Sec. 231.020.  APPEAL TO BOARD.  (a)  Any of the following persons may appeal to the board of adjustment a decision made by an administrative official:
(1)  a person aggrieved by the decision;  or
(2)  any officer, department, board, or bureau of the county or of a municipality affected by the decision.
(b)  The appellant must file with the board and the official from whom the appeal is taken a notice of appeal specifying the grounds for the appeal.  The appeal must be filed within a reasonable time as determined by the rules of the board.  On receiving the notice, the official from whom the appeal is taken shall immediately transmit to the board all the papers constituting the record of the action that is appealed.
(c)  An appeal stays all proceedings in furtherance of the action that is appealed unless the official from whom the appeal is taken certifies in writing to the board facts supporting the official's opinion that a stay would cause imminent peril to life or property.  In that case, the proceedings may only be stayed by a restraining order granted by the board or a court of record on application, after notice to the official, if due cause is shown.
(d)  The board shall set a reasonable time for the appeal hearing and shall give public notice of the hearing and due notice to the parties in interest.  A party may appear at the appeal hearing in person or by agent or attorney.  The board shall decide the appeal within a reasonable time.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.