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Garland will switch to civil code citations and roll out 'Garland Cares' assistance program
Summary
Code Compliance Director Brian Morris said the city will replace criminal citations with a civil citation model starting a 90-day education period on June 1, with lower fines, no criminal record, and a Garland Cares program to help seniors and residents with disabilities comply.
Brian Morris, the city’s code compliance director, described a planned move from criminal to civil citations intended to speed enforcement and increase compliance while reducing penalties for residents.
Morris said the civil citation program launches with a 90-day public education sprint beginning June 1, followed by enforcement actions starting Sept. 1. He said civil fines will be reduced from some municipal maximums and will not carry a criminal record: “Typical municipal violation is up to $250... Health and safety violations so the residents for the civil violations are 25 for the first offense, 75 for the second, 150 for the third,” Morris said. He added the program emphasizes education and a warning process that includes photo-based self-certification of fixes.
Morris also outlined Garland Cares, a program to help homeowners who lack the means to meet code requirements: residents who apply will pause enforcement while staff process assistance applications, and the city will connect qualifying homeowners to contractors or volunteer resources. Morris said the city will still pursue owners and landlords when necessary and can use abatement, liens and collections for unpaid violations. Staff emphasized homeowners—not landlords—are eligible for Garland Cares assistance.
