International Property Maintenance Code


Cleburne City Council wants to ensure residents live in safe IPMC Banner whiteconditions and protect Cleburne’s growth and prosperity. To achieve this, the City Council adopted the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), on April 25, 2023 to help ensure residential and commercial properties are maintained to minimum standards.

“Cleburnites have a lot of pride in our hometown and the character of our neighborhoods. These changes ensure all properties are held to the same standard that fit the image of our Cleburne.” – Mayor Scott Cain

The adopted changes introduced policies that numerous municipalities around the country have previously adopted and addressed issues many residents expect concerning the safe maintenance of properties within the City. Some other local communities that have adopted the IPMC include Benbrook, Burleson, Celina, Coppell, DeSoto, Euless, Greenville, Haltom City, Hurst, Keller, Lancaster, Lewisville, Mansfield, McKinney, Prosper, Red Oak, Waco and Weatherford, to name a few.

The City Council also adopted changes that provide city officials with more ways to monitor and respond to violations. The City has created a process to help residents meet code requirements as our goal is voluntary compliance, not enforcement.

IPMC and Other Code Changes

In November 2018, the City adopted the 2015 edition of the IPMC. On April 11, 2023, the Council conducted a workshop meeting to gather public input on proposed updates to the IPMC. On April 25, 2023 the Council reviewed and adopted the 2021 edition of the IPMC along with local amendments necessary to meet the needs of our growing community. 

The 2021 IPMC outlines property maintenance regulations addressing items such as sanitation, pest/rodent elimination, swimming pool safety, home and structure safety standards, elimination of rubbish and garbage, high grass and weeds, noxious and invasive plants, light and ventilation, heat and air for rental units as well as minimum standards for fire safety, plumbing, electrical and mechanical components of properties within the City. 

The City also updated other health, safety and property-related codes to achieve goals of the property maintenance program. The adopted changes cover a variety of property standards that promote the community’s health, safety and general well-being. Changes include ordinances regulating garage sales, nuisances, bandit signs, junked vehicles, disabled vehicles, water pollution, residential parking, driveway standards, and RV storage.

Most homeowners and business owners won’t see a difference in their daily lives because they are already complying with code requirements. Adopting the 2021 IPMC and amending some of our existing codes raises the minimum standard of what’s acceptable for building and living conditions and provides greater opportunity to address issues at an earlier stage before they cause harm to neighbors and surrounding community.

While the adopted changes address a variety of property maintenance issues, there are some adopted items residents may not realize are regulated:

  • Any type of sign placed in a right-of-way (including garage sales, property sales or purchases or business signs) is illegal and violators may be fined $500 for each sign placed.
  • All vehicles, including automobiles, motorcycles, trailers, boats and recreational vehicles, parked or stored outside of an enclosed building on any property must be registered and operable.
  • Parking or storing heavy load vehicles, vehicles with more than two axles or vehicles used to transport cargo are prohibited on residential properties. 
  • Recreational vehicles less than twenty-six (26) feet in length may be stored on residential property with restrictions.
  • Recreational vehicles twenty-six (26) feet or longer in length may only be stored in the side or rear yard on residential property with restrictions.
  • Parking any vehicle on an unimproved surface, such as grass or yard is prohibited. Residents can use up to 50-percent of the front yard for parking as long as vehicles are on an improved surface. All new driveways or parking spaces must be concrete or asphalt.
  • Temporary membrane structures may not be used for carports or accessory storage buildings.
  • Noxious and invasive plants are prohibited because they easily spread to neighboring properties.
  • Dead and diseased trees must be removed in order to remove a potential hazard or prevent the spread of a disease.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The City has created an FAQ section for various community members to learn how the proposed changes will affect them.



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