Homeowner Information

El Lago Street Repairs Coming

The City of El Lago is very fortunate to be the recipient of Harris County Metro Funds in the amount of approximately 3 million dollars for a considerable street repair and replacement project. The project is slated to begin in the spring and should be ongoing for 8 to 10 months. Please see the diagram where all street repairs and/or replacements are marked in red. All residents who's streets, sidewalks and/or driveways will be affected will be notified in advance of the projected work on their block.

Reminders from City Hall

PARKING, PARKING, PARKING - I do hate to harp on a subject, but between the tickets and complaints…maybe it’s good to go over it again!  Here are our city’s parking rules:

1. No parking on the grass…at any time.
2. No parking in the street between 3:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.
3. No parking facing traffic, you must be parked going with traffic.
4. No parking on the curb.
5. No parking on the sidewalk.
6. No blocking of driveways (other than your own).
7. No parking in a fire zone or fire lane.

Lost Pets - If your dog is missing and you just don’t know where to look, think about City Hall. Very often we are called to pick up roaming animals and sometimes concerned residents even deliver them to our door step! If we have your pet kenneled, there is a minimum fee of $25.00 for the first day and $15.00 per day for each additional day. After 4 days, the animal will be turned over to the SPCA so please, check with us first!

Felines – Not Always So Friendly - I know you love little Fluffy and can’t stand the idea of keeping her cooped up, BUT can you stand the idea of getting a ticket when your lovely little kitty gets caught roaming at large? All animals, YES even cats, must be on a leash if they are not in their owner’s fenced yard. We are always getting complaints at City Hall about cats left to roam about the City at will. Did you ever think about those folks who are extremely allergic to cats? They don’t own a cat for health reasons, so having your uninvited cat roam into their yards, lie on their lawn furniture and deposit its proverbial “business” in their garden;, well it’s just not right, not to mention unhealthy for them. Please be a kind and considerate neighbor, keep your kitties friendly by keeping them in.

Recycling and Trash Talk - I hope you're appreciating the new "rolling" recycling bins and are using them often. However, please don't set them on the curb until the night before Wednesday's a.m. pickup and then we would ask that you promptly put them back into storage. Also, the city (and by that I mean YOU!) does pay extra to have back door pickup on trash so, pleeeeease, don't bring out the cans unless you must due to yard waste or heavy trash. These small efforts will help to keep our beautiful little town, well, beautiful! Thanks.

EMS Services by Nassau Bay - You may have heard some chatter about the City considering changing contracted Emergency Medical Services. Well, after some diligent investigative work by the Mayor and Council members, the choice was made to switch from CLEMC to Nassau Bay. The average response time of Nassau Bay to El Lago customers is 6.5 minutes which is well below the national average of over 9 minutes. Nassau Bay has equal equipment to that of CLEMC, they have Medics with 10 or more years of experience and their price is about 30% lower.truly a deal that is healthy for our city!

Trash Reminders - I know there has been a number of garbage issues lately so I hope the info below will clean up this smelly situation. Should you have any further issues WHILE complying with the info below, please call AmeriWaste at 281-331-8400. If you problem is not resolved immediately, please call me at City Hall at 281-326-1951, ext. 12.

BACK DOOR PICK-UP: ONLY "residential" trash such as kitchen and bath trash will be picked-up at the back door - number of bags/cans are unlimited, pick-up Wednesdays and Saturdays.

YARD WASTE: All yard waste (even that random stick) must be placed curb side in order to be picked-up. No more than 5 bags (each under 50 pounds) and/or 10 bundles (bundled in lengths shorted than 5 feet and under 50 pounds each) will be picked up Wednesdays and Saturdays.

HEAVY TRASH: This is considered miscellaneous single items greater than 50 pounds - must be placed curb side and will ONLY be picked up on WEDNESDAYS. This includes appliances such as old TV's, dishwashers, water heaters, etc. If you have an item such as a freezer or refrigerator, it must have a label on it stating that the freon has been removed. Significant quantities of heavy trash require that you contact AmeriWaste ahead of time to make pick-up and payment arrangements.

Mosquito Spraying Information and Schedule - The City sprays for mosquitoes (typically starting in the late spring) two to three times a week, depending on the amount of rain we have had and/or complaints of mosquito activity. When they spray, it is usually on a Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule. They begin at 9:00 p.m. and usually end up at the Boondoggles area at 10:30 p.m. or so. When they see people outside, they stop the spray and only keep the machine running. We use a mixture of mineral oil and Biomist3030, which contains NO DDT. It is a birth inhibitor and has not been shown to have any impact on humans.

New City Laws You Should Know

The following are new ordinances passed recently by City Council - please take note . . .

HOUSE NUMBERS - All buildings or structures, both existing and new, shall have an identifying address number posted, prominently displayed and maintained within twenty-four (24) inches of the front entrance to the building or structure. (The entrance refers to either the front door OR the opening of a porch, etc. leading to the front door if it is the closest to the street and has adequate wall space on which to post house numbers).
OVERGROWN LAWNS - (New height AND length restriction) It shall be unlawful for any owner, occupant, lessee or tenant of any parcel or parcels of real property situated in the City of El Lago to cause or permit lawn grasses to grow more than six (6) inches in height or more than four (4) inches in length. (The length is referring to what is typically known as runners).
POOL MAINTENANCE ORDINANCE - At the October 16th City Council meeting, Council passed a new ordinance which will require residents with pools to maintain their pools in s sanitary condition such that it cannot provide a breeding area for mosquitoes, the bottom of the pool must be clearly visible in the deepest part of the pool and it cannot give off objectionable odors. Anyone found guilty of violating this ordinance could be fined a sum of up to $500 for each day the violation continues.

STORAGE OF MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS ON YOUR PROPERTY (This applies to any miscellaneous building materials, toys, appliances or other items) - It shall be unlawful for any owner, occupant, lessee or tenant of any parcel or parcels of real property within the City of El Lago to store objects of value other than allowed vehicles, upon any real property including parkways, driveways, or public right of ways within the City of El Lago in a location in which the objects of value can be viewed from the public street or any adjacent property.

PARKING OF RECREATIONAL VEHICLES - No person shall park a vehicle or any portion of a vehicle or a towed vehicle including trailers, mobile homes, boat trailers, boats, boat rigging or carts, and some motor driven vehicles including motor homes, recreational vehicles or campers . . . on the lawn of a residence, either directly on the lawn or on blocks or on any temporary surface such as gravel, bricks and pavers located on the lawn of a residence . . .

SCOFFLAW VEHICLES - No person shall park a scofflaw vehicle on any avenue, street, or drive or in any other location in the city. (So what IS a SCOFFLAW Vehicle? It is a vehicle that has more than 10 outstanding parking tickets from the Lakeview Police Department. If a scofflaw vehicle is found to be parked in El Lago, the vehicle will be towed and held until the parking fines are settled. Additionally, the owner will be responsible for towing and storage fees for the vehicle as well.)

Just a reminder that according to City Ordinances, it is unlawful to park in the following manner or areas:

• On the street between 3-5 AM
• On the lawn of a residence
• On the curb of a residence
• Between the curb and the residence except in the driveway of the residence
• In such a manner as to block the sidewalk
• Blocking the driveway
• Parked on Street over 48 Hours
• In any area prohibited by a traffic-control sign, "No Parking" or "No Parking Anytime - Tow Away Zone"
• In any area prohibited by a sign indicating, "No Parking Any Time - Fire Lane - Tow Away Zone"

Alarm Registration and Renewal

Registration and renewal of home security alarms is due each January. There is an annual fee of $5.00. The application form can be downloaded from here and processed in person at City Hall, or you can mail the form, with a check or money order made out to City of El Lago (no cash please), to:

City of El Lago
98 Lakeshore Drive
El Lago, TX 77586

City Ordinances of Note

• Overnight on-street parking prohibited: On-street parking is prohibited between the hours of 3:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. Boats and Recreational Vehicles must be parked behind front set back lines. Variances can only be granted by city council.
• Juvenile Curfew: Persons under the age of 17 may be in violation of the curfew if they are out during school hours or after midnight without cause or supervision. The ordinance allows ticketing of both parent and child.
• Speed limit: The speed limit in the residential portion of El Lago is 20 MPH; 15 MPH in a school zone during posted hours. Let visitors know enforcement with radar is strict to protect children and pedestrians.

Garbage and Recycling Collection (printable version)

Garbage and recycling services for the City of El Lago are provided by AmeriWaste. Pick up for garbage is twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays; recyclable materials are picked up on Wednesdays. Solid waste and recyclables MUST be out by 7:00 a.m. Details follow below:

Normal Garbage: All normal and usual household waste products are to be placed in approved containers or bags.

• Limits: 30 GALLON BAGS OR CANS - HOUSEHOLD TRASH ONLY; Unlimited number, not to exceed 50 lbs. each
• Garbage must be in plain view from the driveway at curbside.
• AmeriWaste is not required to remove containers from within a garage, dwelling, behind fences or closed gates.

Recyclable Materials: All recyclable items should be reasonably clean. Please secure all paper products so they do not get blown into the street. The following are recyclable:

• ALUMINUM - beverage cans, aluminum foil products and wrapping
• TIN/BI-METAL CANS - vegetables, soup, coffee, etc. wire coat hangers, empty aerosol cans. NO automotive or plumbing parts accepted.
• PLASTICS #1 through #5 - plastics MAY be colored. Liquid soap, shampoo, laundry detergent, soft drinks, milk/juice jugs, water bottles, sport drinks, condiments, yogurt or microwave containers. NO plastic wrapping, grocery bags, polystyrene or Styrofoam (usually labeled as #6) or flammable product containers like cooking oil, motor oil, antifreeze, etc. Please remove caps from containers before placing in the recycle bin.
• CARDBOARD - cereal, snack, frozen and dry food, beverage or shipping boxes; NO packing "peanuts"
• PAPER - Newspapers, office paper, magazines, phone books, circulars, etc. NO staples
• GLASS - Clear or colored beverage bottles, food Jars, etc. No ceramic, mirrors, pane or auto glass accepted.

Bulky Waste: Pickup day is Saturday. All Bulky Waste items must be manageable by 2 workers and capable of being placed "as is" in the compactor truck. Excessive bulky waste pickup must be arranged by the resident with AmeriWaste - THE CITY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RELATED COSTS OF SPECIAL PICKUPS.

The following are included in Bulky Waste pickup - maximum of 10 bulky waste items will be picked up per residence. This can be bags, bundles or a combination of bags and bundles:

• BAGS - weight MAY exceed 50 lbs.
• BUNDLES - Maximum of 5; size no larger than 5 feet long and 18 inches in diameter; NOT to exceed 50 lbs.
• FURNITURE
• MATTRESSES
• RESIDENTIAL HOME APPLIANCES - All liquids, gasses or other material such as Freon, which are considered hazardous must be emptied and the appliance tagged by a certified technician prior to pickup.

Construction Debris: Waste building materials resulting from construction, remodeling repair or demolition operations.

• Collected as "special collection" with pricing determined on a call by call basis - THE CITY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RELATED COSTS OF SPECIAL PICKUPS.

Holiday Schedule: The following holidays will be observed by AmeriWaste:

• New Year's Day
• Memorial Day
• Fourth of July
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving
• Christmas

If the collection day falls on a holiday, collection will resume on the next regularly scheduled collection day.

Complaints: For complaints, problems or additional pickups, call AmeriWaste at 281-331-8400.

Easy e-Recycling for Home and Business

The Dell Corporation has teamed with Goodwill Industries to make it easy for homeowners and businesses to recycle their used computer equipment. Simply take your old equipment, functioning or not, to any of Goodwill's 2200 participating locations in the United States and Canada. The nearest location to El Lago can be found at 2700 Marina Bay Drive, Suite H, in League City. They are open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and can be contacted at 713.568.4667; for other locations, search here using your zip code.

Homeowners Associations

The deed restriction information for El Lago Sections 1 through 4 are available via the links below. Links to the Web sites for the other homeowners associations serving the El Lago community can be found here.

Section 1 | Section 2 | Section 3 | Section 4

El Lago Sections 1 - 4 Adopted Amendments:

Resolution Regarding Exterior Maintenance Guidelines

The deed restriction information for Taylorcrest Community Association Sections 1 through 3 as well as the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws are available via the links below:

Section 1 | Section 2 | Section 3 | Taylorcrest By-Laws | Taylorcrest By-Law Amendments

Lost Pet?

If your dog is missing and you just don't know where to look, think about City Hall. Very often we are called to pick up roaming animals and even sometimes concerned residents deliver them to our door step! If we have your pet kenneled, there is a minimum fee of $25.00 for the first day and $15.00 per day for each additional day. After 4 days, the animal will be turned over to the SPCA so please check with us first!

Pet Registration

Pets who reside in the City of El Lago are required to be registered and wear a City license tag. Annual renewals are due each January for a $5.00 fee and are available at City Hall. Please bring proof of rabies vaccination at time of registering.

Utility Provider Contacts

Reliant Energy HL&P: Call 713.207.2222 to report outages, emergencies or utility service order requests. To report street light outages, click here.

CenterPoint Energy Houston: Call 1.888.836.6709 to report outages, emergencies or utility service requests. Call before you dig: Call 1.800.545.6005 for underground gas line location to prevent service interruption or a potentially hazardous situation. Click here for further details.

Verizon: Call 1.800.483.1000 to report outages or repair requests. To report via the Web, click here.

Comcast: Call 800.266.2278 to report outages or to request a change in services.

Water: WCID 50, call 281.326.5573, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, to report outages, outside leaks or request emergency shutoff. Contact the duty employee on call at 281.904.7906 at all other times.

Vehicle Window Stickers

City of El Lago vehicle stickers are issued by the city to identify resident vehicles for the police department, and may be used to restrict access to the city during emergencies (hurricane evacuation, etc.). The stickers are issued free and available at City Hall.