term “lodging facility” shall not include: (1) a boarding home, (2) a hotel or bed and breakfast facility, or (3) a single-family residential building, condominium, or townhouse that is owner-occupied for at least three months of the year each year.

3) Correctional and Alternate Housing Facilities (City Ordinance No. 2018-227)

Correctional facility means a facility for the housing and rehabilitation or training of adults on parole, early or pre-release, or any other form of executive, judicial or administrative release from a penal institution. Correctional Facilities house parole violators and individuals that are on probation.

Alternate Housing Facility means a residence owned by an individual, private legal entity, non-profit or faith based organization which is not owned by, operated by, established by or contracted with TDCJ where three or more unrelated parolees reside. TDCJ approval is required and approximately ninety-nine Alternate Housing Facilities are currently in the City of Houston.

The following mandates apply to all Correctional and Alternate Housing Facilities (City Ordinance No. 2018-227):

Annual, non-transferable permit with process for revocation/denial/appeal
Distance Requirements – 1,000 feet from schools (Public/private), public parks, and other AHFs/Correctional Facilities
Certificate of Occupancy
Annual life safety inspection prior to renewal
Maximum Occupancy – 75 persons*
Posted and practiced fire evacuation plan
Accessible fire extinguishers
Operable smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detectors
Readily available first aid supplies
Grandfather for existing locations – Facilities approved by TDCJ as of the effective date of the ordinance will be grandfathered for the distance requirements and have until October 1, 2019 to come into compliance with the other requirements.

Boarding Home Code Enforcement

CC1618 – OPERATE A BOARDING HOME WITHOUT REGISTERING IT WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON
CC1619 –FAIL TO POST BOARDING HOME REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE
CC1620 – FAIL TO POST PROVISIONS OF SECTION 102.003 OF THE TEXAS HUMAN RESOURCES CODE IN A BOARDING HOME
CC1621 – FAIL TO POST PHONE NUMBER FOR DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES IN A BOARDING HOME
CC1622 – BOARDING HOME FAIL TO MAINTAIN RECORDS SUFFICIENT TO VERIFY INFORMATION PROVIDED PER SECTION 28-454
CC1623 – OWNER OR OPERATOR OF BOARDING HOME FAIL TO NOTIFY DIRECTOR OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
CC1624 – OWNER OR OPERATOR OR EMPLOYEE OF BOARDING HOME FAIL TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION OF IDENTITY
CC1625 – BOARDING HOME FAIL TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO BOOKS
CC1626 – OWNER OR OPERATOR BOARDING HOME FAIL TO IMPLEMENT WRITTEN FIRE AND EVACUATION PLAN
CC1627 – OWNER OR OPERATOR BOARDING HOME FAIL TO ENSURE STAFF/RESIDENTS SHOWN HOW TO USE EMERGENCY EXITS
CC1628 – OWNER OR OPERATOR BOARDING HOME FAIL TO MAINTAIN PROOF OF EMERGENCY EXIT TRAINING
CC1629 – OWNER OR OPERATOR BOARDING HOME FAIL TO POST EVACUATION PLAN
CC1630 – OWNER OR OPERATOR BOARDING HOME FAIL TO MAINTAIN DOCUMENTATION OF EVACUATION PLAN TRAINING
CC1631 – OWNER OR OPERATOR BOARDING HOME FAIL TO STORE FLAMMABLE SUPPLIES OUTSIDE OF LIVING AREA
CC1632 – OWNER OR OPERATOR BOARDING HOME FAIL TO HAVE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS INSPECTED ANNUALLY
CC1633 – OWNER OR OPERATOR BOARDING HOME FAIL TO HAVE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS RECHARGED WHEN NECESSARY
CC1634 – OWNER OR OPERATOR BOARDING HOME FAIL TO PROVIDE SMOKE ALARM IN SLEEPING AREAS, KITCHEN AND LAUNDRY
CC1635 – OWNER OR OPERATOR BOARDING HOME FAIL PROVIDE CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS IN SLEEP AREAS, KITCHEN, DRY
CC1636 – OWNER OR OPERATOR BOARDING HOME FAIL TO PROVIDE VISUAL SMOKE ALARM FOR A HEARING IMPAIRED RESIDENT
CC1637 – FAIL TO PERMIT ACCESS TO BOARDING HOME FACILITY
CC1638 – OWNER OR OPERATOR BOARDING HOME FAIL TO SUPPLY FIRST AID SUPPLIES
CC1639 – SUPPLY FALSE INFO CONCERNING A BOARDING HOME

PERMITTING PROCESS

Residential Facilities Pre-Application Questionnaire

Certificate of Occupancy Application

Public Works Building Inspection $192.00

Annual Boarding Home Permit fee $81.00

How Citizens May Report Violations

Call 311 for non-emergency reports

CONTACT INFORMATION

OFFICER JASON A. LLORENTE

832-394-4221

jasona.llorente@houstonpolice.org

OFFICER TRAMMELL MCKNIGHT

832-394-4248

trammell.mcKnight@houstonpolice.org

Mental Health Division Website for Further Information: