Sec. 54.020. ABATEMENT OF FLOODPLAIN VIOLATION IN MUNICIPALITIES; LIEN. (a) In addition to any necessary and reasonable actions authorized by law, a municipality may abate a violation of a floodplain management ordinance by causing the work necessary to bring real property into compliance with the ordinance, including the repair, removal, or demolition of a structure, fill, or other material illegally placed in the area designated as a floodplain, if:

(1) the municipality gives the owner reasonable notice and opportunity to comply with the ordinance; and

(2) the owner of the property fails to comply with the ordinance.

(b) The municipality may assess the costs incurred by the municipality under Subsection (a) against the property. The municipality has a lien on the property for the costs incurred and for interest accruing at the annual rate of 10 percent on the amount due until the municipality is paid.

(c) The municipality may perfect the lien by filing written notice of the lien with the county clerk of the county in which the property is located. The notice of lien must be in recordable form and must state the name of each property owner, if known, the legal description of the property, and the amount due.

(d) The municipality's lien is inferior to any previously recorded bona fide mortgage lien attached to the real property to which the municipality's lien attaches, if the mortgage lien was filed for record before the date the municipality files the notice of lien with the county clerk. The municipality's lien is superior to all other previously recorded judgment liens.

Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1396 (H.B. 1554), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2013.