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1. Do I need a permit to solicit door to door?

Generally a permit is not required, but any person wanting to sell goods or services, or to solicit monetary donations door to door must apply with the San Marcos Police Department for a peddler’s or solicitor’s identification card. Contact the San Marcos Police Department in person at 2300 South I-35, San Marcos, Texas 78666 or contact SMPD Sgt. Mizanin by telephone at 512-754-2205. The fee for issuance of the card is $10.00 and the card is valid for 90 days. Specific rules for door to door solicitation are set out in

Chapter 18, Article 4 of the San Marcos City Code.

2. Who do I contact about my Municipal Court citation?

Contact the San Marcos Municipal Court of Record in person at 712 South Stagecoach Trail, Suite 2233, San Marcos, Texas 78666 or by telephone at 512-393-8190.

Be sure to check the appearance date on your citation and to make contact with the Court on or before the date indicated.

If you lost your citation, contact the Court immediately to see if they can locate your citation information and determine your scheduled appearance date.

3. Who do I contact in order to buy City real property?

If you are interested in vacant land owned by the City, please contact the City's Development Services Department, Planning Division at 630 East Hopkins Street, San Marcos, Texas 78666 (Second Floor of the Municipal Building) or by telephone at 512-393-8230. Please be ready to provide a street address or County Appraisal District Identification number at the time of your inquiry to the City.

The City has no obligation to entertain request to purchase City owned land. Nonetheless, if the City wishes to entertain a request to purchase land, it must follow procedures set out in the Texas Local Government Code governing sales of real property by municipalities. Upon receipt of your inquiry, the City will conduct an internal review to determine whether the property may be needed for future projects or whether the property is unneeded surplus property. If City staff determines that the property is suitable for disposition, it will seek authorization from the San Marcos City Council to advertise the property for sale to the highest bidder. The City Council reserves the right to accept the highest bid or reject all bids.

4. Who do I contact to serve on a board or commission?

The City Clerk maintains all records related to board and commission appointments and the terms of office. If you are interested in volunteering to serve on a City board or commission, please contact the City Clerk in person at the City Hall Building at 630 East Hopkins Street, San Marcos, Texas 78666 or by telephone at 512-393-8090.

You may review the eligibility requirements and standards of conduct applicable to most board and commission members in Chapter 2 of the San Marcos City Code

5. Who do I contact about zoning/single family occupancy violations?

If you wish to report a possible violation of a zoning regulation or restriction you may contact the City's Code Enforcement Department at 512-393-8440. If you have general questions about the applicability of any zoning regulations to your property, you may contact the City's Development Services Department, Planning Division at 630 East Hopkins Street, San Marcos, Texas 78666 (Second Floor of the Municipal Building) or by telephone at 512-393-8230. Occupancy restrictions limiting the number of unrelated adults in single family and other residential zoning districts are set out in Section 4.3.4.5 of the Land Development Code. General zoning requirements and restrictions are located in the Chapter 4 of the City's Land Development Code, which is available online.

Land Development Code, Chapter 4

6. What do I do about a barking dog?

If you are unable to amicably resolve a barking dog situation with the dog's owner or caretaker, you may contact the City's Animal Services Department at 512-805-2650. After hours, you may call the Police Department's non-emergency number at 512-753-2108. Alternatively, you may file a citizen complaint as discussed under "How do I file a citizen complaint?" (see FAQ listing further below). If you are experiencing ongoing problems with barking dogs, you may wish to contact the Hays County Dispute Resolution Center (HCDRC) at 512-878-0382. The HDRC may help you to mediate an amicable resolution with the dog's owner or caretaker.

7. What do I do about an overdue library book citation notice?

Contact the San Marcos Municipal Court of Record in person at 712 South Stagecoach Trail, Suite 2233, San Marcos, Texas 78666 or by telephone at 512-393-8190.

Please be sure to check the appearance date on your citation and to make contact with the Court on or before the date indicated.

If you lost your citation, contact the Court immediately to see if they can locate your citation information and determine your schedule appearance date. The Court will provide you with additional information regarding whether you may be eligible for a dismissal of the citation upon returning any overdue books or library materials.

When you have returned your library books or library materials to the Library you will receive a compliance letter which you will need to submit to the prosecutor at the City Attorney's Office located at 630 East Hopkins Street. If all requirements have been met a dismissal will be prepared and forwarded to the Municipal Court. If you have any questions regarding the compliance letter please contact the City Attorney's office by telephone at 512-393-8150.

8. Where do I go to apply for a taxi or limousine permit?

Applications to operate a taxi or limousine service may be obtained from the City Attorney's Office in person at City Hall Building, 630 East Hopkins Street, San Marcos, Texas 78666 or online on the City Attorney Forms and Documents page.

If you have any questions regarding requirements for a permit, you may contact the City Attorney's Office by telephone at 512-393-8150.

Specific requirements for a permit are available in Chapter 90 - Limousine and Taxicab Permits

9. Where do I file a citizen complaint?

Application for Citizen's Complaint for Class C misdemeanor violations may be obtained from and filed with the City Attorney's Office in person at the City Hall Building at 630 East Hopkins Street, San Marcos, Texas 78666.

The City's municipal court prosecutor will evaluate the complaint to determine whether the complaint alleges a violation over which the City's Municipal Court of Record has jurisdiction and whether the violation can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The municipal court prosecutor retains prosecutorial discretion as to whether or not to pursue prosecution of the case.

Complaint forms are also available online on the City Attorney Forms and Documents page.

10. My vehicle was towed who do I contact?

The City does not have jurisdiction over most towing complaints. Only if there is an alleged violation of certain requirements of the City's wrecker ordinance under Chapter 90, Article 4 of the San Marcos City Code, would the City have jurisdiction to investigate or prosecute the violation.

If you believe there has been a violation of the City's wrecker ordinance, please contact the Chief of Police at 2300 South I-35, San Marcos, Texas 78666 or by telephone at 512-753-2100.

For any other towing related complaint, you may file a claim in a Justice of the Peace (Small Claims) Court or other court having jurisdiction over the matter.

It is recommended you consult a private attorney, if you believe you have a private civil claim against a towing company or wrecker service.

Requirements of the City's wrecker ordinance are set out in Chapter 90, Article 4 of the San Marcos City Code