Police
Q. Will there be neighborhood patrols?
A.
Yes, members of the Lufkin Police Department will patrol
your neighborhood.
Police
Q. What services can I expect other than
neighborhood patrol?
A.
In addition to neighborhood patrols you will likely be
contacted by the Community Policing Section of the department to
see if there is interest in forming a Neighborhood Watch
Program.
Animal Control
Q. How
will annexation affect my ability to keep horses, cows or
chickens on my property?
A. The
City of Lufkin ordinances to allow for horses, cows, chicken and
other livestock inside the city limits. However, there are
minimum pen space and distance from dwelling restrictions.
1. Horses and
cows must have a minimum of 1250 square feet per horse or cow
and have adequate fencing.
2. Goats and
sheep must have a minimum of 375 square feet per goat or sheep
and have adequate fencing.
3. Fowl must
have a minimum of 5 square feet per fowl. Chicken wire must be
used for the pen and must have chicken wire roof over it. A
chicken house must also have chicken wire over it. The chicken
house must be constructed to allow ease of cleaning.
4. Swine must
have one acre of land per hog or pig and have adequate fencing.
5. Enclosures,
pens, stalls, etc. for livestock or fowls must be a minimum of
100 feet from the exterior walls of any dwelling, including a
dwelling occupied by the owner of the livestock or fowl.
Planning and Zoning
Q. Will a property owner be able to
continue to use their property in the same way after annexation?
-
Yes, you may
continue the existing use of your land provided that it is a
legal use. Section 43.002 of the Texas Local Government Code
says that after annexing an area, a municipality may not
prohibit a person from continuing to use land in a legal
manner for which the land was being used when it was annexed
or from beginning to use land in a way that was planned
before annexation if the owner meets certain requirements.
The law does not prevent the city from imposing certain
types of regulations, such as regulations relating to public
nuisances. City staff can address questions about specific
existing land uses.
Planning and Zoning
Q. If I am annexed, will I have to change
school districts?
A.
No, annexation into the City of Lufkin has no bearing on
school district boundaries.
Fire Department
Q.
Will the Fire Dept., be conducting building inspections?
If they find something wrong what will the property owner have
to do?
A. We
conduct inspections on City business, industry, commercial,
etc. individual homes, only by request of homeowner
Code Enforcement
Q.
What does Code Enforcement do?
A. Code
Enforcement enforces the health and safety ordinances of the
City of Lufkin. These include dilapidated buildings, junk cars,
weedy lots, junk, unsightly conditions, water/ sewer leaks and
other nuisance ordinances.
Street
Q. How can I get my street repaired?
A. A call should be made to the Street Dept. for an
evaluation of the problem or a pot hole request form is also on
the City of Lufkin’s website.
Street
Q. I live on a street with open ditches.
How can I get a street with curb and sidewalk?
A. Contact should be made with the Engineering
Department for an evaluation of the street. We will look at the
potential cost of the project and the impacts on the City’s
budget.
Street
Q.
Will I have to pay for maintenance or reconstruction of
public streets and drainage ways?
A. There
is no currently no cost to the property owner for street
maintenance or reconstruction. If there is drainage work to be
done on private property, the property owner would pay for all
materials and the City would do the work at no charge to them.
Street
Q.
I have a flooding problem. Who should I call?
A.
Engineering Department – Debbie Fitzgerald (936) 633-0309 or
email:
dfitzgerald@cityoflufkin.com.
Water
Q.
I have a water-well and/or septic system. Will I have to
hook up to city water and wastewater mains?
A. Once an area has been annexed in, the city would have
approx. three years to extend water and sewer into the area. If
a residence is within 100 feet of these utilities, they would be
required to connect on.
Inspection Services
Q. Do I need a building permit and
inspections for construction of what was already started before
annexation?
A.
No
Inspection
Services
Q. Will I have to get a certificate of
occupancy on my commercial buildings?
A.
No.
Inspection
Services
Q. Will I have to bring my home up to city
code if I sell it?
A.
No.
Inspection Services
Q. How do I obtain a building permit?
A.
A building permit may be obtained by contacting the
Inspection Services Department. They will explain the process
and provide guidance for the process.
