OR 125 Provides minimum standards for safe methods of construction of trailor parks AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS
ORDINANCE NO. 125
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS,
PROVIDING MINIMUM STANDARDS, PROVISIONS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR
SAFE, SANITARY AND SUITABLE METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION AND OPERA-
TION OF TRAILER PARKS; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT
WITH THIS ORDINANCE; SPECIFICALLY REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 54;
PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIO-
LATION OF THIS ORDINANCE NOT TO EXCEED THE SUM OF TWO HUNDRED
DOLLARS ($200.00) FOR EACH OFFENSE AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
COPPELL, TEXAS:
SECTION 1. PURPOSE AND INTENT.
~e purpose and intent of this ordinance is to provide
certain minimum standards, provisions and requirements for safe,
sanitary and suitable methods of construction and operation of
trailer parks and to assure that trailer parks and house trail-
ers 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 ordinance, have the
meanings indicated in this Section:
HOUSE TRAILER. A House Trailer is any vehicle used
or constructed 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 containg 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 connec-
tions 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 compensation 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 un-
der a valid license issued under the terms of this ordinance.
OWNER. The word "Owner" as applied herein to trailer
parks shall be construed to mean any person who has control, di-
rection, 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 ordinance shall mean and include any street, alley, avenue,
lane, boulevard, drive, public place or highway co~only 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 6 and
designated on the "Park Plan" or "Site Plot Plan" as provided
for under Section 4 for occupancy as a parking space in a trailer
park.
SECTION 3. BUILDING PERMITS REQUIRED.
No person shall erect or construct or proceed with the
erection or construction of any building or structure, nor add
to, enlarge, improve, alter, repair, convert, extend or demol-
ish any building or structure or any part thereof or install
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 Build-
ing Permit therefor from the Building Inspector.
SECTION 4. APPLICATION FOR BUILDING PERMIT.
(a) To obtain a Building Permit as required by this
ordinance, 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
accompanied by two (2) copies of plans and specifications and a
"Park Plan" or "Site Plot Plan" showing the unit plots said trail-
er 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 proceeding with the actual work of
constructing the trailer park, the applicant shall have such plans
approved by the Building Inspector.
(c) Plans shall be drawn to scale upon either sub-
stantial, clean, colorless paper, or shall be good blueprints.
All the essential parts shall be drawn to a scale of not less
than one-eight inch (1/8") to one (1) foot. Plans and specifi-
cations shall be of sufficient clarity to indicate the nature
and character of the work proposed.
SECTION 5. LOCATION OF TRAILER PARK.
Ail land used as a trailer park shall be located on
a well-drained site of ample size and in area zoned for such use.
SECTION 6. 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 bound-
ing 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 located 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 ~hree 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 ac-
cordance 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 than 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 control-
led 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 electri-
cal service connection, water service connection or gas ser-
vice connection shall be permitted for each trailer park,
provided, however, that sub-meting from such services to indi-
vidual 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 7. TOILET BUILDINGS AND SANITARY FACILITIES.
(a) Each trailer park shall be provided with a toi-
let 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 pro-
vided 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 sepa-
rate compartment from the water closets
and lavatories. Automatic washing ma-
chines may be substituted for each
laundry tray required.
(b) In addition to the above mentioned facilities,
the toilet building for males shall contain the following mini-
mum facilities based upon the number of unit plots set aside
for use by house trailers:
(1) 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 plots occupied by independent trailers which
have a minimum of one flush water closet, one tub or shower, and
one sink or lavatory integral within the unit shall be connected
to the public sewer through an approved sewer connection or otherwise
to an adequate septic tank approved by the City and constructed in
accordance with the requirements of the Health Department and pro-
vided with an ample and adequate supply of water of safe, potable
quality and when such unit plot is set aside as provided in Section
4 for the ex~usive use of such trailer, such unit plot may be dis-
regarded in th~ counting of the unit plots for determining required
\
sanitary facilities in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section.
It is hereby declared to be unlawful to locate a de-
pendent trailer upon a unit plot unless the sanitary facilities
as required in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section are sufficient
to accommodate such dependent trailer.
(f) Provided, however, that parts (a), (b) and (c) of
this section shall not apply to any trailer park accommodating only
"independent house trailers" as that term is defined herein.
SECTION 8. WATER SUPPLY.
Each site used as a trailer park shall be supplied
with water from the City of Coppell water lines if such lines
are within 150 feet of the site; otherwise, they shall be pro-
vided with an ample and adequate supply of water of safe, pot-
able quality approved by the City Health officer. Water sup-
ply faucets shall be located not more than one hundred (100)
feet from any camping space.
SECTION 9. WASTE DISPOSAL.
(a) Ail waste water from trailer park shall be wasted
into a public sewer through an approved sewer connection where
within 150 feet of a public sewer, or otherwise to an adequate
septic tank constructed in accordance with the requirements of
the Health Department and approved by the City.
(b) All garbage and trash shall be placed into gar-
bage cans, and kept in a sanitary condition.
(c) It shall be unlawful to permit garbage, waste
water or material from sinks, showers or other fixtures or uten-
sils in house trailers to be disposed of on any street or premi-
ses in any other manner except as above provided.
SECTION 10. CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.
No building or trailer park or other permanent structure
within the meaning and scope of this ordinance shall be occupied
in any part thereof unless or until a Certificate of Occupancy
shall be filed for by the owner or his agent with the Building
Inspector who shall cause an inspection to be made to determine
whether the premises comply with the requirements of this ordinance
and a Certificate of Occupancy issued.
SETION 11. LICENSE REQUIRED.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to open, main-
tain or operate within the City of Coppell a trailer park, as
defined in this ordinance, for use of transients or other
persons by the day or week, or for a longer period, for or
without compensation, without first having secured a license
from the City.
(b) Any person desiring to open, maintain or op-
erate a trailer 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 management and 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 accompanied by two (2) copies of a "Park
Plan" or "Site Plot Plan" as provided in Section 4.
SECTION 12. LICENSE APPROVAL, ISSUANCE AND FEE.
Upon approval of the application provided for in
Section 11 of this ordinance, a license shall be issued upon pay-
ment 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 13. 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 14. 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 accom-
modations, the permanent home address, the license numbers and
makes of ~_heir automobiles and trailers and duration of their
stay.
SECTION 15. PROTECTION AGAINST FIRE.
(a) Campfires 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 16. OCCUPANCY OF LIVING QUARTERS.
It shall be unlawful to use any unit plot for more
than one family concurrently.
SECTION 17. ZONING.
It shall be unlawful to use any property within the
limits of the City for a trailer park except in an area where
such use is permitted under such Zoning Ordinance of the City.
SECTION 18. REPEALING CLAUSE.
Ail ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent
or in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance are here-
by repealed. Ordinance No. 54 is specifically repealed.
However, the repeal of existing ordinances by this
ordinance shall not affect or prevent the prosecution or the
punishment of any person for any act done or committed prior
to the effective date of this ordinance in violation of any
ordinance hereby repealed; and prosecution for such offenses
may be instituted and causes presently pending proceeded with
in all respects as if such prior ordinance or ordinances had
not been repealed.
SECTION 19. SEVERABILITY CLAUSE.
If any article, paragraph or sub-division, clause,
phrase or provision of this Ordinance shall be adjudged in-
valid 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 part so decided to be invalid or uncon-
stitutional.
SECTION 20. PENALTY CLAUSE.
Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the
provisions of this Ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a mis-
demeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not to exceed the
sum of two hundred dollars ($200.00) for each offense and each
and every day such offense is continued shall constitute a new
and separate offense.
SECTION 21. EMERGENCY CLAUSE.
The fact that the present City regulations are in-
adequate to properly protect the public health, safety and
welfare, creates an urgency and an emergency and requires that
this Ordinance shall take effect immediately from and after
the publication of its caption as the law in such cases pro-
vides.
DULY PASSED by the City Council of the City of
Coppell, Texas, this ...~. day of ~~ 19 ~ .
M~YOR
AT,ES T: ~
C~T¥ S~CRETA~¥
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
2