Sec. 232.043.  VARIANCES FROM PLATTING REQUIREMENTS.  (a)  On the request of a subdivider who created an unplatted subdivision or a resident purchaser of a lot in the subdivision, the commissioners court of a county may grant:
(1)  a delay or variance from compliance with the subdivision requirements prescribed by Section 232.023(b)(8) or (9), 232.025(1), (2), (3), (4), or (5), or 232.030(c)(2), (3), (5), or (6);  or
(2)  a delay or variance for an individual lot from compliance with the requirements prescribed by the model subdivision rules adopted under Section 16.343, Water Code, for:
(A)  the distance that a structure must be set back from roads or property lines;  or
(B)  the number of single-family, detached dwellings that may be located on a lot.
(b)  If the commissioners court makes a written finding that the subdivider who created the unplatted subdivision no longer owns property in the subdivision, the commissioners court may grant a delay or variance under this section only if:
(1)  a majority of the lots in the subdivision were sold before:
(A)  September 1, 1995, in a county defined under Section 232.022(a)(1); or
(B)  September 1, 2005, in a county defined under Section 232.022(a)(2);
(2)  a majority of the resident purchasers in the subdivision sign a petition supporting the delay or variance;
(3)  the person requesting the delay or variance submits to the commissioners court:
(A)  a description of the water and sewer service facilities that will be constructed or installed to service the subdivision;
(B)  a statement specifying the date by which the water and sewer service facilities will be fully operational; and
(C)  a statement signed by an engineer licensed in this state certifying that the plans for the water and sewer facilities meet the minimum state standards;
(4)  the commissioners court finds that the unplatted subdivision at the time the delay or variance is requested is developed in a manner and to an extent that compliance with specific platting requirements is impractical or contrary to the health or safety of the residents of the subdivision; and
(5)  the subdivider who created the unplatted subdivision has not violated local law, federal law, or state law, excluding this chapter, in subdividing the land for which the delay or variance is requested, if the subdivider is the person requesting the delay or variance.
(c)  If the commissioners court makes a written finding that the subdivider who created the unplatted subdivision owns property in the subdivision, the commissioners court may grant a provisional delay or variance only if the requirements of Subsection (b) are satisfied.  The commissioners court may issue a final grant of the delay or variance only if the commissioners court has not received objections from the attorney general before the 91st day after the date the commissioners court submits the record of its proceedings to the attorney general as prescribed by Subsection (d).
(d)  If the commissioners court grants a delay or variance under this section, the commissioners court shall:
(1)  make findings specifying the reason compliance with each requirement is impractical or contrary to the health or safety of residents of the subdivision;
(2)  keep a record of its proceedings and include in the record documentation of the findings and the information submitted under Subsection (b);  and
(3)  submit a copy of the record to the attorney general.
(e)  The failure of the attorney general to comment or object to a delay or variance granted under this section does not constitute a waiver of or consent to the validity of the delay or variance granted.
(f)  This section does not affect a civil suit filed against, a criminal prosecution of, or the validity of a penalty imposed on a subdivider for a violation of law, regardless of the date on which the violation occurred.
Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 404, Sec. 19, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Amended by: 
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 708 (S.B. 425), Sec. 9, eff. September 1, 2005.