Tex. Transportation Code § 251.010
This is the official text of Tex. Transportation Code § 251.010, part of Texas’s Transportation Code — governs vehicles, drivers, and roadways.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
§ 251.010. GATES ON THIRD-CLASS AND NEIGHBORHOOD ROADS; OFFENSES.
Official statutory text
(a) A person, including a neighborhood association, who owns or controls real property on which a third-class road or a neighborhood road established under Section 251.053 is located for which the right-of-way was obtained without cost to the county may erect a gate across the road when necessary. The person shall place a permanent hitching post and stile block on each side of the gate within 60 feet of the gate. The gate must be:
(1) at least 10 feet wide;
(2) free of obstructions above the gate;
(3) constructed so that opening and shutting the gate will not cause unnecessary delay to persons, including emergency personnel, using the road; and
(4) constructed with a fastening to hold the gate open until a person using the gate passes through it.
(b) The property owner shall keep the gate and the approaches to the gate in good order.
(c) A person who erects a gate across a road specified by Subsection (a) and who wilfully or negligently fails to comply with a requirement of this section commits an offense. An offense under this subsection is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $5 or more than $20. Each week that the person fails to comply with this section constitutes a separate offense.
(d) A person who wilfully or negligently leaves open a gate on a road specified by Subsection (a) commits an offense. An offense under this subsection is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $5 or more than $20.
(e) A person may not erect a gate under this section unless the gate is approved by the commissioners court of the county.
(1) at least 10 feet wide;
(2) free of obstructions above the gate;
(3) constructed so that opening and shutting the gate will not cause unnecessary delay to persons, including emergency personnel, using the road; and
(4) constructed with a fastening to hold the gate open until a person using the gate passes through it.
(b) The property owner shall keep the gate and the approaches to the gate in good order.
(c) A person who erects a gate across a road specified by Subsection (a) and who wilfully or negligently fails to comply with a requirement of this section commits an offense. An offense under this subsection is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $5 or more than $20. Each week that the person fails to comply with this section constitutes a separate offense.
(d) A person who wilfully or negligently leaves open a gate on a road specified by Subsection (a) commits an offense. An offense under this subsection is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $5 or more than $20.
(e) A person may not erect a gate under this section unless the gate is approved by the commissioners court of the county.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Need a lawyer in Texas?
Find a Texas lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.