HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 4-CCb 6 -1 T:3 _q T q-0 o
AN ORD I_ NANCE
AN ORDINANCE REGULATING AND LICENSING THE CONSTRUCTION
AND OPERATION OF TRAILER PARKS AND.REGULATING THE PARK-
ING AND LOCATION OF TRAILER COACHES WITHIN THB LIMITS
OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT;.AND MAKING VIOLATIONS A MISDE-
MEANOR PUNISHABLE BY FINE OF NOT MORE THAN $200.00, AND
REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS:
Section 1.
Definitions.
The following terms, phrases and words as used in this Ordi-
nance shall have the following respective definitions;
(a) Trailer coach. A "trailer coach" shall mean any
vehicle which is being used as sleeping or living quarters, which is
or may be mounted on wheels, and which is or may be propelled either
by its own power or by another power -driven vehicle to which it is
or can be attached. The term "trailer coach" shall also cover and
include a trailer car, automobile trailer and house trailer.
(b) Trailer -park. A "trailer park" shall mean any lot,
tract or parcel of land, used in whole or in part for the accommoda-
tion of two or more trailer coaches by the day, week or for a longer
period of time, either for or without compensation, and shall include
a tract .or parcel -of land used in,,whole or in part upon which two or
more cottages are located and maintained for the accommodation of
transients by day, week or for a longer period of time for or without
compensation, where in addition thereto parking facilities and accom-
modations are also provided for two or more trailer coached or trail-
ers, and shall also include any building, structure, tent, vehicle,
or enclosure used or intended to be used as part of the equipment of
such trailer park.
(c) Owner or manager. The term "owner" or "manager" shall
be construed to mean any person, firm, corporation, association, part-
nership or society who has the control, direction, maintenance or
supervision of a trailer park, whether as owner or otherwise.
Executors, administrators, guardians, receivers or trustees may also
be regarded as owners.
(d) Person. The term "person' shall include both singu-
lar and plural and shall mean and embrace any individual, firm, part-
nership, association, corporation or society and their heirs, admin-
istrators, executors or assigns, agents, servants and employees.
(e) Street. The term "street" or "streets", shall mean
and include any street, alley, avenue, lane, boulevard, drive, public
place or highway commonly used for the purpose of travel within the
corporate limits of the city of Beaumont.
(f) Cottage. The term "cottage" shall mean any fixed
building or structure or part thereof located in a trailer park used
by a single family as living or sleeping quarters.
Section 2.
Purpose and Intent.
The purpose and intent oaf this ordinance is:
(a) To provide certain minimum standards, provisions and
requirements for safe, sanitary and suitable methods of construction
and operation of present and future trailer parks within the city of
Beaumont.
(b) To assure that trailer parks shall not become a menace
to public health, morals, safety or welfare.
Section 3.
Permit for Parking -Outside Trailer Park.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to park any trailer
coach on any street, alley, highway, sidewalk or other public place
in the city for a longer period than three hours.
(b) No trailer coach shall be parked, used or occupied on
any tract of ground within the city limits except in a duly licensed
trailer park or upon premises where there is an occupied building in
an area where same is not prohibited by the Zoning Ordinance of the
city.
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(c) No person shall park, use, or occupy any trailer coach
for more than forty-eight (48) hours.on the premises where there is
an-' occupied dwelling unless a permit therefor shall have been first
obtained, nor shall any person permit such -parking use or occupancy
until the occupant of the trailer coach has obtained a permit therefor.
Not more than two trailer coaches shall be parked or located upon
such premises unless the same are licensed as a trailer park as pro-
vided herein.
(d) The permit hereinabove required shall be obtained by the
trailer coach occupant from the building inspector of the city of,
Beaumont. The application for a permit shall be accompanied by the
payment of a.fee of $5.00 which shall cover a period of 30 days from
and after the granting of the permit. A fee of $1.00 in advance for
each 30'days or part thereof shall be payable thereafter. It shall be
unlawful for the occupant of the trailer coach to continue occupying
the premises without paying said fees to the building inspector. The
permit shall be granted only upon the written consent of the occupant
of the premises where such trailer is.to be parked.
(e) Application for the permit shall contain the street and.
number of the occupied dwelling, the name of the occupant of said
dwelling and his permission to locate; a statement of the nature and
location of the sanitary.facilities, and the permission of the occu-
pant,of the dwelling house for their use- and a statement that all
waste water from trailer coach sinks shall be emptied into proper
sewer connected fixtures.
Section 4.
Trailer Park License Reguirement.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to establish, main-
tain, conduct or operate any present or future trailer park within
the limits of the city of Beaumont without first having obtained a
license therefor from the building inspector of the city of Beaumont.
Such license shall be for the calendar-.: year or any part thereof,
ending December 31st of each year.
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(b) The annual license fee for each license or renewal there-
of to operate a trailer park shall be a minimum of $15.00 and an addi-
tional $1.00 for each trailer coach site or cottage over and above
five such sites or cottages, or.a combination thereof.
Such fee shall be paid to the building inspector by the appli-
cant at the time he files his application for such license or renewal.
If such license is issued during any calendar year the fee therefor
shall be prorated with the understanding that the month during which
such license is issued shall be counted as a full month. Should the
license be refused, the license fee shall be retained by the city to
compensate it for the expense of the inspections hereinafter provided
for. The license issued hereunder shall not be transferred to any
other person or location.
(c) License for trailer parks must be conspicuously displayed
at such parks at all times.
Section S.
Revocation and Suspension of License.
The director of health or any of,his inspectors, the building
inspector or any of his inspectors, the chief of police, the chief of
the fire department, their agents or representatives, or any other
duly authorized employee of the 'city shall have the right and author-
ity to enter upon the trailer parks at any ah&all reasonable times
for the purpose of inspecting same, and to see that no legal viola-
tions are being made. If the licensee violates any of the provisions
of this ordinance, or if upon the aforesaid inspection it shall be
found that'the licensee or any of his agents, representatives or em-
ployees are violating any provision of this ordinance or any other
ordinance of the city or the laws of the State of Texas, such viola-
tions shall be reported. to the building inspector and upon receipt
thereof said officer shall have the right, power and authority to re-
voke,or suspend for any period of time, any license or renewal there-
of issued hereunder, after writtbn notice to the licensee and proper
hearing concerning the matter.
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Section 6.
Application for License®
(a) Application for a license to operate a trailer park, or
renewal thereof, shall be made to the building inspector of the city
of Beaumont on a form to be furnished by said official. Such appli-
cation shall state the name and address of the person, firm, or cor-
poration desiring to engage in such business, and if the applicant be
a partnership, the names and addresses of the partners composing the
same, and a description of the property, including street address, of
the premises where such trailer park is to be operated so that it can
be easily identified. It shall also give the name of the owner of
such premises, and such other and further information as may be re-
quired by the city.
(b) Any applicant for a license to operate a trailer park
shall agree in his application that some responsible adult person or
persons will be in charge of the trailer park and available on the
premises at all times. The licensee shall be responsible for -any vio-
lation of the provisions of this ordinance -which occurs in the oper-
ation of such trailer park, except for violations by trailer occupants..
Section 7.
Park Plan.
Each application for a license or renewal thereof shall be
accompanied by four copies of a park plan clearly showing the follow-
ing, either existing or as proposed:
poses.
1. The extent and area to be used for trailer park pur-
2. Driveways at entrances and exits, location, dimensions
and kind of roadways.
3. Location and dimensions of sites for trailer coaches.
4. Locations and dimensions of existing or future cot -
ages.
5. Location and number of sanitary facilities; including
toilets, lavatories, toilet rooms, showers, washrooms and laundry
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drying space.
6. Method, plan and location of sewerage disposal.
7. Method and plan of garbage collection and removal.
8. Plan of water supply.
9. Plan of electric lighting.
10. A typical plan for the proposed cottages, baths, toi-
lets, lavatories, basins, sinks, washrooms and laundry shall be filed
with such application.
Section 8.
Drainage, Roads and Lot Sizes.
(a) The trailer park shall be located on a site and drained
so as not to permit water.to become stagnant thereon and shall have
an entrance and exit which may either be the same road or different
roads, and shall have driveways or roads at least 20 feet wide,
graded and hardsurfaced with concrete, asphalt, gravel or similar
material, provided, however, that roads for one-way traffic may have
a minimum width of ten feet. Trailer parks which are already law-
fully in operation on the effective date of this ordinance may con-
tinue to operate with the existing lawful driveways of less width,
but if the park be redesigned, the minimum width requirements herein
provided shall be complied with.
(b) The trailer park shall provide lots or sites for each
trailer coach and tow car, with an area of not less than 600 square
feet, with a minimum width of 20 feet, and a minimum depth of 30
feet, and shall be graveled or hard -surfaced and adequately drained.
Each trailer coach shall be located at least six feet from end to
end, and ten feet from side to side from any other trailer coach,
and at least five feet from any property lines separating the court
from adjoining property, and at least five feet from the street, and
not nearer the street than the building line established by valid
city ordinances or by other buildings on said street, if same be in
excess of five feet. Provided trailer parks which are already lawfully
in operation on the effective date of this ordinance may continue to
operate with existing lawful setbacks so long as no actual hazard to
health or safety is caused thereby; but if the park be redesigned,
the setback requirements shall be complied with.
Section 9.
Water Supply.
A sufficient supply of city water or other pure, healthful
drinking water, not more than �00 feet from any trailer coach, shall
be provided. Waste from this supply shall be emptied into a drain
connected to the city sewerage system, or in the event the city sewer-
age system is not within 200 feet of said trailer park, it shall be
emptied into a private disposal system adequate for such purpose. A
sufficient supply of hot and cold water shall be provided at all times
for bathing, washing and laundry facilities. No facilities solely
for drinking water shall be located in the toilet compartment. If
the water is Lea private -source, it shall be tested for sanitary
quality monthly, or more often if. -deemed necessary by the director
of health. Tests shall be made by a laboratory approved by the de-
partment of health.
Section 10.
Toilets.
The trailer park shall provide flush toilets in conveniently
located buildings. The buildings shall be -'roofed, adequately heated,
well lighted at all times, ventilated with 16 mesh screen openings,
and constructed of moisture -proof material permitting satisfactory
cleaning. The floors shall be of wood, concrete or similar material
and kept in good repair at all times. Toilets shall be enclosed and
separate compartments with adequate doors or.water-proof curtains for
each compartment. Toilets shall be provided for each sex in the ratio
of one toilet for every ten trailer sites. In each toilet room for
men an additional urinal stall shall be provided.
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Toilet rooms shall contain one lavatory with hot and cold
running water for each four toilets, but in every case there shall
be not less than one lavatory with hot and cold running water in every
toilet room.
Section 11.
Showers and Utility Facilities.
Separate bathing facilities for each sex shall be provided..
Each section shall contain one shower for each ten trailer coach
sites, at least thirty inches square, with additional floor space for
dressing purposes.
Section 12.
Sewage and Refuse Disposal.
Liquid and other wastes from showers, iceboxes, lavatories,
toilets, bathtubs, slop sinks and other plumbing fixtures in trailer
coaches or cottages shall be emptied into the city sewer system, or
in the event the city system is not within 200 feet of said trailer
park, said refuse shall be deposited in a private sewer or disposal
plant or septic tank system adequate for the purpose, all in accord-
ance with the valid ordinances of the city.
Section 13.
Waste and Garbage Disposal.
Each trailer park shall be provided with --supervision and
equipment sufficient to prevent covering and/or littering the ground
with garbage, rubbish, waste and debris, and each trailer park shall
be provided with safe and adequate provision for the collection or
removal of waste and garbage, complying with all sanitary ordinances
of the city and approved by the director of health. No garbage shall
be burned in or on any part of said trailer park, and it shall be un-
lawful for anyone to empty, pour, drop, spill, throw or drain waste
water, excreta, or other garbage or refuse on, over or upon the sur-
face of any trailer park.
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Section 14.
Inspections.
Upon receipt by the building inspector of the application for
a trailer park license or a renewal thereof, said officer or his duly
authorized representative shall enter upon the premises described in
said application and inspect same for the purpose of ascertaining
that the provisions of this ordinance and any and -all other ordinances
of.the city and the laws and statutes of the State of Texas have been
and are being complied with by said applicant. Upon being satisfied
that the applicant is complying with all the requirements set forth
above the building inspector shall issue a license to the applicant
to operate the trailer park applied for, provided the license fees de-
scribed herein have been fully paid and the improvements to said
trailer park have been made in accordance with the -terms and provisions
of this ordinance. Should such application be refused, then the ap-
plicant shall, within ten days thereafter, be notified in writing by
the building inspector of the reasons for the refusal, and he shall
have the right to appeal such decision as herein provided.
Section 15.
Guests Registration.
It shall be the duty of the owner, his manager, representative
or agent to keep an up-to-date record of all guests and occupants of a
trailer park, noting thereon the following:
pant.
1. Name and former address or home address of each occu-
2. Number of occupants in each trailer coach and cottage.
3. Date of commencement and termination of occupancy.
4. License number and description of all trailer coaches,
automobiles, or other vehicles, together with the name of the state
issuing said license.
The above records shall be open for inspection at all times by
the police department and'tax assessor and collector of the city, or
their duly authorized representatives.
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Section 16.
Miscellaneous Regulations.
(a) Sewer connections. All plumbing installations, alter-
ations or repair in the trailer park shall be done in accordance with
the provisions of the plumbing code of the city of Beaumont.
(b) Electrical work. All electrical work, construction and
repair shall be done in accordance with the electrical. code of -the
city of Beaumont. All wire used shall be approved. Outside insulated
wire and no part of any electric wires shall be allowed,to touch, run
on or come in contact with the ground.
(c) Compliance with building code. No permanent additions
of any kind whatsoever shall be built onto or become a part of any
trailer coach or building within a trailer park without complying with
the terms and provisions of the building code of the city of Beaumont.
(d) Animals. No dogs, cats or other animals, nor chickens
or other fowls of any kind shall be permitted to run at large in or on
any trailer park in violation of any valid city ordinance.
(e) .Washing animals and vehicles. Animals and.cars shall be
washed in trailer parks only at such place or places that are desig-
nated on the park plan.
(f) Disease: The owner acid/or operator of each trailer park
shall report to the city health department all cases of contageous or
communicable diseases, or such suspected cases, affecting any guest,
occupant or employee of the trailer park within twenty-four hours
after learning thereof; and such party shall also report immediately
to the police department of the city all legal violations and acts of
disorderly conduct committed by any person or persons within the boun-
daries of such trailer park.
(g) Flammable fluids. No gasoline or other flammable fluids
shall be kept in, on or near any trailer coach or cottage except for
domestic use, and even then the quantity so kept shall not exceed one
gallon per trailer coach or cott�Lge.
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(h) bighting. Every trailer park shall maintain adequate
lighting facilities at all times.
(i) Cleanliness, sanitation, repair. The owner and/or oper-
ator of each trailer park shall keep and maintain such park and all
toilets and showers or other equipment and other improvements in cones
nection therewith in a clean and sanitary condition at all times, and
shall maintain such equipment in a good state of repair.
Section 17.
Occupancy of Cottage.
It shall be unlawful for any owner, manager or operator of a
trailer park to permit the occupancy of a cottage by -more than one
family concurrently, and it shall be unlawful for members of more than
one family to occupy a cottage concurrently, unless said cottage is
constructed for double capacity and has at least double minimum re-
quirements.
Section 18.
Appeals.
The building inspector shall upon refusing to issue a trailer
park license or a renewal thereof, or upon revoking or suspending any
such license® notify in writing the licensee of the reasons therefor.
In such case licensee shall have'the right to appeal to the city coun-
cil by notifying in writing the city clerk of his desire to exercise
his right of appeal within ten days after the decision of the building
inspector. Upon such appeal the city council shall conduct a hearing
at which time evidence may be introduced concerning the action appealed
from, and after such hearing the city council shall announce its de-
cision by and through a council motion. The action of the city coun-
cil on such appeal shall be final.
All persons operating a trailer park at the time such license
or a renewal thereof is refused, revoked or suspended, who exercise
their right of appeal as hereinbefore provided, shall have the right
to continue operating such trailer camp pending final action on such .
appeal.
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Section 19.
Securing License by 0]2erators in Annexed Area.
The owners of trailer parks, which may hereafter become sub-
ject to the provisions of this ordinance through annexation, shall be
permitted sixty days in which to apply for a trailer -park license,
provided, however, that in the event such license application is de-
nied, that such owner shall be permitted to operate said trailer park
if he appeals the refusal of the building inspector to the city coun-
cil, but that upon final refusal by the city council to issue him a
license, such right to operate such trailer park shall terminate.
Section 20.
Building Permit.
No person shall erect or construct, or proceed with the erec-
tion or.construction of any trailer site, building or structure, nor
to add to, enlarge, improve, alter, repair, convert, extend or demol-
ish any trailer site, building or structure or any part thereof, or
install any plumbing, electrical or mechanical equipment as a part of
the site, building or structure, or make.any other improvements to any
site, building or structure or cause the same to be done within a
trailer park as defined herein.without first obtaining a building per-
mit therefor from the building inspector._ The building inspector
shall not issue a permit with reference to any building or structure
unless the following minimum building standards are met:
(a) Each cottage shall have not less than one bedroom,
the dimensions of which shall be not less than nine feet by twelve
feet in area with a ceiling height of not less than eight feet.
(b) Each'cottage shall have hot and cold running water,
a toilet, and a tub or shower bath.
('c) Window openings in each cottage shall be fully
screened with a screen wire or its equivalent and shall not be less
than sixteen mesh per inch, and doors shall be likewise screened or
otherwise protected.
(d) Each cottage shall adjoin a road or driveway and
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shall be.so located and constructed as to provide satisfactory fire
separation in compliance with the building code'of the city.
(e) The placing or storage of unsightly materials or ob-
jects of whatever nature on or about the premises shall be unlawful.
Section 21.
Swimming Pools.
Any trailer park having a swimming or wading pool shall oper-
ate it in a sanitary manner and provide for the safety of swimmers.
and the public in accordance with methods approved by the director of
public health. Any trailer park constructing a swimming or wading
pool shall first submit complete plans and specifications to the dir-
ector of public health and to the building inspector for approval. A
building permit for the construction of such pools shall be obtained
and same shall be constructed according to the approved design.
Section 22.
Cumulative.
No license granted hereunder shall ever be held to -bar prose -
cation for violation of any other ordinance of this city:; or to prep
vent the enforcement of -any such ordinance or inhibit the exercise of
powers and duties of any officer under the terms of any such ordinance.
Section 23.
Fire Protection.
The owner and/or manager of a trailer park shall at all times
see that all ordinances of the city relating to prevention of and prop
tection from fires shall be fully complied with.
Section 24.
Management.
Every trailer park shall be under the direct management of the
owner or of some responsible adult person designated by him as his
agent for whose acts as manager the owner shall be fully responsible.
An owner who does not himself manage the trailer park shall file the
name of such agent or manager with the building inspector.
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Section 25.
Rules and Regulations.
The owner and./or manager of any trailer park shall prescribe
rules and regulations for the management of the park and make ade-
quate provisions for the enforcement of such rules and shall furnish
copies of all such rules and regulations to the health department.
Copies of all rules and regulations shall be posted in conspicuous
locations throughout the trailer park and each cottage shall likewise
have conspicuously displayed a copy of such rules and regulations.
Section 26.
Inspections.
The health department shall thoroughly inspect every trailer
park at least once every six months or more often when requested by
the owner or manager.
Section 27.
Penalty.
Any person violating the provisions of this ordinance shall
be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of not more
than $200.00, and if such violations be continued, each day's viola-
tion shall constitute a separate offense and be punishable as such.
Section 28.
Severability.
Should any section, provision, clause, phrase, or sentence of
this ordinance be declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
invalid, that decision shall not affect the validity of the ordinance
as a whole or any part thereof, other than the part so declared to be
invalid.
Section 29.
Repeal.
This ordinance expressly repeals the ordinance passed January
251 1944 and all other ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict
herewith shall be and are hereby"repealed.
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A
PASSED by the City Council this day of
A. D. 1958.
- Mayoro
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