Compliance

You can report code violations (including graffiti) 24 hours a day by calling 817-459-6777 and giving the information to the operator or voice mail system. You may also use the Ask Arlington app service. Life-safety issues are typically inspected the same day. Non-life-safety complaints are inspected within two to three business days. For specific information, request to speak to the officer responsible for your neighborhood.

If you would like to be contacted by a Code Compliance officer regarding your complaint, you will need to leave your name and contact number. Be advised, code compliance records are subject to the Public Information Act. If you leave your personal information it may be released to a requestor. Before any personal information is released, the City Attorney’s office will request an opinion from the Texas State Attorney General regarding the release of complainant information. You may also send correspondence to:

City of Arlington Code Compliance
Mail Stop 63-0600
PO BOX 90231
ARLINGTON, TX 76004-3231

Click here to view the status of an existing issue.

Code Compliance seeks to enhance and preserve neighborhoods, helping residents, business owners and visitors to Arlington feel safe anywhere, all the time. Graffiti creates blight upon neighborhoods, and it is only through the cooperative effort of the community that graffiti and its negative effects can be controlled. The Graffiti Abatement Team is working to make neighborhoods safe, strong and attractive. Click here to learn more.

The first course of action for the officer is to educate the resident or property owner by issuing a Notice of Violation (NOV). In many cases, citizens are not aware they are committing a code violation. A NOV provides specific information about the violation and sets a number of days within which the violation must be corrected.

If a NOV is received, citizens are encouraged to speak with their code compliance officer in order to work out a solution to the problem. The officer's objective is to ensure that you and your neighbors have a livable neighborhood in which to work and live.

Contact your Code Compliance Officer

Depending upon the seriousness of a violation or due to a violation continuing to occur, citations may be issued. Citations carry fines up to $2,000, depending on the nature, severity, and frequency of the violation.

Standard Code Compliance Process(PDF, 54KB)

You may choose to pay the fine for the violation(s) you are charged with.

Payment Options

If you prefer, you may plead "Not Guilty" and request a trial by Judge or Jury in writing through the U.S. Postal Service to the Arlington Municipal Court, or in person.

Municipal Court Information

For more information about the judicial process, please visit the City of Arlington's Municipal Court website

In cases such as Dangerous Building Hearings, staff may request that the Judge assess civil penalties instead of expenses, in order to gain a property owner's attention with higher dollar amounts. The assessment of civil penalties requires an enabling order by a judge or citizen board, as specified in the individual laws. Penalties can range up to $1,000 per day depending on the severity of the code violations and the past code compliance history of the violator.

Some codes enable Cities to hire contractors to remove violations, bill the property owner, and lien the property for expenses and fees if the bill is not paid within 60-120 days. High weeds and grass, unclean premises, and nuisance vehicles are examples where this is the case. Liens are subordinate only to tax liens and previously recorded mortgage liens and prevent a lengthy collections effort.

When abatements are necessary, ordinance allows the City to place a lien on a property for the cost of abatement and associated administrative fees.

A rarely used, but available, option is the revocation by the City’s Building Official of a business’ or multi-family complex’s Certificate of Occupancy. When such a business refuses to comply with City ordinances and other enforcement actions have failed, the City can request that the Certificate of Occupancy for the building be revocated. Examples include establishments conducting business operations that are not covered by their CO, zoning violations, or businesses the operation of which constitutes a life/safety hazard.

Occasionally complaints are received for violations which a Code Officer does not personally observe. This can occur with violations that happen infrequently such as parking in the yard or traffic at random times of the day to a home business that is not allowed. Residents who have observed these occurrences can file a complaint affidavit with the applicable district field office and request that appropriate enforcement actions be taken. A citation may be issued based on the residents’ willingness to testify in court as to the violation(s) existence, in place of a Code Officer.

As a tenant, or as a property-owner, there are certain expectations as to the conditions of a rental property. The codes and ordinances implemented by the City of Arlington are to help protect tenants and contribute to a thriving community. Code Compliance officers enforce the ordinances in a fair and impartial manner. There are times however, when renters or property owners have concerns that may not be covered by the codes and ordinances and must be handled as a civil manner between the tenant and landlord.

Learn About Your Rights as a Tenant

Visit the Texas Attorney General of Texas website for more information

Resources/Other Assistance

Texas State Law Library Dispute Resolution Centers

Dispute Resolution Program of Tarrant County
100 E. Weatherford, Suite 404
Fort Worth, TX 76104
817-884-2257 or e-mail.

Better Business Bureau Fort Worth (serving Tarrant County)
1300 Summit Avenue, Suite 700
Fort Worth, TX 76102
1-800-621-8566, or 817-332-7585

Legal Aid of North West Texas
600 E. Weatherford Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102
1-800-995-3959 or 817-336-3943

Mission Arlington / Mission Metroplex
210 W. South Street
Arlington, TX 76010
Contact online at Mission Arlington website, or call 817-277-6620.

• Services provided
• Emergency assistance

Apartment Association of Tarrant County (AATC)

• Texas Apartment Association (TAA)
• TAA - Renters FAQ
• Resources for Renters

Contact the AATC with inquiries and complaints through the help line at 817-284-1123 or 817-284-1121.