Code Compliance
Common Areas of Concern
We Do Not Address
- Vehicles in the street - Call the McKinney Police Department at 972-547-2700
- Building permits - Permits must be obtained through the CSS portal. For more information about this process, please visit the Development Portal webpage.
- Interior home inspections - Inspections must be scheduled through the CSS portal. For information about this process, please visit the Development Portal webpage.
- Watering violations - Report watering violations with the Water Violation report form.
The City of McKinney utilizes the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) to ensure a high quality of living for all residents while maintaining property values.
Reporting Violations
If you would like to report a violation please fill out our online form or call 972-547-7448. Please ensure you provide the complete street address or cross-street locations along with the type of complaint.
Home-Based Business
Home-based businesses are allowed in residential areas, but they can not be the main use of the home. The main use of the home is residential. There may be no external evidence of the conduct of the home-based business including but not limited to:
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Read the Code: Home-Based Business: Chapter 150, Section 205G.2.g
Fences
- A building permit is required for the installation of any fence, replacement of over 50% of an existing fence or construction of an accessory structure greater than 120 square feet. Learn more about fence permits.
- Fences should have no more than a 10-degree lean or have more than 5% missing, loose or broken slats or panels.
- Fences should not have any markings other than those related to the address or occupancy of the property.
- Barbed wire and electric fences are not allowed in most residential districts. There are also special requirements for fences constructed in industrial and agricultural districts.
Read the Code: Fences: Chapter 150, Article 6
High Grass / Weeds
- Twelve inches is the maximum height limit for grass and/or weeds. This includes the front, back, side yard and rights-of-ways (area between the sidewalk and curb). The grass in any alley and/or easement (area behind the property) must be maintained to the mid-point by the property owners on each side.
- Acreage under five acres must be mowed completely. Lots over five acres must have a perimeter of a minimum of 150 feet from any right of way and 150 feet from any property line adjacent to developed property.
- Property owners who maintain an agricultural exemption and regularly cultivate (plant crops) on their property are required to mow the outer perimeters up to the first row of crop and maintain the right of way adjacent to their property at a height of 12 inches or less.
Read the Code: High Grass / Weeds: Chapter 70, Article III, Sec 70-56
Sign Placement
Signs are not allowed in the following places:
- Right-of-way; the area from the curb to the sidewalk.
- Median; the area in the middle of any street.
- Street trees, public fences, public buildings or utility / telephone poles.
Garage sale signs may only be placed on private property with owner permission.
Read the Code: Prohibited Signs: Chapter 150, Section 407
Substandard Structures
A structure is considered substandard if it meets the following criteria:
- Exterior deterioration
- External siding or framing bowing or pulling away from structure
- Foundation failure
- Illegal or substandard plumbing
- Illegal wiring
- Other obvious dilapidation
- Sunken roofline
Read the Code: Substandard Buildings: Chapter 126, Article II
Assistance for repairs is available to qualified homeowners through the Housing Rehabilitation & Reconstruction Program.
Swimming Pools
- All private pools, spas and hot tubs, fish ponds and other water features with a depth of 24 inches or more must be secured by a barrier, which can be a fence, wall, building wall or combination thereof which completely surrounds the swimming pool and obstructs access to the swimming pool.
- Fence height must be at least four feet and all gates and doors must be self-closing and self-latching.
- Water features must be maintained in a sanitary condition.
- Water may not be stagnant or a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Above-ground pools must meet the same requirements as in-ground pools.
Read the Code: Swimming Pool Enclosures: Chapter 150, Section 604C
Trash & Debris
To help keep McKinney Beautiful, properties must be kept free of all material that can deteriorate with the elements, such as furniture not intended for outdoor use, boxes, appliances, vehicle parts, tires, paper and other objectionable, unsafe, unsanitary or unsightly matter. This helps to prevent infestation by rodents and other vermin and helps to protect local waterways from contamination.
- Lumber and any building materials except masonry should be stored at least 18 inches off the ground.
- All fallen debris such as limbs and branches are to be removed from the property as soon as possible.
McKinney Trash and Recycling Services
Read the Code: Cleanliness of Premises: Chapter 70, Article III
Vehicles: Parking - boats, trailers & other recreational vehicles
Boats, trailers, camper trailers, motor homes and other types of recreational vehicles cannot be parked or stored in the front yard. Parking and storage of these types of vehicles is limited to the rear yard. Limit of one such vehicle that does not exceed 24 feet in length. This does not apply to the storage of a boat or other vehicle in a fully enclosed building.
No parking is allowed in the front yard without an improved surface of gravel, asphalt or concrete already established on which to park vehicles.
Read the Code: Residential Parking Prohibitions: Chapter 70, Article X
Parking Tips
- Identify posted parking signs and do not park in restricted areas or during restricted timeframes.
- Understand where you can and cannot park based on state and local laws – which do not require a posted sign – like near fire hydrants, intersections, crosswalks, and more.
- Use your vehicle to help measure the distance visually, most vehicles are between 18-20 feet long.
- When in doubt, continue to look for a parking space you are certain is legal to park in.
Parking Rules
Parking is allowed on both sides of a two-lane roadway. Vehicles may park anywhere on the roadway that is not restricted for parking whether or not the adjacent property is owned by the vehicle owner.
Vehicles: Junked / Inoperable
A junked vehicle is a vehicle that is self-propelled and:
- Does not have lawfully attached to it an unexpired license plate and registration certificate.
- Is wrecked, dismantled, discarded or is inoperable for more than 72 hours on public property; or 30 consecutive days if the vehicle is on private property.
Inoperable is defined as not capable of being used or operated due to legal or mechanical incapability.
A junked vehicle, including a junked vehicle that is partially visible from a public place or public right-of-way, is deemed to be a public nuisance.
Read the Code: Junked Vehicles: Chapter 62, Article XI
Frequently Referenced Codes
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