City Services

The Office of the City Clerk is responsible for managing municipal elections and has a variety of resources for both the general public and candidates running for office.

Email all Austin City Council members from a single online form here.

Email COAVOE@austintexas.gov with a written request for Verification of Employment (VOE) or Verification of Income (VOI). To fax a VOE request the Records Fax Number is 512-974-3214. Or call 512-974-3417 to verbally verify employment of current and previous City employees. For more information, see our contact information on the Human Resources Records Division page.

See answers to frequently asked questions that property owners or residents may have about how to petition the City of Austin under Senate Bill 2038 (SB 2038) to request that their property be released from the City's extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ).

What is SB 2038?

Senate Bill 2038, passed during the Texas 88^th legislative session (88R, 2023), amended state law related to the City’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) by adding new Subchapters D and E to Chapter 42 to the Texas Local Government Code (LGC). It went into effect on September 1, 2023. Specifically, the bill creates processes for property owners or residents to petition the City of Austin to be released either directly (Subchapter D) or by election (Subchapter E) from the City’s ETJ. This FAQ addresses Subchapter D petitions requesting release from the ETJ without the need for an election. The City’s implementation of SB 2038 is not intended as a comment on the merits of any ongoing litigation concerning SB 2038.

How is property released from the Austin ETJ?

When the City of Austin receives a Subchapter D petition for a release without an election, the City Clerk and the Planning Department determine whether the petition is accurate and meets the minimum requirements imposed in state law. When the petition complies with the law, the City has no discretion and must release the area from the ETJ. These ETJ releases can happen by operation of law without the need for Council action.

How is the City of Austin implementing Local Government Code Chapter 42 Subchapter D?

The City’s current processes focus on petitions for direct release submitted by landowners or residents. These new processes require ongoing internal coordination. Once petitions are verified as accurate and meeting the legal requirements of the Local Government Code, no discretion remains for Council, and the area identified in the petition must be released from the City of Austin ETJ.

How long does it take for property to be released after a petition is filed?

The City of Austin has 45 days from the date the petition was filed with the Office of the City Clerk to either release the area or notify the petitioner that the petition is invalid and is being denied. If the City takes no action by the 45^th day¹ after the petition was submitted, the area is released from the ETJ as a matter of law.

¹ SB 2038 provides the City with the later of 45 days or the date of the first Council meeting that occurs 30 days after receipt. In most cases this will be 45 days, but in some cases, depending on the Council meeting schedule, the release date will occur at a later date and will also occur by operation of law.

Who can submit a petition for release under SB 2038?

A resident of the City’s ETJ or the owner or owners of a majority in value of the area within the City’s ETJ requested to be released may submit a petition that meets the Subchapter D requirements.

How does a resident or property owner submit a petition?

The City Clerk is named in Local Government Code Chapter 42 Subchapter D as the person responsible for verification of the petitions, point of contact for applications, and keeper of records.

A resident or property owner should set an appointment to submit a petition in person at the Office of the City Clerk, which is located in City Hall. Appointments can be set by calling 512-974-2210 or by emailing city.clerk@austintexas.gov.

In person submissions are preferred, but petitions are accepted by email if they are sent to city.clerk@austintexas.gov and the Clerk responds with "received" confirming they are in receipt of the request and will begin the process.

Mailed requests are accepted, but it is strongly recommended that you check with the Clerk’s office to confirm they have received the petition. The 45-day clock to review the petition begins when the Clerk receives the petition, not when it is postmarked. When mailing an ETJ Release petition, send to:

    The Office of the City Clerk
     P.O. Box 1088
     Austin, TX 78767

What must be included with the Subchapter D petition?

• Owner/Petitioner name and contact information
• Property address
• Property metes and bounds or lot and block number
• Map of property
• Signatures of more than 50% of the registered voters of the area described in the petition OR signatures of the owner or owners of the majority in value of the area described in the petition
• Voter ID or date of birth for each registered voter or property owner that has signed the petition

What happens after a petition is submitted?

After a petition is submitted in person or received by email or in the mail, the 45-day clock to review the petition begins. The Clerk will first conduct a facial review of the petition to verify that all required information is present. If information is missing as required by the LGC Chapter 42 Subchapter D, the City Clerk notifies the applicant that the petition is not valid. If all information is present, City staff evaluate the request to ensure the map and description of the area is correct and that requested area is wholly enclosed within the City of Austin’s ETJ. If there are errors with the map or the description of the area or if the area to be released is not wholly enclosed within the City’s ETJ, the petition is processed as not valid and the City Clerk notifies the applicant that the petition does not meet the requirements of the LGC.

If all required items are included with the petition, and the requested property is located wholly within the City of Austin’s ETJ, the City Clerk provides the applicant with a letter notifying them that the requested property is subject to release. City staff will ensure that the property is removed from the City of Austin’s ETJ on all City maps.

If the City does not take timely action as required by LGC Chapter 42 Subchapter D, the property is considered released from the City’s ETJ by operation of law.

The Expedited team includes specialized reviewers that represent the following review disciplines: Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, Electric, Structure, Fire, Health, Industrial Waste, Arborist and Zoning. Applicants and their consultants will attend a pre-scheduled, single-review session with the Expedited team ready to make on-the-spot decisions and changes as needed. Contractors and owners will be encouraged to attend the review session. If the plans meet the respective codes and ordinances, permits can be issued following the review session.

Download the current expiring contracts list to view a list of contracts that will be expiring.

View interactive web maps for the City of Austin.

The Parks and Recreation Department's Office of Special Events coordinates reservations and filming requests at a number of facility and picnic sites within the Austin parks system. Contact the office at 512-974-6797 to set up a facility reservation.

You can file a citizen complaint about insurance violations, noisy animals, traffic code, city code, and criminal violations.

This service is for anyone who has had or witnessed an interaction with the Austin Police Department (APD) and wants to provide feedback. It is administered by the Office of Police Oversight (OPO), which is impartial and separate from the APD. File a complaint about the Austin Police Department online, over the phone, in person, or by mail. You do not have to provide your contact information.

File a police report to report offenses and non-emergency crimes – crimes that are no longer in progress and present no immediate threat to anyone.

The Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code, Chapter 552), gives you the right to access government records. Request City records here.

The Health Department provides many health screening services, including Hepatitis, Tuberculosis, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and HIV/AIDS.

The Fiscal Surety Office accepts, monitors, and releases fiscal surety payments for improvements to environmental, health, safety controls, and public infrastructure.

Is your home or business at risk for flooding? Our staff is available to meet with you and discuss your situation and strategies to reduce damages. Email us or call 512-974-2843.

Is your Austin property in a floodplain? Find out using FloodPro, an online tool that shows floodplain maps, models, elevation certificates and floodplain map revision information. Questions? Call 512-974-2843 or send an email.

Need hydrologic or hydraulic models for your project area in Austin? What about associated shapefiles or floodplain delineation? Please use FloodPro, an online tool. Questions? 512-974-2843 or send an email.

Due to State of Texas Legislation No. SB582

1. Registration is no longer required for food handlers. EHSD will no longer accept applications.
2. Training that is accredited by the State or ANSI is still required for food handlers.

Food Handler Requirements

APH’s public-facing complaint system is an online survey that allows you to file a foodborne illness report when events surrounding your illness are fresh on your mind. When you think that something you ate made you sick (and possibly others), fill out the questions completely to capture as much information as possible to send to your local health department. APH epidemiologists will examine your report, investigate if needed, and capture real-time information about what is going on in your community.

We rely on foster families to provide love and care to our most at-risk dogs and cats. Fostering is truly lifesaving! Here is everything you need to start a foster application.