Keeping Victoria beautiful and building a community we can be proud of starts with taking pride in ourselves and our neighborhoods.

As the City’s Code Enforcement supervisor, I am proud of the work that my team does to enhance livability in Victoria. Properly applying City codes and keeping our neighborhoods clean helps to deter criminal activity and maintain a safe, healthy and welcoming environment for our residents. Our goal is not to focus on punishment but to ensure that all residents are doing their part to take care of our community.

When our officers aren’t working on case documentation, they can be found out in the field investigating complaints and following up on their cases. Some of the most common violations that we see are:

• Weedy lots: It’s common for lawns to look a little overgrown after heavy rainfall. However, be aware that if your grass is higher than 12 inches, then that is a violation.
• Trash on the curb: Do you need Solid Waste to pick up your furniture or other bulky trash? You must contact them to arrange a time for them to come pick it up. If you simply leave trash on the curb without making an appointment, then that is littering. 
• Junked vehicles: In general, vehicles are considered junk if they have any kind of outward deterioration that makes them undrivable, including shattered windows or missing license plates. These vehicles should be kept in a garage or otherwise shielded from public view.

We always seek to educate residents before we issue any penalties. If the property owner is out and about when we come by, we will talk to them and explain why we’re there. If not, then we will mail them a written notice, but we will always attempt to personally contact the property owner before it becomes a court matter.

If our officers are out investigating a case then they try to look around the rest of the neighborhood if they have time, but for the most part, we do not actively patrol the City looking for violators. That is why if you see a violation, it is crucial that you let us know so we can do something about it.

Some residents are hesitant to call because they worry that their information will be shared with the person they are reporting. It is important to remember that you can choose to report anonymously. The only exception is if you are a tenant reporting your landlord for an issue that requires us to access the property. If you choose to be anonymous, we will simply say that the report came from a “concerned citizen.” Keep in mind that if you report anonymously, you will not receive follow-up information about the case. 

If you are making a report online or using the Victoria Texas 311 app, you can use the Anonymous setting to make sure other users do not see your information.

When you make a complaint, be sure to provide specific information regarding the violation so that we can identify the issue. An address is always helpful; if this is not available, please at least provide us with a block number. Also, don’t forget to specify the type of violation so our officers know what to look for. (Is it litter? A water leak?)

Another important step in fostering community pride is getting to know your neighbors and having conversations with them. If you see that your neighbor’s lawn is overgrown or that they have trash on their property, try talking to them about it. By working together and holding each other accountable, we can all be a part of building a better Victoria.

To learn more about our City codes, visit www.victoriatx.gov/citycode. To report a violation, call my office at 361-485-3330, use the Victoria Texas 311 app or go to www.victoriatx.gov and click on “Report a Concern.”

Michelle Tyree is the Code Enforcement supervisor for the City of Victoria Development Services.