Selling a Home in Hickory Creek, Texas

Three public improvement districts

The Town's public improvement district page says Hickory Creek currently has three PIDs, all managed by P3Works: Hickory Creek Public Improvement District No. 1, Hickory Creek Public Improvement District No. 2 and the Hickory Farms Public Improvement District. Each district has a "Current SAP" link on that page, and account questions go to P3Works at (817) 393-0353.

A PID can affect the paperwork for a sale. Property Code 5.014 says a person selling property located in a public improvement district established under Local Government Code chapter 372, subchapter A, or chapter 382 must first give the purchaser a written notice in the form the statute prescribes, and section 5.0141 calls for that notice before a binding contract is signed, either separately or as part of the contract. If you are not sure whether your lot is in one of the three districts, ask P3Works before you sign anything.

A short-term rental permit stays with the owner

Hickory Creek regulates short-term rentals in Chapter 15 of its code. Section 15.03.003 requires a valid, active permit from the Town before anyone uses, allows the use of, or advertises a house as a short-term rental. Under section 15.03.004, a permit expires on the last day of the month one year after it was issued and is renewed only with a completed application and the renewal fee. Section 15.03.006 requires a local responsible party who can be reached at all times while guests are there and who must be able to arrive within one hour of a call.

For a sale, note section 15.03.011: a permit is non-transferable and may not be assigned or transferred to another person or entity. A buyer who wants to keep renting the house short-term would need a permit of their own, so tell buyers about any bookings already on the calendar.

Grass near streets, alleys and neighbors

The Town's maintenance rules in Article 6.02 make it unlawful, under section 6.02.061, to let grass, weeds, Johnsongrass or brush grow taller than 12 inches within 150 feet of any property line that borders a street, alley, utility easement, subdivided addition, developed property or building. Native plants in a managed landscape design are allowed to any height.

• Notice. Section 6.02.062 allows written notice in person or by letter to the owner's address in the appraisal district records, and, when personal service cannot be obtained, by publication or a posting at the front door. A mailed notice returned as refused or unclaimed still counts as delivered.
• Work by the Town. Under section 6.02.064, if the owner has not complied within seven days, the Town may do the work and charge the owner, including the cost of publishing notice.
• Lien. If the bill is unpaid 30 days after the first day of the month following the work, the Town files a statement of expenses with the county clerk, creating a privileged lien second only to tax liens and street improvement liens, with interest at 10% per year.

Because a mailed notice can go to the address in appraisal records, keep that address current if you have moved out of the house.

Permits, septic systems and code compliance

The Town's permitting page says Hickory Creek has adopted the 2021 International Building Codes and the 2023 National Electric Code, takes permit submissions at permits@hickorycreek-tx.gov, and schedules building inspections through Hickory Creek TPI unless the permit card says otherwise. Its application list includes an On-Site Sewage Facilities (OSSF) permit and a residential building permit. If your house has a septic system or past remodeling, ask the permitting office what is on file for the address.

The code compliance page lists overgrown lots or yards, inoperative vehicles, maintenance of structures and public nuisances among the concerns it handles, and notes systematic inspections throughout the Town. The office keeps Monday to Thursday hours, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 940-279-7047.

The Denton County side of the sale

1. Check the value. Denton Central Appraisal District takes protests online, by mail or in person at 3911 Morse Street in Denton; its protest page gives a deadline of May 15 or 30 days after the notice was mailed, whichever is later. Under Tax Code 41.44, the notice of protest is filed with the appraisal review board.
2. Check the tax account. The Denton County tax FAQ says a mailed payment counts as on time if the envelope is postmarked by January 31. A tax certificate shows the taxes, penalties, interest and known costs on the account.
3. Check the deed. The County Clerk's Recording Division holds the real property records. The County Clerk's page also offers registration for a real property fraud alert.

Selling with Cash Home Advisors

You can sell your Hickory Creek house as-is, without making repairs. We pay all closing costs and can close in 7–14 days. Request an offer or read how it works. If the house is empty, our vacant house checklist and our post on selling a vacant house may help.

Local offices for this area

• Town of Hickory Creek: Permitting
• Town of Hickory Creek: Code Compliance
• Town of Hickory Creek: Public Improvement District
• Denton Central Appraisal District: the protest process
• Denton County Tax Assessor-Collector: Tax Certificates
• Denton County Clerk: Recording Division

ZIP codes we buy in: 75065