What Lake Dallas Sellers Should Know
Cash Home Advisors buys Lake Dallas houses as-is. We pay all closing costs and can close in 7–14 days.
- Close in 7–14 days
- We pay all closing costs
- Sell as-is, no repairs
Get Your Free Cash Offer
Sewer through the Lake Cities authority
Lake Dallas ties its wastewater rules to the Lake Cities Municipal Utility Authority (LCMUA). Section 106-31 of the city code says no one may build, rebuild, substantially remodel or move in a structure meant for people to live in or use without wastewater facilities connected to the system LCMUA operates. Section 106-32 adds that a building or move-in permit applicant must certify the structure will not be used or occupied until it is connected to that system.
For a seller, the rule is relevant if the house was moved onto the lot, rebuilt or substantially remodeled. If you are not sure the work had permits, ask the city's building official what is on file.
The drainage line on the utility statement
Lake Dallas also runs a municipal drainage utility. Under section 106-106, the drainage charge appears as a separate line item on the monthly public utility statement, and the charges apply to the accounts LCMUA maintains for property in the city. The schedule in section 106-123, as adopted by Ordinance 2022-01, sets a monthly drainage fee of $9.50 for single-family residential property.
Section 106-124 lists exemptions, among them a subdivided lot until a structure is built and the city issues a certificate of occupancy, and property with a wholly sufficient private drainage system that is properly built and maintained.
Empty houses and grass to the curb
72 hours. Under section 22-500, no owner may leave an unoccupied building unsecured so that unauthorized people can get in. An unsecured building is prima facie evidence of a public nuisance; the building official notifies the owner, and if it is not secured within 72 hours after the notice is issued, the official may secure it at the owner's expense, charged against the owner as state law provides.
The grass rule is just as specific. Section 110-31 makes it unlawful to let grass, weeds or brush grow taller than six inches on occupied or unoccupied property, and the duty runs from the property line to the curbline. On land zoned light industrial and on any property larger than two acres, the rule covers the areas within 200 feet of buildings and within 200 feet of property zoned other than light industrial. Section 110-34 calls for ten days' notice, given in person or by letter, with publication, a front-door posting or, on property with no buildings, a placard used only when personal service fails or the address is unknown; after that, the city may do the work. Under section 110-35, if the bill is not paid within 30 days after the first day of the month following the work, a statement of expenses can be filed with the county clerk. The lien attaches when filed, carries 10% interest, and is inferior only to tax liens and street improvement liens.
Denton County offices for a Lake Dallas sale
Appraisal
Denton County's appraisal districts page sends value, exemption and protest questions to the appraisal district rather than the tax office. Denton Central Appraisal District's protest page says its Notice of Appraised Value goes out each spring and that a protest must be filed before an informal meeting or a hearing. Under Tax Code 41.44, that notice is filed with the appraisal review board.
Taxes
The Tax Assessor-Collector mails bills in October. Its FAQ notes that not receiving a bill does not change the due date or the tax lien, citing Tax Code 31.01(g).
Recording
The County Clerk's Recording Division keeps deeds and other real property records and is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
When a foreclosure notice arrives
Property Code 51.002 sets the frame: a sale under a deed of trust is generally a public auction held between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on the first Tuesday of a month (the first Wednesday when that Tuesday is January 1 or July 4), and notice, including the earliest time the sale will begin, must be given at least 21 days before the sale. In Denton County, the clerk's foreclosure information page places those sales at the southwest corner of the Courts Building at 1450 E. McKinney Street and explains that the clerk does not run them. The trustee does, and questions go to the substitute trustee.
If you are behind, talk with your loan servicer, a HUD-approved counselor through HUD's counselor search, or Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, which offers legal help for people who qualify. Our page on selling a house to stop foreclosure in Texas explains how a sale before the auction date works.
Working with Cash Home Advisors
Sell your Lake Dallas house as-is, without making repairs. We pay all closing costs and can close in 7–14 days. Request an offer, see how it works, or read our post on stopping a foreclosure in DFW.
Local offices for this area
- Denton County Tax Office: Appraisal Districts
- Denton Central Appraisal District: the protest process
- Denton County Tax Assessor-Collector: Property Tax
- Denton County Clerk: Foreclosure Information
- Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, Denton office
ZIP codes we buy in: 75065
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can grass get in Lake Dallas?
Section 110-31 of the city code sets the limit at six inches, on occupied or unoccupied property, and the owner's duty covers the area from the property line to the curbline.
What happens if my vacant Lake Dallas house is left open?
Under section 22-500, the building official notifies the owner to secure it. If it is not secured within 72 hours after the notice, the official may secure it at the owner's expense.
What is the drainage charge on a Lake Dallas utility statement?
It is the city's municipal drainage utility fee. Section 106-106 requires it as a separate line item, and the schedule in section 106-123 lists $9.50 a month for single-family residential property.
Where are Denton County foreclosure sales held?
The County Clerk's foreclosure page places them at the southwest corner of the Denton County Courts Building, 1450 E. McKinney Street in Denton, on the first Tuesday of the month, at the time stated in each notice.
Get Your No-Obligation Cash Offer Today
Two minutes to start. No fees, no pressure, and a real person calls you back, in English or Spanish.
Get My Cash Offer