- Home
- Departments
- Community Enhancement
- Code Compliance
Code Compliance
City of Allen utilizes the Code of Ordinances to ensure a high quality of living for all residents while maintaining property values.
Common Areas of Concern
We do not address
- Vehicles in street - Call the Allen Police Department at 214.509.4321
- Rentals / tenants rights / landlord Issues
- Interior home inspections / issues
- Rodent treatment / disposal
High Grass / Weeds
- Twelve inches is the maximum height limit for grass and/or weeds. This includes the front, back, side yard and rights-of-ways (area between the sidewalk and curb). The grass in any alley and/or easement (area behind the property) must be maintained to the mid-point by the property owners on each side.
- Acreage under five acres must be mowed completely. Lots over five acres must have a perimeter of a minimum of 150 feet from any right of way and 150 feet from any property line adjacent to developed property.
- Property owners who maintain an agricultural exemption and regularly cultivate (plant crops) on their property are required to mow the outer perimeters up to the first row of crop and maintain the right of way adjacent to their property at a height of 12 inches or less.
Read the Code: Health and Environment: Chapter 6, Article II, Sec. 6-17
Trash / Debris
To help keep Allen beautiful, properties must be kept free of all material that can deteriorate with the elements, such as furniture not intended for outdoor use, boxes, appliances, vehicle parts, tires, paper and other objectionable, unsafe, unsanitary or unsightly matter. This helps to prevent infestation by rodents and other vermin and helps to protect local waterways from contamination.
- Any lumber, boxes, barrels, bricks, stones, pipes and firewood needs to be stored at least three feet from a shared fence and kept at least six inches off the ground.
Trash and Recycling Services
- To schedule a pickup of trash, bulky items or yard waste, call CWD at 972.392.9300.
- To dispose of chemicals and household hazardous waste, visit this page.
Read the Code: Property Maintenance Code: Chapter 6, Article IV, Sec. 6-85
Home-Based Business
Home-based businesses are allowed in residential areas, but they can not be the main use of the home. The main use of the home is residential. There may be no external evidence of the conduct of the home-based business including but not limited to:
- Dust
- Fumes
- Glare
- Noise
- Smoke
- Onsite advertising
- Commercial advertising that includes the home address
- Excessive pedestrian or vehicular traffic from customers or deliveries
- Manufacturing and/or on-site storage
- Outside storage of materials or equipment
- Sales of merchandise
Read the Code: Zoning Regulations: Article IV, Sec. 4.10
Sign Placement
Signs are not allowed in the following places:
- Right-of-way; the area from the curb to the sidewalk
- Median; the area in the middle of any street
- Street trees, public fences, public buildings or utility / telephone poles
Read the Code: Zoning Development Standards: Article VII, Sec. 7.09.4
Garage Sales
You don't need a permit to host a garage sale in Allen. However, you must follow the City's garage sale rules and sign regulations.
Garage sale rules
- You may host two garage sales in a one-year period
- Garage sales must end within three days (72 hours)
- Merchandise cannot be acquired solely for the purpose of selling on the premises
Garage sale signs
- You can post three signs advertising your garage sale:
- One sign at your home
- Two signs offsite, such as a street corner or neighborhood entrance
- Signs can be no larger than 2 square feet
- Signs are not allowed in City right-of-ways, including medians and parkways
- Signs must be removed after sale
Read the Code: Zoning Regulations: Article IV, Sec. 4.10
Trees
- Trees, shrubs and plants - Sidewalk. City code requires overhead clearance of public sidewalks and other public pathways by seven feet of vertical clearance.
- Trees, shrubs and plants - Street/Alley. Overhead clearance of public streets and alleys requires thirteen feet of vertical clearance. Plants may not extend into the alley more than 18 inches, or in any way obstruct or interfere with vehicular traffic.
- Maintenance of trees, plants and shrubs. City code requires all plant material be in healthy and growing condition.
- To dispose of tree and brush debris, call CWD at 972.392.9300 for collection.
Read the Code: Streets and Sidewalks: Chapter 13, Article II, Sec. 13-15
Open Storage / Portable Storage Containers
Items such as furniture, household items, building materials and commercial/trade items cannot be stored or accumulate where they are visible from the street or alley.
Read the Code: Property Maintenance Code: Chapter 6, Article IV, Sec. 6-85
Vehicles: Junked / Inoperable
A junked vehicle is a vehicle that is self-propelled and:
- Does not have lawfully attached to it an unexpired license plate and registration certificate
- Is wrecked, dismantled, discarded or is inoperable for more than 72 hours on public property; or 30 consecutive days if the vehicle is on private property
Inoperable is defined as not capable of being used or operated due to legal or mechanical incapability.
A junked vehicle, including a junked vehicle that is partially visible from a public place or public right-of-way, is deemed to be a public nuisance.
Read the Code: Abandoned and Junked Motor Vehicles: Chapter 9, Article XII, Sec. 9-334
Vehicles: Parking Boats, Trailers and other Recreational Vehicles
Boats, trailers, camper trailers, motor homes and other types of recreational vehicles cannot be parked or stored in the front yard. Parking and storage of these types of vehicles is limited to the rear yard. This does not apply to the storage of a boat or other vehicle in a fully enclosed building.
No parking is allowed in the front yard without an improved surface of gravel, asphalt or concrete already established on which to park vehicles.
Read the Code: Property Maintenance Code: Chapter 6, Article IV, Sec. 6-85
Parking tips
Identify posted parking signs and do not park in restricted areas or during restricted timeframes.
- Understand where you can and cannot park based on state and local laws – which do not require a posted sign – like near fire hydrants, intersections and crosswalks.
- Use your vehicle to help measure the distance visually, most vehicles are between 18-20 feet long.
- When in doubt, continue to look for a parking space where you are certain is legal to park.
Vehicles: Parking Commercial Vehicles
Commercial trucks, tractors, trailers are not permitted to park or stand in a residential district.
Read the Code: Stopping, Standing and Parking Generally: Chapter 9, Article IX, Sec. 9-229
Property Maintenance: Fences, Address in Rear, Exterior Deteriorate
Fences
- Fences shall be maintained and not be out of vertical alignment for the twelve inches from the vertical measured at the top of the fence
- Any broken, loose, damaged or missing parts having a combined area of twenty square feet shall be repaired or replaced
- Fences that are likely to fall shall be repaired, replaced or removed
- Fences can not be braced externally
Address in rear
The property owner shall provide and maintain address numbers on each building, this includes the front and rear of the building.
Read the Code: Property Maintenance Code: Chapter 6, Article IV, Sec. 6-85
Substandard Structures
The exterior of a structure shall be maintained structurally sound. All installed systems including but not limited to plumbing, electrical, heating, aire conditioning shall be maintained in a structurally sound and operative condition.
- Exterior deterioration
- External siding or framing bowing or pulling away from structure
- Foundation failure
- Illegal or substandard plumbing
- Windows and doors
- Other obvious dilapidation
- Roofs
Read the Code: Property Maintenance Code: Chapter 6, Article IV, Sec. 6-86
Assistance for repairs is available to qualified homeowners through the Home Repair Assistance Programs.