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The Dallas City Code
CITY OF DALLAS, TEXAS CODE OF ORDINANCES
CHARTER of THE CITY OF DALLAS, TEXAS
VOLUME I
PREFACE
CHAPTER 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER 2 ADMINISTRATION
CHAPTER 3 ADVERTISING
CHAPTER 4 RESERVED
CHAPTER 5 AIRCRAFT AND AIRPORTS
CHAPTER 5A AIR POLLUTION
CHAPTER 6 ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
CHAPTER 6A AMUSEMENT CENTERS
CHAPTER 7 ANIMALS
CHAPTER 7A ANTI-LITTER REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 8 BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
CHAPTER 8A BOARDING HOME FACILITIES
CHAPTER 9 BICYCLES
CHAPTER 9A BILLIARD HALLS
CHAPTER 9B BUILDING SECURITY
CHAPTER 9C RESERVED
CHAPTER 10 RESERVED
CHAPTER 10A RESERVED
CHAPTER 10B RESERVED
CHAPTER 11 CEMETERIES AND BURIALS
CHAPTER 12 CITY YOUTH PROGRAM STANDARDS OF CARE
CHAPTER 12A CODE OF ETHICS
CHAPTER 12B CONVENIENCE STORES
CHAPTER 13 COURTS, FINES AND IMPRISONMENTS
CHAPTER 13A DALLAS TRANSIT SYSTEM
CHAPTER 14 DANCE HALLS
CHAPTER 14A RESERVED
CHAPTER 14B EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER 15 RESERVED
CHAPTER 15A ELECTIONS
CHAPTER 15B EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY CONTRACT COMPLIANCE
CHAPTER 15C EMERGENCY REPORTING EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES
CHAPTER 15D EMERGENCY VEHICLES
CHAPTER 16 DALLAS FIRE CODE
CHAPTER 17 FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS
CHAPTER 18 MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTES
CHAPTER 19 HEALTH AND SANITATION
CHAPTER 19A RESERVED
CHAPTER 20 EARNED PAID SICK TIME
CHAPTER 20A FAIR HOUSING AND MIXED INCOME HOUSING
CHAPTER 21 RESERVED
CHAPTER 22 RESERVED
CHAPTER 23 RESERVED
CHAPTER 24 LIBRARY
CHAPTER 25 LOAN BROKERS
CHAPTER 25A MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS
CHAPTER 26 RESERVED
CHAPTER 27 MINIMUM PROPERTY STANDARDS
CHAPTER 28 MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
VOLUME II
VOLUME III
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SEC. 27-5.   INSPECTION.
   (a)   For the purpose of ascertaining whether violations of this chapter or other city ordinances exist, the director is authorized, at a reasonable time, to inspect:
      (1)   the exterior of a structure and premises that do not contain a structure; and
      (2)   the interior of a structure, if the owner, occupant, or person in control gives his permission to the director.
   (b)   Nothing in this section limits the director's ability to seek and obtain an administrative search warrant authorizing an interior or exterior inspection of a structure or a vacant premises. (Ord. Nos. 15198; 19234; 25522; 26455; 30236)
SEC. 27-5.1.   DONATION OF NONCOMPLYING PROPERTY TO A NONPROFIT CORPORATION.
   (a)   A judge of the municipal court may dismiss one or more citations of a property owner who is charged with violating this chapter, if the property owner donates the property, for which the citations have been issued, to a nonprofit corporation selected by the city.
   (b)   The city is authorized to contract with a nonprofit corporation for the acceptance of property donated pursuant to Subsection (a) of this section. The terms of the contract must provide that the nonprofit corporation will:
      (1)   within 90 days from the date of acceptance of the donated property, bring the property into compliance with this chapter, including, but not limited to, providing all necessary cleanup, maintenance, repairs, and alterations; and
      (2)   within 120 days from the date of acceptance of the donated property, sell the property directly to an occupant owner or rent the property directly to an occupant tenant. (Ord. Nos. 19234; 19896; 21973; 26455)
SEC. 27-5.2.   RETALIATION AGAINST TENANTS PROHIBITED.
   (a)   A landlord commits an offense if he raises a tenant’s rent, diminishes services to a tenant, or attempts eviction of a tenant within six months after:
      (1)   the tenant files a valid complaint with the director complaining of a violation of this chapter on property occupied by the tenant; a complaint is considered valid if it results in an action described in Paragraph (2), (3), or (4) of this subsection;
      (2)   the director issues to the landlord or the landlord’s agent a written notice or citation listing any violation of this chapter that exists on property occupied by the tenant;
      (3)   the city attorney files an action under Article IV-a of this chapter or under Chapter 54, 211, or 214 of the Texas Local Government Code relating to any violation of this chapter that exists on property occupied by the tenant;
      (4)   the tenant, after filing a complaint with the director and the landlord or the landlord’s agent, files a written complaint with the city attorney complaining of a violation of this chapter on property occupied by the tenant, unless the complaint is later withdrawn by the tenant or dismissed on the merits; or
      (5)   repairs are completed on property occupied by the tenant in compliance with either a written notice or citation issued by the director or a court order.
   (b)   It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a) that:
      (1)   rent was increased pursuant to an escalation clause in a written lease which provided for changes in costs of utilities, taxes, and insurance;
      (2)   rent was increased, services were reduced, or notices to vacate were issued as part of a pattern of rent increases, service reductions, or evictions for an entire multidwelling project;
      (3)   the tenant was delinquent in rent when the landlord gave notice to vacate or filed an eviction action;
      (4)   the tenant was responsible for or caused a violation of this chapter that existed on property occupied by the tenant;
      (5)   the tenant’s written lease fixing the rent, services, or term of occupancy had expired, unless, at the time an action described in Subsection (a)(1), (2), or (3) occurred, a violation of this chapter that was reasonably dangerous to the physical health or safety of the tenant or another person existed on property occupied by the tenant;
      (6)   the tenant holds over after giving notice of termination or intent to vacate;
      (7)   the tenant holds over after the landlord gives notice of termination at the end of the rental term and, at the time the notice of termination was given, the landlord or the landlord’s agent had not received actual notice that a valid complaint had been filed with the city complaining of violations of this chapter on property occupied by the tenant;
      (8)   before filing a complaint with the city complaining of a violation of this chapter on property occupied by the tenant, other than a violation that is reasonably dangerous to the physical health or safety of the tenant or another person, the tenant fails to comply with a written lease provision requiring the tenant to:
         (A)   notify the landlord or the landlord’s agent, in writing, of the violation; and
         (B)   allow the landlord 15 days to correct the violation; or
      (9)   the landlord proves that the rent increase, service reduction, or attempted eviction was for good cause and not for purposes of retaliation against the tenant.
   (c)   An offense under this section may be prosecuted upon the filing of a written complaint by the tenant with the city attorney. (Ord. Nos. 20017; 26455)
SEC. 27-6.   RESERVED.
   (Repealed by Ord. 26455)
SEC. 27-7.   RESERVED.
   (Repealed by Ord. 26455)
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