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Signed Into Law
Signed June 20, 2025Effective 2025-06-20
HB4753

Regular Session

Relating to the municipal issuance of a document verifying that a certificate of occupancy has been issued for certain buildings.

Government Affairs & Regulatory Compliance Analysis

HB4753: Government Affairs Overview

HB 4753 prohibits municipalities from forcing business owners to apply for a new Certificate of Occupancy (CO) solely because the original document is lost or damaged. Municipalities must now issue a "Verification Document" based on existing records, which satisfies all legal requirements for posting and proof of occupancy. This prevents the triggering of costly code upgrades and inspections previously required when re-applying for a CO on existing assets.

Rep. Gary Gates·House Bill·Regular Session

Low
Low Cost
Effective:2025-06-20
Enforcing Agencies

Municipal Building Departments • Municipal Code Enforcement Divisions

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HB4753
Relating to the municipal issuance of a document verifying that a certificate of occupancy has been issued for certain buildings.
Low Urgency
Passed with Opposition
House Vote145 - 1
YEA
99% in favor146 voting
Senate Vote31 - 0
YEA
100% in favor31 voting
1
Total Opposition Votes
Cost Impact
Low
Effective
2025-06-20
Enforcing Agencies
Municipal Building DepartmentsMunicipal Code Enforcement Divis...
Primary Author: Rep. Gary Gates
89th Texas Legislature
jdkey.com
01

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

  • Effective Date: June 20, 2025
  • Compliance Deadline: Immediate utilization authorized. Facilities teams should switch to this protocol immediately for any missing documentation.
  • Agency Rulemaking: No state-level rulemaking. Municipal building departments must create the new "Verification Document" forms immediately, though expect a 30-90 day administrative lag where cities may lack a standardized template.

Immediate Action Plan

  • Audit: Conduct an immediate audit of all Texas physical locations to identify missing Certificates of Occupancy.
  • Halt Applications: Withdraw any pending applications for *new* COs that were filed solely to replace lost paperwork to avoid triggering inspections.
  • Template Letter: Create a standard request letter for your facilities team citing Texas Local Government Code Sec. 214.909 to force compliance from uninformed municipal clerks.
  • Insurance Update: Notify risk management that Verification Documents are now valid proof of occupancy for property insurance renewals.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

  • Commercial Leases: Update lease templates to define "Certificate of Occupancy" to include "or a statutory Verification Document issued under Texas Local Government Code Sec. 214.909."
  • M&A/Asset Purchase Agreements: Amend closing checklists. If a seller cannot produce an original CO, a Verification Document is now a sufficient statutory cure to close the transaction without delaying for municipal inspections.

Hiring/Training

  • Facilities Management: Train staff to stop submitting applications for "new" COs when an original is lost. Doing so voluntarily exposes the facility to current code standards.
  • Code Enforcement Interaction: Instruct on-site managers that if cited for failure to display a CO, they must present the Verification Document and cite Sec. 214.909(b), which mandates its acceptance.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

  • Document Retention: Treat the Verification Document as a permanent legal record equivalent to the original CO.
  • Audit Defense: File copies of the Verification Document with your legal department to satisfy insurance carrier audits and municipal license renewals.

Fees & Costs

  • Cost Avoidance: Eliminates capital expenditures previously required to bring "grandfathered" buildings up to current code during a CO re-application process.
  • New Fees: Expect municipalities to establish a nominal administrative fee for issuing the Verification Document.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

  • "Record of Issuance": The municipality is only compelled to issue a verification if they possess a record of the original CO. If the city’s own archives are incomplete or lost, this statute provides no relief, and the city may legally force a new CO application.
  • Format Discretion: The statute does not define the physical format of the Verification Document. It may be a formal certificate or a simple letter on city letterhead. Businesses must accept whatever format the city provides, provided it verifies the original issuance.

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Information presented is for general knowledge only and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Consult qualified government affairs professionals and legal counsel before making compliance decisions.

02

Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

Filed
Mar 13, 2025
Passed House
May 7, 2025
Passed Senate
May 20, 2025
Signed
Jun 20, 2025
Effective
Jun 20, 2025
TopicsCity GovernmentCity Government--general
03

House Authors

Rep. Gary GatesRepublican · Primary Author
Joint Authors
Coauthors (14)

Senate Sponsor

Sen. Tan ParkerRepublican · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

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Quick Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about HB4753

Q

What does Texas HB4753 do?

HB 4753 prohibits municipalities from forcing business owners to apply for a new Certificate of Occupancy (CO) solely because the original document is lost or damaged. Municipalities must now issue a "Verification Document" based on existing records, which satisfies all legal requirements for posting and proof of occupancy. This prevents the triggering of costly code upgrades and inspections previously required when re-applying for a CO on existing assets.

Q

Who authored HB4753?

HB4753 was authored by Texas Representative Gary Gates during the Regular Session.

Q

When was HB4753 signed into law?

HB4753 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Q

Which agencies enforce HB4753?

HB4753 is enforced by Municipal Building Departments and Municipal Code Enforcement Divisions.

Q

How significant are the changes in HB4753?

The regulatory priority for HB4753 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the legislation to understand potential impacts.

Q

What is the cost impact of HB4753?

The cost impact of HB4753 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

Q

What topics does HB4753 address?

HB4753 addresses topics including city government and city government--general.

Q

What are the key dates for HB4753?

Key dates for HB4753: Effective date is 2025-06-20. Consult with legal counsel regarding applicability.

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JD Key Consulting is an Austin, Texas-based government affairs firm led by James Dickey, former Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas. We specialize in Texas regulatory compliance and legislative strategy for data centers, energy, banking, and manufacturing.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: January 11, 2026