Amarillo Has a New Enforcement Department that You Might Have Missed

Amarillo is an ever-growing city.   With that growth new departments are created to help a city move smoothly.

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In case you missed it, the powers that be created a new department within the City of Amarillo back in 2023.

The City Marshal

In 2023, the City of Amarillo combined various positions from different departments, such as the Fire Marshal, Building Safety, and Police Department Parking Enforcement, and placed them under one umbrella, The City Marshal. This office consists of both Law Enforcement and Code Enforcement officers.

The City Marshal Department is comprised of the following positions:

• 1 City Marshal
• 1 Assistant City Marshal
• 6 Deputies
• 8 Code Enforcement Officers (civilian)
• 2 Dangerous Structures Personnel (civilian)
• 1 Parking Enforcement Officer (civilian)
• 3 Admins (civilian)

This department is responsible for a wide variety of things including code enforcement.  A citizen can report a violation to the City Marshal's office which includes:

• Commercial vehicle parked in residentially zoned area
• Operating a business in a residentially zoned area
• Living in a travel trailer
• Improper maintenance of fence
• Open structure
• Occupying a dwelling without city utilities
• Having more than two garage sales within a twelve-month period
• Damaged/dilapidated sign

If you've recently received a letter from the City of Amarillo about any of these issues, then know that the code enforcers are actively out and identifying violations, or it could be because a neighbor reported you.

We had been on vacation, and then super busy and the part of our lawn between the sidewalk and street had grass that went to seed.  We were planning on mowing that weekend, and that's when we got a letter telling us about the violation.  Unlike most of our neighbors, we don't have the funds to hire a lawn service, so it was a matter of time to get it done.  It's not like it was 6ft tall, the rest of our yard wasn't overgrown.   Our retired neighbor turned us in.  They love to comment on every, little thing about our yard.   It's frustrating.  We got it mowed that weekend, as planned.  It really wasn't that bad.  Just a grumpy neighbor with a phone and too much time on their hands.

When it comes to violations, don't be a grumpy neighbor and call just because you can, but if you do live in a neighborhood where the above violations have become a real nuisance, then you can report them by calling the Complaint Line: 806-378-6541.  Don't do it just because you can.