(A) The landlord of a multi-family dwelling complex shall provide the following crime prevention measures:
(1) Signs for emergencies and code violations.
(a) A landlord of a multi-family dwelling complex shall post and maintain signs on the premises of the complex that meet the following conditions:
1. The sign required by this section shall be a minimum of 12 inches by 24 inches. Sign facings shall be fabricated out of weather-proof material. The signs shall have a white background, with letters and numbers in a contrasting color;
2. The emergency phone number described in Tex. Prop. Code § 92.020 (Emergency Phone Number);
3. Information regarding how to report code violations to the city; and
4. At each multi-family dwelling complex there shall be at least one sign posted per 50 units. The signs shall be prominently displayed in exterior, publicly accessible areas of the complex. If more than one sign is required under this section, the signs shall be placed in separate areas of the property.
(2) Emergency numbers. Includes the names of designated employees or other authorized persons who shall be assigned to respond to emergency conditions, and a telephone number where said employees can be contacted during any 24-hour period. Emergency conditions shall include fire, natural disaster, flood, collapse hazard, burst pipes or violent crime.
(3) Lighting.
(a) Exterior illumination shall be provided at appropriate points adjacent to all building entrances, including individual dwelling units. Lighting shall be sufficient to illuminate areas where hazards may reasonably exists and shall be operable between a half hour before sunset and a half hour after sunrise.
(b) Control mechanisms for such illumination shall be activated and deactivated by a photocell or seasonally adjusted timer switch, not operable by individual tenants of the complex except at individual dwelling units.
(c) A landlord shall repair all inoperable exterior lighting fixtures within a reasonable period of time after being notified that the fixture is not working. In no instance shall a reasonable period of time be deemed to mean more than seven days.
(4) Vacant buildings secured.
(a) All openings in vacant buildings and dwellings shall be closed and secured from unlawful entry by the installation and maintenance of appropriate locking devices and intact doors and windows which are proportioned to securely and completely fit the openings.
(b) Alternatively, with the approval of the Regulatory Compliance Department, openings may be temporarily secured by means of the installation of proportioned wood materials in good condition. The surfaces of such materials exposed to the weather shall be protected with the application of exterior grade paint, or a similar weather resistant finish, which blends with the background color of the building.
(5) Security gate access.
(a) A landlord of a multi-family dwelling complex which has unstaffed security gates which restrict vehicle access onto the premises shall provide master codes to the gates so that public safety vehicles and essential city personnel are allowed unrestricted entry onto the premises when responding to emergencies and calls for service and routine patrols.
(b) All electrical or mechanically operated gates must be equipped with a Knox system gate access key switch as approved by the city’s Fire Department.
(c) The owner or person in control of any property which contains a security gate or barrier is responsible for any damage caused to emergency equipment by said security gates or barriers, which malfunctioned or operated improperly.
(d) The landlord of a multi-family dwelling complex shall produce records of the number and type of security systems and fire alarm systems maintained on the premises and the names and telephone numbers of the alarm companies servicing said systems that respond to alarms or relay alarms to emergency services upon request.
(e) Access through such security gates by fire trucks and fire personnel shall be provided as required by the Fire Code.
1. Fire lanes shall be maintained in good condition with clearly visible markings.
2. Fire apparatus access roads shall be continuously marked by painted lines of red traffic paint six inches in width to show the boundaries of the lane. The words “NO PARKING FIRE LANE” or “FIRE LANE NO PARKING” shall appear in four-inch white letters at 25 feet intervals on the red border markings along both sides of the fire lanes. Where a curb is available, the striping shall be on the vertical face of the curb.
3. Signs shall read “NO PARKING FIRE LANE” or “FIRE LANE NO PARKING” and shall be 12 inches wide and 18 inches high. Signs shall be painted on a white background with letters and borders in red, using not less than two-inch lettering. Signs shall be permanently affixed to a stationary post and the bottom of the sign shall be six feet, six inches above finished grade. Signs shall be spaced not more than 50 feet apart along both sides of the fire lane. Signs may be installed on permanent buildings or walls or as approved by the Fire Chief.
4. Fire apparatus access roads shall not be obstructed in any manner, including the parking of vehicles, or used as loading zones. The minimum widths and clearances established in § 503.2.1 and any area marked as a fire lane as described in § 503.3 shall be maintained at all times.
(f) Crime prevention. The landlord at a multi-family dwelling complex shall not allow a resident to engage in any activity on or near the dwelling unit premises that would subject the resident to a penalty of a Class C misdemeanor that involves possession of drug paraphernalia, assault or disorderly conduct; Texas Penal Code Class A or B misdemeanors; Texas Penal Code felony or Texas Health & Safety Code violation; or engage in any hazardous conduct that otherwise jeopardizes the health, safety and welfare of the landlord or another tenant, or which would involve imminent or actual serious property damage. Nothing in this provision shall be construed as requiring or encouraging the eviction or termination of a lease of a victim of domestic violence. Nothing in this provision is intended to relieve any tenant of an applicable responsibility to learn security plans, check safety devices, or report criminal activity to the landlord or to an appropriate law enforcement agency.
(6) Graffiti abatement. A landlord shall remove graffiti from the landlord’s multi-family dwelling complex as required by the Code of Mansfield, Texas.
(7) Occupancy limits. Every dwelling unit shall have at least 150 square feet of habitable floor area for the first occupant and 100 square feet of habitable floor area for each additional occupant. Except for kitchens, habitable rooms shall have an area of not less than 70 square feet. Where more than two persons occupy a room used for sleeping purposes the required floor area of 70 square feet shall be increased at the rate of 50 square feet for each occupant in excess of two.
(8) Crime prevention. The landlord at a multi-family dwelling complex shall not allow a resident to engage in any activity on or near the dwelling unit premises that would subject the resident to a penalty of a Class C misdemeanor that involves possession of drug paraphernalia, assault or disorderly conduct; Tex. Penal Code Class A or B misdemeanors; Tex. Penal Code Felony or Tex. Health and Safety Code violation; or engage in any hazardous conduct that otherwise jeopardizes the health, safety and welfare of the landlord or another tenant, or which would involve imminent or actual serious property damage. Nothing in this provision shall be construed as requiring or encouraging the eviction or termination of a lease of a victim of domestic violence. Nothing in this provision is intended to relieve any tenant of an applicable responsibility to learn security plans, check safety devices, or report criminal activity to the landlord or to an appropriate law enforcement agency.
(B) A landlord commits an offense if the landlord knowingly violates any provision of this section or fails to comply with any provision of this section.
(Ord. OR-2225-21, passed 10-11-21; Am. Ord. OR-2232-21, passed 12-13-21; Am. Ord. OR-2251-22, passed 5-9-22; Ord. OR-2353-24, passed 3-25-24)