151.027 DANGEROUS BUILDING DEFINED

(A) All buildings and structures, regardless of their date of construction, that have one or more of the following defects are deemed to be dilapidated, substandard, or unfit for human habitation and a danger to the public health, safety and welfare, and are therefore declared to be dangerous buildings: (1) Walls, floors or roofs that are not structurally sound; (2) Roofs or walls that are not weatherproof; (3) Light, air or sanitation facilities that are inadequate to protect the life, safety or general health and welfare of the structure's occupants or inhabitants of the city; (4) Unsafe or defective electrical wiring, devices or equipment, or unsafe or defective gas piping, devices or equipment; (5) Holes in the roof, walls or floor that would allow insects, rodents or other pests to gain access to the building for harborage to the extent constituting a present hazard to health or safety; (6) Dilapidated, decayed, unsafe, unsanitary or substandard conditions that are unfit for human habitation or are likely to cause sickness or disease; (7) Unoccupied by their owners, lessees or other legal invitees, and left unsecured from unauthorized entry to the extent that it could be entered or used by vagrants or other uninvited persons as a place of harborage or could be entered or used by children; (8) Inadequate facilities for ingress and egress in case of fire or panic or insufficient stairways or elevators; or (9) Buildings and structures, which because of their condition are unsafe, unsanitary or dangerous to the health, safety or general welfare of the people of this city. (B) A building that is boarded up, fenced or otherwise secured in any manner is nevertheless declared to be a dangerous building under the foregoing criteria if: (1) The building constitutes a danger to the public even though secured from entry; or (2) It is found that the means used to secure the building are inadequate to prevent unauthorized entry or use of the building. (Ord. 2006-1116, passed 12-7-2006) 

2016-02 STRUCTURE ADDRESSING

(A) Any and all Structures located within the City limits, used for any purpose, as well as construction job sites shall display the assigned address number to said structure or job site at the front entrance of said structure or site. Numerals indicating the official numbers for each structure shall be posted in a manner as to be clearly marked and legible and distinguishable from the street on which the property is located, with the letters painted or applied in a contrasting color of the background. Said letters shall be no less than two and one/half (2-1/2") inches in height.

91.02 FILTH PROHIBITED

It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation who shall own or occupy any house, buildings, establishment, lot, or yard in the city to permit or allow any carrion, filth or other impure or unwholesome matter to accumulate or remain thereon. (1995 Code, § 6.102) (Ord. 96, passed 9-10-1992) Penalty, see § 91.99. 

91.03 TALL WEEDS AND GRASS

It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation who shall own or occupy any lot or lots in the city, to allow weeds exceeding 12 inches in height, rubbish, brush or any other unsightly, objectionable or unsanitary matter to accumulate or grow on said lot or lots, lands used for agriculture purposes are exempt from the weed height. (1995 Code, § 6.103) (Ord. 96, passed 9-10-1992) Penalty, see § 91.99 Failure to comply with this Ordinance shall be subject to a fine.

91.04 DUMPING ON PROPERTY

It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to dump, throw, deposit or leave any refuse, garbage, rubbish, trash, leaves, limbs, dead trees or tree trunks or junk on any street, right-of-way or easement, public property or private property within the city, whether or not the same or the property upon which it is dumped, deposited or left belongs to the person, firm or corporation dumping, depositing or leaving it. (1995 Code, § 6.104) (Ord. 96, passed 9-10-1992) Penalty, see § 91.99.

ACCESSORY BUILDINGS, YARD, HEIGHT, AND SIZE REGULATIONS

1. Detached accessory structures shall be at least five feet from any principal structure on the same lot within residential districts and shall be considered in the calculating of the total coverage. 2. Accessory buildings shall not be erected in any required front yard. 3. No accessory structure, excluding fences or walls, shall be closer to any property line than the required yard setbacks (as measured from the overhang of the accessory structure). 4. Accessory buildings may not be placed in the required side yard if the side yard lot line abuts a street. 5. Garages entered from an alley shall be set back from the lot line adjacent to the alley a minimum of 20 feet. 6. An accessory building shall not exceed two stories or 25 feet in height 7. An accessory building shall not exceed the interior square footage of the principal structure or 600 square feet, whichever is less. (Ord. passed 4-4-2000) Fire Extinguishers are required in all construction and storage sheds. (IBC Section 3309.1) 

91.20 LOUD NOISE VIOLATION

(A) No person shall make or cause to be made any loud and raucous noise in the city which is offensive to the ordinary sensibilities of the inhabitants of the city, which noise renders the enjoyment of life or property uncomfortable or interferes with public peace and comfort. Nuisances 15 (B) The following acts, among others, are declared to be loud, disturbing, and unnecessary noises in violation of this section; provided, however, that such enumeration shall not be construed to be exclusive to other noises, to-wit. (1) Radios, compact disc systems, speakers, stereo systems, phonographs, and musical instruments. The playing of any radio, compact disc systems, speakers, stereo systems phonographs or any musical instrument in such a manner, or with such volume, particularly between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., so as to create a noise such as reasonably calculated to disturb a person of ordinary disposition under the same or similar circumstances, residing in a dwelling or other type of residence in the vicinity shall be deemed a violation. (2) Vehicles and motorcycles. (a) The use of any automobile, motorcycle or other vehicle or motorized equipment so out of repair or loaded or operated in such a manner as to create loud or unnecessary noises, such as spinning or squealing of tires, grating, grinding, rattling or other noises, shall be deemed a violation of this section. (b) Also, the parking, storage or repairing of any motor vehicle, motorcycle, or motorized equipment between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., with any motors left in operation for an extended period shall be deemed a violation of this section. (3) Vehicle radios, compact disc systems, speakers, and stereo systems. The playing of any radio, compact disc system, speaker, or stereo system, whether stationary or located within a motor vehicle, in such manner or with such volume as to disturb persons or substantially impair the use or enjoyment of public or private property, shall be in violation of this section. (Heard within a 50-foot limitation on music volume.) (Ord. 113, passed 10-19-2000) Penalty, see § 91.99. 

131.02 JUNKED VEHICLE, BOAT AND OR TRAILER

 A junked vehicle, boat, parts of such vehicles and/or boats, and trailers which are located in any place which is visible from a public place or public right of way is hereby determined to be detrimental to the safety and welfare of the general public, tends to reduce the value of private property, constitutes a nuisance, creates a hazard to the health and safety of citizens, and is detrimental the economic welfare of the city. Such vehicles, boats, parts of such vehicles and/or boats and trailers are hereby declared to be a public nuisance and, therefore, unlawful. (Ord. 2015-2, passed 5-21-2015) Penalty, see § 10.99 JUNKED BOAT. Any boat that is rusted, wrecked, partially dismantled, inoperable, or abandoned, whether dealt with or not. JUNKED VEHICLE. A vehicle that is self-propelled and: (1) Does not have lawfully attached to it: (a) An unexpired license plate; (b) A valid motor vehicle inspection certificate; (c) A valid motor vehicle registration sticker. (2) Is wrecked, dismantled, or partially dismantled or discarded; (3) Is inoperable and has remained inoperable for more than seventy-two consecutive hours, if the vehicle is on public property, or thirty consecutive days if the vehicle is on private property. Failing to comply with this Ordinance shall be subject to a fine.

RECREATION VEHICLE AND TRAVEL TRAILER ORDINANCE, 2024-04

SECTION I. The registered owner of the recreational vehicle or travel trailer must be the owner of the property the recreational vehicle is placed upon. Recreational vehicles or travel trailers cannot be used as short-term rental properties within the City of Tool. All recreational vehicles and travel trailers must have current/up-to-date state-mandated registration, license plates, insurance, and in a proper state of repair, and shall be secured to prevent unauthorized entry to park on residential property. No temporary cloth or foil screens, tarps or exterior window coverings are permitted on any portion of the recreational vehicle or travel trailer. The recreational vehicle or travel trailer must be operable in all phases/categories to remain on a Residential property. All recreational vehicles and travel trailers must be placed behind the building setback line of the residence and only on the side or rear of the residence. The recreational vehicle or travel trailer must be placed at least five (5) feet from the eve of the residence, and five (5) feet from the property line. Canopies cannot be extended to encroach within five (5) feet from the eve of the residence or five (5) feet from the property line. The maximum square footage for a recreational vehicle or travel trailer on a residential property is three hundred and one square feet, (301), and no longer than thirty-five feet, (35) in length. Any recreational vehicles and travel trailer greater than thirty-five (35) feet in length cannot be stored on residential property within the City Limits of Tool. SECTION II. Temporary Residence of Recreational Vehicles and Travel Trailers Temporary living in recreational vehicles and trailers is approved with restrictions that are to be determined by the Building Official. Temporary living is restricted to being used as an overflow for sleeping quarters, to be determined by the Building Official. Electric, water, and sewer services shall be connected and functioning. Electric generators are not permitted as a source of electricity. Sewage drains must be located underneath the recreational vehicle or travel trailer and shall be connected to the residence. Pumping of sewage tanks is not permitted. A clear and unobstructed path of five (5) feet on all sides of the recreational vehicle or travel trailer shall be always maintained for first responder access. Pop-up Campers are allowed; however, all listed restrictions and requirements of this ordinance shall apply. SECTION III. Remedies for Nuisances Any property found to be in violation of this ordinance shall be given written notice of violation and provided for a reasonable period of time to remedy the violation. If the violation is not remedied within the period of time provided, the city may take action to abate the violation by removing the offending vehicle or trailer. The cost of abatement, including fines, court costs and filing fees, shall be charged to the property owner and shall be recoverable in the same manner as property taxes.

151.001 PERMIT REQUIRED

A) It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to erect or construct any building, structure, home, residence or commercial building, including the enclosure of a carport or patio, in the city, or its extraterritorial jurisdiction, without applying for a permit from the city through the city's duly appointed Building Inspector, and that each application must be approved by the city. (B) A building permit must be obtained from the Building Inspector before construction is begun. 5 6 Tool - Land Usage (C) Permit application forms are provided by the city. (D) Double the normal fee shall be charged where work is started before obtaining a permit. (1995 Code, § 3.101) (Ord. 20, passed 4-16-1984) Penalty, see § 151.999. 

cITY HALL

701 N. Tool Drive

Tool, TX 75143

Phone:  903-432-3522 ext. 101

Fax:  903-432-3867

MONDAY - FRIDAY

8:00AM to 4:30PM

Police department

Non-Emergencies: 903-432-3552

For Emergencies: Please dial 9-1-1 or the Tool Emergency line at:  903-432-2550