Smith County, TX
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The Codification Library of Smith County
The Codification Library of Smith County Policies and Documents is a consolidation of current, functioning and applicable regulations and policies for Smith County, Texas. In the spirit of open government, its purpose is to invite and encourage public access to Smith County documents and policies.
The idea for the Codification Library originated with recommendations from the Texas State Comptroller’s Office Local Government Management Assessment Study and Smith County’s continued efforts to serve as the example of an open and transparent local government body.
All policies and documents regulating business, infrastructure, safety, environmental restrictions and administration have been centralized in a single, electronic reference library for the public’s use. Only those documents known to be active legal instruments and relevant to public use are included.
History of the Project
The prominent growth of Smith County, especially over the last 40 years, has necessitated greater access to more information in electronic format for the convenience of residents and others living and working within the broad scope of this local government.
A special committee was appointed by the Smith County Commissioners Court in 2012, to create a single, publicly accessible data base of Smith County regulations and policies for the citizens and business community of Smith County.
With that goal in mind, all regulatory documents passed in Smith County dating back to 1847, are being researched and reviewed to bring to the public a complete and comprehensive library of rules and procedures that are applicable today. The initial list was completed and published in 2013, and will be continuously updated as regulations and policies are passed by the Commissioners Court.
How to Use This Document
The document is divided into numbered categories, beginning with Section 10, which covers Land Use, Roads and Transportation, Environment, General Business, Health and Safety, Administration, and Facilities and Parking.
Readers of this Codification Library are encouraged to submit comments, suggestions or questions regarding any possible additions, modifications or other items.
Policies and Documents
Section 10 - Land Use
| Section | Title | Date(s) Adopted | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10.01 | Building and Construction Permit Policy | Other than subdivision regulations, Smith County has no local building policies for construction in unincorporated areas of the county. | ||
| 10.02 | Flood Damage Prevention Regulation | 09-08-2008 Revised | Establishes regulations to promote public health and safety while minimizing public and private losses due to flood conditions in specific areas. | |
| 10.03 | Pipeline Permit Policy | Other than Right-of-Way (ROW) permits, Smith County has no local pipeline authority. | ||
| 10.04 | Subdivision Regulations | 02-23-2009 Revised | Establishes regulations governing the subdivision of land within Smith County. | Includes Application for Road Acceptance (see Appendix in Section 10.04 Subdivision Regulations). |
Section 20 - Roads and Transportation
| Section | Title | Date(s) Adopted | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20.01 | Application for Road Acceptance | See Section 10.04 Subdivision Regulations. | ||
| 20.02 | Driveway Culvert Policy | 03-20-2012 | Establishes policy for new culvert installations and maintenance of existing culverts for property located in unincorporated areas of Smith County. | |
| 20.03 | Heavy Haul Regulations | 08-23-2011 | Establishes weight limits, rules and regulations, including penalties for violation(s), governing operation of certain heavy haul vehicles on Smith County roads. | |
| 20.04 | Right of Way Policy | 07-10-2012 Reaffirmed | Establishes restrictions for objects erected or placed on county property or along county rights-of-way on Smith County roads. | Includes placement of political signage (See also Section 20.05 Sign Placement Regulations). |
| 20.05 | Sign Placement Regulations | State of Texas code regulating sign placement in county right-of-way (ROW). | See Texas Transportation Code, Title 6, Subtitle H, Chapter 393. | |
| 20.06 | County Roadway Solicitation and Permitting Policy | 04-15-2014 | Establishes rules and regulations governing solicitation by pedestrians on Smith County roadways and provides for a permitting process for authorized solicitation activities. |
Section 30 - Environment
| Section | Title | date(s) adopted | description | notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30.01 | Salvage, Automobile Wrecking, Junkyard Regulations | 10-05-2009 Revised | Establishes regulations governing the licensing of salvage yards, automotive wrecking yards, and junk yards. | |
| 30.02 | Storm Water Regulations | 02-04-2008 | Establishes Interlocal Agreement between Smith County and the City of Tyler for regulations for storm water management. |
Section 40 - General Business
| section | title | date(s) adopted | description | notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40.01 | Alarm Systems | See Section 50 - Health and Safety. | ||
| 40.02 | Alcohol Ordinance | 02-16-2010 | Establishes permitting and distance regulations for the sale of alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine, and liquor, in unincorporated areas of Smith County. | |
| 40.03 | Local Options Code (AKA Wet/Dry Options) |
|
See State of Texas Election Code, Title 17, Chapter 501, Subchapter A (see also Section 40.02 Alcohol Ordinance). | |
| 40.04 | Sexually Oriented Businesses Regulations | 03-23-2009 Revised | Order providing for licensing and distance regulations of sexually oriented businesses in unincorporated areas of Smith County. | |
| 40.05 | County Roadway Solicitation and Permitting Policy | See Section 20.06 Roads and Transportation |
Section 50 - Health and Safety
| Section | title | date(s) adopted | description | notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50.01 | Alarm Systems Regulations | 04-27-2009 | Establishes regulations for alarm systems in Smith County and establishes penalty for violation of same. | |
| 50.02 | Animal Control Ordinance | 06-29-2021 Revised | Establishes regulations concerning the care and restraint of domesticated dogs in unincorporated areas of Smith County. | |
| 50.03 | Indigent Health Care Guidelines | 2-02-2016 Revised | Establishes guidelines for administering health care for indigent citizens of Smith County. | |
| 50.04 | Pauper Burial Law | State of Texas Health and Safety code regarding disposition of bodies of deceased paupers. | See State of Texas Health and Safety Code, Title 8, Subtitle B, Chapter 694. | |
| 50.05 | Pauper Burial Policy | 01-14-2014 Revised | Establishes process and qualifications for indigent deaths. | |
| 50.06 | Smoke-Free Ordinance for County Facilities | See Section 70 - County Facilities and Parking. | ||
| 50.07 | Tobacco-Free Environment Enforcement Order | See Section 70 - County Facilities and Parking. |
Section 60 - Administrative
| section | title | date(s) adopted | description | notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60.01 | Public Information Requests | State of Texas code regulating requests for information concerning affairs of government, including local government, public officials and employees. | See State of Texas Government Code, Title 5, Subtitle A, Chapter 552, Subchapter A. | |
| 60.02 | Rules and Procedures for Commissioners Court |
3-23-2021 Revised |
Establishes rules of procedure, conduct and decorum for the general public when attending meetings of Smith County Commissioners Court. | |
| 60.03 | Submission and Posting of Events Policy | 05-29-2012 | Establishes policy for submitting and posting events to be published on the official Smith County website. | |
| 60.04 | Juror Donation Program Policy | 3-01-2016 | Establishes policy for applicant-programs who seek to be included in the list of programs to which citizens may donate their daily reimbursement for serving as Smith County jurors. | See State of Texas Government Code, Section 61.003 |
Section 70 - County Facilities and Parking
| Section | Title | Date(s) adopted | description | notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70.01 | Parking Policy for County Facilities | 05-11-2010 | Establishes policy for vehicles parking in county facilities. | |
| 70.02 | Tobacco-Free Environment Ordinance for County Facilities | 04-15-2014 Revised | Establishes policy for enforcement of smoke-free environment for county facilities and sets penalties for violation of same. | See also Section 50 - Health and Safety. |
| 70.03 | T.B. Butler Plaza Square Closing Policy | 10-12-2010 | Establishes policy for defining reasonable nighttime closing hours for T. B. Butler Plaza Square. |