City of Hurst, TX
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Frequently Asked Questions
Expand/Contract Questions and Answers
- Vegetation should not be allowed to grow over 8” on residential or developed commercial properties or over 12" on undeveloped commercial lots.
- Limbs should be cut into 4’ lengths and bundled in bundles weighing less than 50 lbs or placed in containers to be picked up curbside by Allied Waste. Leaves may be placed in bags. Limbs, brush or leaves left piled up for an extended time make excellent harbors for rodents, so we encourage citizens to dispose of these quickly.
- Hazardous materials may be disposed of at the Environmental Collection Center in Fort Worth. For more detailed information, visit our Environmental Collection Center page.
- Vehicles parked in the City must be operable and have a current license tag and current inspection sticker.
- Only signs which have been permitted through Building Inspections may be placed in the City.
- Trash should not be placed curbside prior to 7PM the night before scheduled collection days. Trash bags must be securely tied and trash cans or recycling bins must have a lid in place to keep the contents from scattering.
- Certain home offices are allowed, but no employees are allowed to come to your home for any reason except family members living in your home.
- Parking a vehicle, including boats or trailers, on an unpaved surface, is no longer allowed in Hurst, unless it is located on the side of the house or in the back yard AND it is hidden from view of the street and adjoining properties by a 6 foot screening fence.
- Permits are NOT required for Garage Sales in Hurst. However, sales must consist of household goods only (no retail sales), must be at least 6 months apart in time and no more than three (3) days in duration.
- For zoning information, please visit the Planning and Zoning page.
- Building permits are available from the Community Development and Planning - Building Inspection Division located at 1505 Precinct Line Road. A building permit is required to construct a new structure or to remodel or add to an existing structure. This includes fences, swimming pools, signs, etc. Contractors must be registered and submit current trade licenses. Additional information on Building Permits may be obtained by calling 817-788-7088.
- The application submittal deadline is a designated day for submitting a zoning application. At the beginning of each year, the Planning and Zoning Commission adopts a calendar establishing two meetings per month, and the deadline date corresponds to this calendar, found the Development Documents page.
- The zoning process will take approximately six to eight weeks to complete.
- Zoning applications, development schedules, fee schedules, and requirement checklist, may be obtained from the Development Department. Some forms may be obtained from our online forms page.
- Anyone may apply for a zoning change; however, permission of the property owner is required unless the City is asking for a zoning change. A place is provided on the zoning application for the owner’s signature, whether a single owner or a corporation. In all cases, the owner must provide a notarized letter of permission.
The zoning on a specific piece of property can change only through a public hearing process. This process allows public participation from the applicant, interested citizens, and decision makers. The process requires public notification, public hearings, and final approval by the City Council.
An applicant may seek a change to establish a use not permitted in the current zoning district. The applicant may use the zoning process to request rezoning to a district that will permit the use outright, with conditions, or by a Specific Use Permit.
A Conditional Use for a property may be allowed in a district subject to meeting certain requirements set for this zoning chapter.
Special Exceptions Permits are permitted exclusively by specific permit approval by the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
Zoning establishes the types of land uses permitted on a specific tract of land. Zoning also regulates the size, intensity, and height of development, as well as signage, screening, and parking related to development.
The City of Hurst has 20 zoning districts, which are broadly grouped into residential, commercial, industrial, and special districts. Specific information regarding each district can be obtained in the City of Hurst Zoning Ordinance on the Development Documents page.
- New construction and remodeling, enlarging or additions to existing structures will require a permit, including swimming pools, storage buildings, fences, retaining walls, foundation repair and signs. Other miscellaneous projects that must be permitted include water heaters, lawn sprinkler systems, heating or air conditioning installations, electrical system upgrades or gas leak repairs. Call Building Inspections at 817-788-7088 for specific inquiries.
- Applications for plats, site plans and zoning changes can be made in the CSS portal at www.hursttx.gov/css. Development schedules, fee schedules, and requirement checklist, may be obtained from our online forms page.
- The platting process can take from 6- 12 weeks. This approval is contingent on the approval of all Civil engineering plans. All engineering plans must be approved by the Public Works department prior to filling a plat at the County courthouse, or receiving a building permit.
There are several types of plats and different processes for approving plats. The Department of Planning and Development can assist you in identifying the specific plat type needed.
A Preliminary Plat is required if you are dividing your property into more than three lots. This type of plat shows the street layout, lots, drainage and utility easements, and other needed information to ensure that the subdivision design conforms to modern planning practices and to City and State regulations. It is intended to be general in nature showing approximate property location and dimensions. A Final Plat is the next step in the development process after approval of a Preliminary Plat.
The Final Plat is a technical drawing showing exact dimensions and bearings and is the instrument which becomes the official permanent record of the division of land. Final Plats may include all or a portion of the property and must comply with the approved preliminary plat. Easements and other public facilities are dedicated when a Final Plat is filed with the County.
Short Form Plat may be requested if: the subject property is zoned appropriately for intended uses, the lot proposed is generally compatible with adjacent lots, the plat does not require vacation of any public right-of-way or easements, the extension of public utilities is not required, and the proposed development will not create nor contain major drainage problems.
A Replat is required when you are revising existing platted lots, or combining platted and unplatted.
An Amended Plat is required if you are relocating a lot line, combining lots, correcting an error, or need minor changes to the lot dimensions, but City services, drainage, or adjacent property are not affected.
Platting is required in several situations. Generally, a plat is required:
- If your property is vacant and has never been platted and you wish to build a new structure on your property. A plat is not required if you are adding to or altering an existing home or adding a small storage shed, or other similar accessory use.
- If you are selling a portion of your property, you must first have a plat showing all your property approved by the City and filed with the County.
- If you own two adjacent lots and wish to build over the common lot line.
- State law requires every owner of any tract of land who divides that tract into two or more parts to first file a plat. The Platting process (sometimes referred to as the subdivision process) also ensures that all lots comply with the City of Hurst development regulations. Plats are reviewed for compliance with regulations regarding minimum lot size and lot width, street access and size, utility provisions; and drainage and flood protection.
- No. The property survey required by mortgage companies when closing the sale of property is not as detailed as a plat.
A subdivision plat is a survey, prepared by a licensed registered surveyor, of property describing the dimensions and location of lot lines, streets, and easements. A plat also establishes the lot, block, and subdivision name used in real estate transactions. A plat is a legal document complete with:
- A drawing of the property boundaries;
- A written description of those boundaries;
- All easements and right-of-ways shall be described by distance
- A dedication statement;
- An owners certification statement;
- A title block; and,
- Approval statements.
Plats are reviewed and approved by the City and filed in the Plat Records of Tarrant County.