§ 28-14. Renting premises to person who engages in prostitution or related criminal activity.  


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  • (a)

    It shall be unlawful for any person, whether agent, resident, or owner, to knowingly rent, lease, sublet, hire, or agree to rent, lease, sublet, or hire, any house, building or room to any person who offers to engage, agrees to engage or engages in sexual conduct for a fee; solicits another in a public place to engage with any person in sexual conduct for hire; receives money pursuant to an agreement to participate in the proceeds of prostitution; solicits another to engage in sexual conduct with another person for compensation; or owns, invests in, finances, controls, supervises, or manages a prostitution enterprise that uses two or more prostitutes.

    (b)

    The offense set forth in this section is a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction, be punishable by a fine of not less than $500.00 nor more than $2,000.00. However, any conduct in violation of this section that also constitutes an offense under state law shall instead be punishable as provided in the applicable state law.

    (c)

    It shall be an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that the renter, lessee, or sublessee, rents, leases, subleases, or hires, the house, building or room for a continuous period exceeding 27 days in exchange for payment for the rental, lease or sublease, for the entire continuous period on a specified day.

    (d)

    The definitions of prostitution, sexual conduct, and related offenses in Chapter 43 of the Texas Penal Code shall apply to this section.

(Code 1968, § 28-39; Ord. No. 06-76, § 1, 1-25-06)