Both big DFW cities require an empty house to be secured against entry, and both treat grass over 12 inches as a violation. Fort Worth lists fines up to $2,000 per violation for unsecured vacant structures and an average $250 city mowing fee, so lock up, keep mowing and sign up for county property fraud alerts.
The statewide steps for an empty house, from insurance to the homestead exemption, are in our Texas vacant house checklist. This page adds what is specific to Dallas-Fort Worth: the city code rules that apply to an empty house in Fort Worth and Dallas, what happens when an owner falls behind, and the county record alerts worth turning on.
Fort Worth: secure it or the city will
Fort Worth Code Compliance says that under City Code, any vacant structure not properly secured against entry is considered unsafe. Its page is direct about why: open buildings attract vandalism and other illegal activity, and in cold months unauthorized occupants may try to keep warm inside, which raises the risk of fire to neighboring homes.
Code officers board up open structures, and owners who fail to secure a vacant structure may be fined up to $2,000 per violation. The department's listed phone number is 817-392-1234, and its pages link to online complaint reporting and a lookup for your code officer.
Fort Worth: the 12-inch grass rule
Fort Worth requires grass and weeds to stay at 12 inches or less on developed and vacant lots alike. The process the city describes:
- The owner receives one certified notice per year.
- The owner has 10 days to mow.
- If the grass is not cut, the city has a contractor do it at the owner's expense. The average mowing fee is $250, due within 30 days.
- Unpaid charges may become a lien against the property.
The city says it sends one certified notice per year, so do not count on a new warning each time the grass grows back. Line up a mowing service before the house goes empty.
Dallas: doors and windows must be secured
Dallas City Code chapter 27, the Minimum Urban Rehabilitation Standards, requires in Sec. 27-11(a)(6) that the doors and windows of a vacant structure, or a vacant part of one, be secured to prevent unauthorized entry. The city's Closure Unit works to secure open and vacant structures. Dallas Code Compliance lists its administrative office at 3112 Canton St. and (214) 670-5708.
Dallas: grass, litter and registration
- High grass and weeds, Sec. 18-13(a). Grass or weeds more than 12 inches high violate City Code and can lead to a court citation, a bill for city mowing, or both.
- Litter, Sec. 7A-18. The city expects the lot kept free of litter from the curb in front to the middle of the alley, or to the back property line if there is no alley.
- Vacant building registration. Required for buildings in the central business district. The application lists a $73 fee, an inspection fee based on square footage, proof of insurance and proof that property taxes are paid. A typical house outside downtown is not covered by that page.
Fort Worth and Dallas side by side
| Rule | Fort Worth | Dallas |
|---|---|---|
| Securing a vacant building | Unsecured vacant structures are considered unsafe; fines up to $2,000 per violation | Doors and windows must be secured under Sec. 27-11(a)(6) |
| Grass and weeds | 12 inches or less; one certified notice a year, then 10 days | More than 12 inches is a violation under Sec. 18-13(a) |
| If the city mows | Average fee $250, due in 30 days; unpaid charges may become a lien | A bill for city mowing, a court citation, or both |
| Who to call | Code Compliance, 817-392-1234 | Code Compliance, (214) 670-5708 |
Neither city's page lists a registration requirement for an ordinary vacant house outside downtown Dallas. Rentals are a separate matter, covered in our guide to vacant rental risks in DFW.
Turn on a county property fraud alert
An empty house is a target for paper fraud as well as break-ins. Two county clerks offer free alerts:
- Tarrant County monitors your exact name as grantor or grantee on more than 90 document types and notifies you by email or phone.
- Dallas County offers a free sign-up on its Recording Division's property fraud page, which also explains what to file if a fraudulent deed is recorded.
Our DFW guide to squatters' rights covers the clerk records and alerts in more detail, including Collin County.
DFW lookups: Fort Worth vacant structures · Fort Worth high grass · Dallas open and vacant structures · Tarrant fraud alert · Dallas County fraud alert
A DFW owner's weekly routine
- Drive by or have someone drive by. Check doors, windows and the garage.
- Look at the grass. In Fort Worth and Dallas, 12 inches is the line.
- Pick up flyers, door hangers and packages, and look for code notices.
- Check the meters, or your online usage if you hold the account.
- Read any certified mail from the city right away, since the Fort Worth mowing clock runs 10 days.
If you see signs that someone is living inside, call law enforcement and read our DFW squatter law guide for the constable and court steps in each county.
Suburbs and other cities
Other cities in the metro have their own code rules. Before the house goes empty, search your city's code compliance pages for vacant structures and high grass, and save the phone number.
Selling the empty house instead
If keeping up with notices, mowing and visits is wearing thin, selling may be simpler. Our DFW guide to selling a vacant house covers the local steps.
Cash Home Advisors is based in Fort Worth and buys houses across DFW. We pay all closing costs, can close in 7–14 days, and you see the closing statement before you sign. Start with a cash offer or read about selling in Fort Worth and Dallas.
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Frequently asked questions
What happens if my vacant Fort Worth house is left open?
Fort Worth Code Compliance says an unsecured vacant structure is considered unsafe under City Code, officers board up open structures, and owners who fail to secure them may face fines of up to $2,000 per violation.
Does Dallas require me to register a vacant house?
Dallas's vacant building registration page applies to buildings in the central business district. It lists a $73 registration fee plus an inspection fee, with proof of insurance and proof of paid property taxes.
What if the grass grows too tall while my DFW house is empty?
Fort Worth sends one certified notice per year and allows 10 days to mow before hiring a contractor at the owner's expense, with an average fee of $250. Dallas says grass over 12 inches can lead to a court citation, a bill for city mowing, or both.
Who do I call about an open vacant house in Dallas?
Dallas Code Compliance lists its administrative office at (214) 670-5708. Its Closure Unit works to secure open and vacant structures under City Code Sec. 27-11(a)(6).
Sources
- City of Fort Worth Code Compliance, Open and vacant structures
- City of Fort Worth Code Compliance, High grass and weeds
- City of Dallas Code Compliance, Open and vacant structures
- City of Dallas Code Compliance, Vacant building registration
- City of Dallas Code Compliance, Top 10 code violations
- Tarrant County Clerk, Property Fraud Alert
- Dallas County Clerk, Property fraud alert
General information, not legal or tax advice. Talk to a Texas attorney or CPA about your situation.