Updated graffiti policy gives Round Rock property owners more time for removal

Round Rock property owners now have up to 15 days to remove graffiti, potentially at no cost, under an updated city policy.

The gist

Round Rock City Council approved the update Oct. 8.

It extends the time period for graffiti removal from 72 hours to 15 days and allows the city's neighborhood services department to respond to instances of graffiti, rather than placing the responsibility on the city's chief of police.

The details

In the first 7 days after a property is defaced, residents and business owners can receive free abatement. Neighborhood Services Director Joe Brehm said this could involve power washing, using solvents that remove paint or painting over the graffiti. He said his staff does its best to avoid the last option, as it can be difficult to truly match paint.

While the city is legally allowed to put a lien on properties that do not remedy graffiti, Brehm said this is not the goal of his department.

"Property owners are the victims of graffiti," Brehm said. "We don't really want to pile onto that with any financial penalties. We just want the graffiti gone and clean."

Why now?

Round Rock Police Chief Allen Banks said the update comes as the city is seeing increasing instances of graffiti.

In particular, he said more graffiti is occurring on the SH 45 and I-35 bridges in the southern part of the city as well as on private property.

"We're trying to ... get on top of it as quickly as possible," Banks said.