What hours can construction and remodeling crews work in Bellaire?

Permitted building work

The code says that, "Except as otherwise provided in the Code of Ordinances," the construction of buildings and structures "and related activities, any of which require a building permit, other than a homeowner permit," is "permitted only during the time periods of Monday through Sunday 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m." That means Saturdays and Sundays are allowed, within those same hours. The building official must put written notice of these hours in each permit.

Exceptions are possible. The building official "may approve exceptions to these work hours, upon receipt of written applications for an exception." The exception must be granted in writing, list all conditions, and be based on the building official's finding that it "furthers the objectives of health, safety, and welfare of the community."

Rule: City Code Sec. 9-5(m).

Noise quiet hours

Bellaire also has a noise rule that covers construction. During quiet hours the code lists "Construction, except as otherwise approved by the building official per Code of Ordinances section 9-17" as a prohibited noise. Quiet hours are: - Sunday through Thursday (except the day before a city holiday): before 7:00 a.m. or after 9:30 p.m. - Friday, Saturday and the day before a city holiday: before 7:00 a.m. or after 11:00 p.m.

The same quiet hours also apply to sound from leaf blowers, lawnmowers and other lawn and garden equipment. The noise rule also excepts "properly permitted construction, grading, repair, remodeling, or demolition/building activities during additional hours the city's building official specifically authorizes in writing." For permitted work, the 7:00 p.m. stop in Sec. 9-5(m) comes before the 9:30 p.m. quiet-hours start, so the earlier stop applies unless the building official approves an exception.

If your work does not need a building permit, or only needs a homeowner permit, the 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. rule above does not apply by its words. The noise quiet hours still do. Rule: City Code Sec. 22-4.

Dumpsters on the job site

The job site "shall provide a metal roll-off container(s) of adequate size to hold all debris, refuse or other garbage" before construction starts. The code says to place it in the yard proper if there is a driveway, "with the driveway serving as the construction entrance." Nobody may let litter, debris or trash sit where it is not adequately contained and "subject to being carried by wind to any other location." Whoever is in charge of the site must also "immediately dispose of all trash, rubbish, and debris." Rule: City Code Sec. 9-5(d) and (e).

Portable toilets

The person in charge of the site must provide portable sanitary facilities at construction sites "as determined necessary by the building official." "It shall be unlawful to place portable sanitary facilities on any public grounds, including public streets or sidewalks." They must be kept on private property, screened with opaque fencing, and have an access gate. Rule: City Code Sec. 9-5(j).

Job-site signs

"Every building site or lot where construction or reconstruction is in progress must have displayed thereon a sign of sufficient size to be plainly and legally visible from the nearest public street." The sign must show the name of the responsible person who can be contacted if a rule is broken. The code gives no exact sign size. Rule: City Code Sec. 9-5(k).

Keeping the street clean and clear

• New construction sites, and projects the building official finds large enough, need temporary chain-link fencing to secure and screen the site. Existing fencing at the rear and sides beyond the front yard may be used. Rule: City Code Sec. 9-5(a).
• Streets, alleys and sidewalks must be kept free of dirt, sand, mud and similar material during construction. Rule: City Code Sec. 9-5(g).
• No one may stop, stand or park a vehicle on a public street "in such a way as to leave less than ten feet of width of the street or roadway open and available for other vehicular travel." Rule: City Code Sec. 9-5(h).
• The building official or a designee has the power "to suspend work at any site not maintained as required by this section." Rule: City Code Sec. 9-5(n).

Deed restrictions or an HOA may set stricter hours for your street.

What happens if you don't

Sec. 9-5 sets no fine of its own, so the general penalty applies: a fine of up to $500, and each day counts as a new offense (Sec. 1-10). The legal basis is Texas Local Government Code Sec. 54.001. For noise rule violations, the fine "shall not be less than $150.00 for the first offense" and "not less than $500.00 for any subsequent offense." "Each hour or portion thereof in which any violation shall occur shall constitute a separate offense" (Sec. 22-4).

Who to call

Development Services (the building official).

Sources

• City of Bellaire Code of Ordinances, Sec. 9-5 (duty of contractors and other persons performing construction work), Sec. 22-4 (noise), Sec. 1-10 (general penalty). library.municode.com/tx/bellaire
• Texas Local Government Code, Sec. 54.001 (maximum fines for city ordinances). statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/LG/htm/LG.54.htm

En español

Para trabajos que necesitan un permiso de construcción (que no sea un permiso de propietario), las cuadrillas pueden trabajar de lunes a domingo, de 7:00 a.m. a 7:00 p.m. El oficial de construcción de la ciudad puede aprobar otros horarios, pero solo por escrito, con condiciones. Además, la regla de ruido prohíbe la construcción en las "horas de silencio": antes de las 7:00 a.m. o después de las 9:30 p.m. de domingo a jueves, y antes de las 7:00 a.m. o después de las 11:00 p.m. los viernes, sábados y la víspera de un día festivo de la ciudad, salvo con aprobación del oficial de construcción. Para trabajo con permiso, el límite de las 7:00 p.m. llega antes que las horas de silencio, así que ese límite aplica a menos que el oficial de construcción apruebe una excepción por escrito. Las mismas horas aplican a sopladores de hojas y cortadoras de césped. El oficial de construcción también puede suspender el trabajo en una obra que no se mantenga como se exige. En el sitio de la obra se requiere un contenedor metálico para escombros, de preferencia en el camino de entrada; baños portátiles que no pueden estar en calles ni aceras públicas y que deben estar en propiedad privada con cerca opaca y puerta; y un letrero visible desde la calle con el nombre de la persona responsable. También se debe cercar el sitio con malla ciclónica temporal en obra nueva, mantener las calles sin lodo y tierra, y no estacionar de modo que quede menos de diez pies de ancho en la calle. La multa general es de hasta $500 y cada día cuenta como una nueva infracción (Sec. 1-10; base legal: Sec. 54.001 del Código de Gobierno Local de Texas). Por ruido, la multa es de al menos $150 la primera vez y al menos $500 después, y cada hora cuenta como una infracción separada. Las restricciones de escritura o de la asociación de propietarios pueden ser más estrictas.