OR 54 Prohibits parking of house trailers used as dwelling or sleeping places except in licensed trailer parks ORDINANCE NO. 54
AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE PARKING OF HOUSE TRAILERS USED
AS DWELLING OR SLEEPING PLACES EXCEPT IN LICENSED TRAILER PARKS,
PROVIDING FOR EXCEPTIONS WHERE SPECIAL TEMPORARY PERMITS ARE OBTAINED
FROM THE CITY; MAKING IT UNLAWFUL TO PARK HOUSE TRAILERS ON ANY PUBLIC
STREET OR IN ANY PUBLIC PARK FOR LONGER THAN 72 hours. PROVIDING
FOR A SPECIAL TEMPORARY PERMIT; PROVIDING FOR A FEE FOR ISSUANCE OF
SPECIAL TEMPORARY PERMITS; PROVIDING FOR EXCEPTIONS; PROVIDING CERTAIN
MINIMUM STANDARDS, PROVISIONS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFE, SANITARY AND
SUITABLE METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF TRAILER PARKS; PRO-
VIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING A PENALTY OR FINE NOT TO EXCEED
THE SUM OF $200.00 FOR EACH OFFENSE; REPEALING CONFLICTING ORDINANCES
AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
TEXAS:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COPPELL,
Section 1. PURPOSE AND INTENT: The purpose and intent of
this ordinance is to regulate the parking and use of house trailers
within the city and to provide certain minimum standards, provisions
and requirements for safe, sanitary and suitable methods of con-
struction and operation of trailer parks and to assure that trailer
parks and house trailers do not become a menace to public health,
morals, safety and welfare.
Section 2. DEFINITIONS: Unless otherwise expressly stated,
the following words and terms shall, for the purpose of this ordi-
nance, have the meanings indicated in this Section:
HOUSE TRAILER-A House Trailer is any vehicle used or con-
structed to permit its use both as a conveyance upon the public
streets and occupancy as a dwelling or sleeping place for one or
more persons, and shall include both self-propelled and non-self-
propelled vehicles so designed or constructed.
INDEPENDENT HOUSE TRAILERS-An Independent House Trailer
means a trailer which has approved sewer and water connections to
accommodate and containing a flush water closet and a tub or shower
and a lavatory or sink within the unit.
DEPENDENT HOUSE TRAILER-A Dependent House Trailer means a
house trailer which has neither sewer or water connections nor a
flush water closet, a tub or shower or a lavatory or sink within
the unit.
TRAILER PARK-A Trailer Park is any lot, tract or parcel of
land used in whole or part for the accommodation of transients by the
day or week, or for a longer period of time with or without compen-
sation and where parking facilities are provided for one or more
automobiles and house trailers to be used for dwellings.
LICENSED TRAILER PARK-The term "Licensed Trailer Park" as
used herein shall mean any trailer park operating under a valid
license issued under the terms of this ordinance.
OWNER-The word "Owner" as applied herein to trailer parks
shall be cons"Frued to mean any person who has control, direction,
maintenance or supervision of a trailer park, whether as owner or
otherwise.
PERSON-The term "Person" as used herein shall mean any
person, firm, partnership, corporation or association.
STREET-The term "Street" or "Streets" as used in this ordi-
nance shal'l 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 Coppell, Texas.
UNIT PLOT-A Unit Plot is that space of ground set aside and
permanently marked off as provided in Section 9 and designated on the
"Park Plan" or "Site Plot Plan" as provided for under Section 7 for
occupancy as a parking space in a trailer park.
Section 3. PROHIBITIONS AND EXCEPTIONS:
(A)
Except as provided for herein=, it shall be unlawful
to park any house trailer used as a dwelling or
sleeping place, on any lot, tract, or Darcel of
land within the city, for a period longer than
three (3) days, except in the following instances:
(1) Where said house trailer is parked in a
"Licensed Trailer Park."
(2)
Where a special temporary permit has been
issued by the city in accordance with the
provisions of sections 4 and 5 of this
ordinance.
(S)
It shall be unlawful
any public street or
longer period than
to park any house trailer on
in any public park for a
72 ho~s ..... ·
Section 4. SPECIAL TEMPORARY PERMIT TO PARK HOUSE TRAILER:
The City Council may in its sole discretion issue a temporary permit
allowing the parking or use of a trailer house within the City at a
location other than at a licensed trailer park. Such permit shall be
for a limited time as set by the City Council and the City Council may
at the time of the issuance of such special permit or any time there-
after, impose any type of condition which must be complied with in
order that said permit remain in effect. Requests for such temporary
permit must be made to the City Council and upon approval, the City
Council will direct the City Clerk to issue said permit in writing
setting forth such conditions. Such permit shall be non-transferable
and may be revoked at any time at the pleasure of the City Council.
Section 5. FEE FOR SPECIAL TEMPORARY PERMIT: No such
special temporary permit shall be issued until the applicant has paid
to the City a permit fee of $25.00. Provided however, applicant seek-
ing such a special temporary permit for a house trailer located within
the City on the effective date of this ordinance shall be exempt from
the payment of such permit fee if such application is filed with the
City Council within 30 days from the effective date of this ordinance.
TRAILER PARK REGULATIONS
Section 6. BUILDING PERMITS REQUIRED: No person shall erect
or construct or proceed with the erection or construction of any build-
ing or structure, nor add to, enlarge, improve, alter, repair, convert,
extend or demolish any building or structure or any part thereof or
insfail any plumbing, electrical or mechanical equipment as part of a
building or structure or cause the same to be done within a trailer park
as defined herein without first obtaining a building permit therefor from
the Building Inspector.
Section 7. APPLICATION FOR BUILDING PERMIT:
(a) To obtain a Building Permit as required by this ordi-
nance, application therefor shall be filed with the Building Inspector
in writing on a form to be furnished for that purpose.
(b) Every application for a building permit shall be
accompained by two (2) copies of plans and specifications and a
"Park Plan" or "Site Plot Plan" showing the unit plots said trailer
park will contain, together with the unit plot which will be set
aside for exclusive use of independent house trailer; the location
of the proposed buildings to be erected, and all existing buildings,
if any, on the property or premises. The "Park Plan" or "Site Plot
Plan" shall also clearly indicate all streets, roads, drives, property
lines, administrative buildings, toilet buildings, plumbing connections
for independent house trailers, accessory building and fences together
with the necessary space for parking passenger vehicles. Before pro-
ceeding with the actual work of constructing the trailer park, the
applicatant shallhave such plans approved by the Buitding Inspector.
(c) Plans shall be drawn to scale upon either substantial,
clean, colorless paper, or shall be good blueprints. All the essentail
parts shall be drawn to a scale of not less than one-eight inch (1/8")
to one (1) foot. Plans and specifications shall be of sufficient clarity
to indicate the nature and character of the work proposed.
Section 8. LOCATION OF TRAILER PARK: All
trailer park shall be located on a well-drained site
and in an area zoned for such use.
land used as a
of ample size
Section 9. TRAILER PARK PlAN AND CONSTRUCTION;
(a) Each unit plot for the accommodation of one house trailer
and automotive vehicle shall be not less than nine hundred (900) square
feet in size, which space shall be at least twenty-five (25) feet wide
and shall adjoin a road or driveway. Each such plot shall be clearly
defined on the ground by proper permanent markers at each corner.
(b) House trailers shall be so harbored on each unit plot
that there shall be at least a fifteen (15) foot clearance between
house trailers. No house trailer shall be located closer than ten
(10) feet from any property line boundfag the park. Each trailer space
shall be provided with at least an 8' X 18' X 4" slab.
(c) No building, structure or house trailer shall be ~ocated
nearer a public street than the building line as provided in the Zoning
Ordinance for the use district in which the premises are located, and
in no case shall such structure be set closer than fifteen (15) feet to
the front property line or closer than ten (10) feet from any side street
property line.
(d) The premises shall be surrounded by a wall or other solid
structure not less than three and one-half (3 1/2) feet in height with
openings therein that are only necessary for entrance and exit facilities.
Provided, however, a fence of a type approved in writing by the Building
Inspector of the City (or in the absence of a Building Inspector, the
City Council) may be used in lieu of a solid structure or wall.
(e) Well-drained driveways which are paved in accordance
with City standards shall be provided in each trailer park. These
driveways shall be not less than eighteen (18) feet in width, and
well marked in daytime and lighted at night and so located that each
unit of the trailer park is easily accessible. Lateral or branch
driveways less tha fifty (50) feet in length may be not less than
ten (10) feet in width. All entrances and exits from the premises
shall be well marked and shall be located and so arranged that they
are easily controlled and easily supervised.
(f) Each site or tract of ground occupied by a trailer park
shall be a separate entity and shall contain thereon the administrative
facilities, service buildings, unit plots and other facilities required
herein. Only one electrical service connection,Vwa~er service connection
or gas service connection shall be permitted for each trailer park, pro-
vided, however, that sub-meting from such services to individual plots
may be provided at the option of the owner, and provided further that
the master meter for either electrical service, water service or gas
service connection shall, at all times, be assigned to the person,
firm or corporation in whose name the permit for the operation of the
trailer park has been granted.
Section 10. TOILET BUILDINGS AND SANITARY FACILITIES:
(a) Each trailer park shall be provided with a toilet
building for each sex, each of which toilet buildings shall be
located not more than two hundred (200) feet from any unit plot.
The toilet buildings shall be roofed and shall be provided with
light and ventilation by means of windows with an area of not
less than one-eight (1/8) of the floor area of the room which
they serve. The openings shall be screened with mesh not less than
sixteen (16) per inch. The toilet building shall be provided with
artificial lights of not less than 75 watts which lights shall be
kept burning all the time at night. The toilet buildings shall have
floors and sidewalls to a height of six (6) inches of concrete or
other impervious material. Each of such buildings shall have the
following facilities as a minimum:
(1) One slop sink;
(2) Floor drain;
(3) Hot and cold running water;
(4)
One laundry tray for each fifteen (15) unit
plot shall be provided in a separate compart-
ment from the water closets and lavatories.
Automatic washing machines may be substituted
for each laundry tray required.
(b) In addition to the above mentioned facilites, the
toilet building for males shall contain the following minimum
facilities based upon the number of unit plots set aside for use
by house trailers:
(i)
One flush water closet for every
fifteen (15) unit plots or fraction
thereof.
(2) One urinal for every fifteen (15)
unit plots or fraction thereof.
(3)
One lavatory or wash basin for
every ten (10) unit plots or
fraction thereof.
(c) Each toilet building for females shall have the
following facilities based on the unit plots set aside for use
by house trailers:
(1) One flush water closet for every ten
(10) unit plots or fraction thereof.
(2) One lavatory or wash basin for every
ten (10) unit plots or fraction thereof.
(3) One shower bath for every ten (10) unit
plots or fraction thereof.
(d) All plumbing shall comply with the Plumbing Code of
the City of Coppell.
(e) Unit ~lots occupied b!z independent trailors ~.~hich have
a minimur~ of one fIush water closet, one tub or sho-~'er, and one sink
or lavatory integral ,l~ithin the unit sha!] ~e connected to the ~ublic
sewer through an approved s~-~er connection or other,=~ise to an a~eq~ate
septic tank approved by the City and constr~cted in accordance vith
the req~irements of the Health Department and provided ~!Tith an ample
and rodequate supply of ~,~ater of safe, potable quality and, ,,,h~.n such
unit plot is set aside as provided in Sectio~ 7 for the exclusive use
of such trailor, such unit plot may be disregarded, in the counting of
the unit plots for determining required sanitary ficilities in paragraph
(b) and (c) of this section.
It is hereby declared to be unla~yfu] to locate a dependent
trailor upon a unit plot unless the sanitary facilities as required
in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section are sufficient to accommodate
such dependent trailor.
(f) Provided,
section shall not apply
pendent house trailors"
however, that parts (a), (b) and (c) of this
to shy trailor park accommodating only "jude-
as that term is defined herein.
Section 11. WATER SUPPLY: Each site used as a trailor park
shall be supplied m~ith ~?ater from the City of Coppell ~x~ater lines if
such lines are k, ithin 150 feet of the site; othen,xise, they shall be
provided. ~.,~j.th an ample and adequate supply of ~ater of safe, potable
quality approved by the City Health Officer. ~Tater supply faucets shall
be located not more than one hundred (100) feet from any camping space.
Section 12. WASTE DISPOSaLs:
(a) All waste water from trailor park shall be wasted into
a public sewer throuCh an approved se~er connectlop where within 150
feet of a public sewer, or otheF~;ise to an adequate septic tank con-
structed in accordance with the requirements of the Health Department
and approved by the City.
(b) All garbage and trash shall be placed into garbage cans,
and kept in a sanitary condition.
(c) It shall be unlawful to permit garbage, ~aste water or
material from sinks, showers or other fixtures or utensils in house
trailors to be disposed of on any street or premises in any other manner
except as above provided.
Section 13. CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY: No building or trailor
park or other permanent structure within the meshing and scope of this
ordinance shall be occupied in any part thereof unless or until a Certi-
ficate of Occupancy shall. be filed for by the owner or his agent with
the Building Inspector ~ho shall cause an inspection to be made to
determine whether the premises comply ~ith the requirements of this ordi-
nance and a certificate of occupancy issued.
Section 14. LICENSE REQUIRED:
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to open, maintain or
orerate within the City of Coppe!l a trailor park, as defined in this
ordinance, for use of transients or other persons by the day or week,
or for a longer peroid, for or without compensation, without first
having secured a license from the City.
(b) Any person desiring to open, maintain or operate a trailor park
shall make application for a license to the Building Inspector on a
form furnished by the City of Coppell. Said application shall furnish
complete information as to the ownership and managementand shall show
the location within the City.
(c) The application referred to herein shall state whether
the applicant seeks to operate and maintain a trailer park and it shall
be accompained by two (2) copies of a "Park Plan" or "Site Plot Plan" as
provided in Section 7.
Section 15. LICENSE APPROV~L~ ISSUANCE AND FEE~ Upon approval
of the application provided for in Section 14 of this Ordinance, a license
shall be issued upon payment of a fee of $25.00. Before a trailer park
can be enlarged a plan must be submitted and approved as in the case of
a new trailer park being licensed for the first time.
Section 16, MANAGEMENT: Each trailer park shall have on the
site an office in which shall be kept copies of all records pertaining
to the management and supervision of the premises and such records shall
always be available for inspection by a member of the State and County
law enforcement agencies, the Police Department, the Health Department,
Building Inspector, Fire Marshall and other agents of the City of Coppell
authorized to inspect.
"SECTION 16-A. SERVICE AND INSPECTION FEE: To help defray
the cost of inspection of house trailer parks, a service and inspection
fee of $1.50 per month, or fractional part thereof, is hereby imposed
on all house trailers remaining in the house trailer park within the
City for more than three (3) days.
SECTION 16-B OCCUPANCY OF HOUSE TRAILERS PROHIBITED WHERE
FEE IS NOT PAID. It shall be .nlawful for any person to reside or
otherwise occupy any house trailer remaining in any trailer park within
the City for more than three (3) days on which said trailer the service
and inspection fee has not been paid.
SECTION 16-C. COLLECTION OF FEES BY HOUSE TRAILER PARK
OPERATORS. The owner or operator of each house trailer park shall make
demand upon and collect from the occupant of each house trailer in his
park, the service and inspection fee imposed by this ordinance. The
owner or operator of each house trailer park shall pay the amounts so
collected by him to the City Treasurer within ten days after the expi-
ration of each calendar month. The City shall furnish each house trailer
park owner or operator with printed receipt forms in quadripulate. The
original receipt shall be delivered to the person making the payment, and
two copies of the said receipt shall be delivered to the City Treasurer
and the house trailer park owner or operator shall keep the remaining
copy for his record.
SECTION 16-D. BOND: At the expense of the City, each house
trailer park owner or operator shall be bonded to indemnify the City
against loss of any and all sums collected under the provisions of this
ordinance."
Section 17. REGISTRATION OF GUESTS: It shall be the duty of
the owner of each trailer park to keep a register of all persons furnished
accommodations. Said register shall include the names of all persons
furnished accommodations, the permanent home addresses, the license
numbers and makes of their automobiles and trailers and the duration
of their stay.
Section 18. PROTECTION AGAINST FIRE:
(a) Camp fires shall not be permitted;
(b)
The use and handling of gasoline or
flammable liquids shall conform to
the requirements of the Fire Code;
(c)
An adequate fire extinguisher shall
be provided for each ten unit plots
or fraction thereof.
Section 19. OCCUPANCY OF LIVING QUARTERS: It shall be un-
lawful to use any unit plot for more than one family concurrently.
Section 20. ZONING: It shall be unlawful to use any property
within the limits of the"~y for a trailer park except in an area where
such use is permitted under such Zoning Ordinance of the City.
Section 21. INVALIDITY: If any section, paragraph, sub-
division, clause, phrase, or provision of this ordinance shall be
adjudged invalid or held unconstitutional, the same shall not affect
the validity of this ordinance as a whole or any part or provision
thereof other than the parr so decided to De invalid or unconstitutional.
Section 22. PENALTY: Any person, firm or corporation violating
any of the provisions ot~'fh'~g'ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a mis-
demeanor and, upon conviction in the Corporation Court, shall be subject
to a fine not to exceed the sum of $200.00 for each offense, and each
and every day that said violation continues or is permitted to exist
shall constitute a separate offense.
Section 23. REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES: That all
ordinances of the City of Coppell which conflict with the provisions
of this ordinance be, and the same are, hereby repealed and ordinance
43 and ordinance 43A are_e~specifically repealed.
Section 24. EMERGENCY: The fact that the present regulations
of the City of Coppell do not adequately regulate or control the use of
property for trailer park purposes, and the need for such regulations,
creates an urgency and an emergency in the preservation of the public
health, safety and welfare and requires that this ordinance shall take
effect immediately from and after its passage, and publication of the
caption of said ordinance, as the law in such cases provides.
on the
Texas,
DULY RECORDED:
APPROVED AS TO FORM: