San Antonio council adopts revised metal-recycling rules after months of task-force work and public debate

San Antonio City Council on May 15 approved revisions to Chapter 16 of the Unified Development Code that update rules for metal recycling and related uses after months of task-force work and public comment.

The code changes—brought to the council as item 8 and approved on the consent agenda—tighten operational requirements for metal recycling, add enforceable timelines for correcting violations and broaden enforcement options, city staff and council members said. Council member Ana Castillo thanked task-force members and staff for drafting the overhaul and said it will require periodic review.

The rewrite adds or clarifies several requirements the task force and city staff described in council discussion and public comment: shorter notice-to-correct windows when violations are found (two days instead of the current 10–30 days), authority for the city to use civil tickets in addition to criminal penalties, clearer grounds to revoke a certificate of occupancy for operating without a license, and the ability…