Mosquito Control

Regarding the spread of Zika virus and West Nile virus in Texas, it is important to educate yourself about mosquito-borne diseases. The Texas Department of State Health Services website has detailed information about the Zika virus and how it is spread, its symptoms, precautions for travelers and those pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant.

Limit the Mosquito Population

The best way to limit the mosquito population is to remove their breeding medium - standing water.  We strongly encourage residents to reduce mosquitoes around their homes, yards and businesses by doing the following: 

• Get rid of old tires, can, bottles, buckets, drums and other containers in your yard or keep them empty of standing water
• Empty wading pools frequently and store them when not in use
• Repair leaky pipes and outside faucets
• Change water in bird baths and scrub them twice a week
• If you have pet water bowls, empty and refill them daily
• Clean clogged roof gutters and drain flat roofs
• Treat standing water that can't be drained with Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti), available at most home and garden stores (commonly called mosquito dunks)

Protect Yourself

• Make sure window and door screens are "bug tight"
• Be aware that the virus can be transmitted via sexual activity with an exposed person
•  When outdoors wear protective clothing, use insect repellent with the active ingredient DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus to avoid mosquito bites

The City Does Not Spray for Mosquitoes

There are many reasons, but the most important ones are the questions about the effectiveness of the insecticide and the negative impact on the environment.

Because of these concerns the City promotes the importance of preventing mosquitoes at their source and wearing insect repellent to prevent bites.

Spraying chemicals in New Braunfels would not rid the city of mosquitoes.

To kill a mosquito, the chemical has to actually make contact with the insect.  This may work for a swarm of mosquitoes in a wide-open space with no wind.  However, driving a truck down a neighborhood street to spray will do little to kill mosquitoes hiding in grass, bushes, trees and backyards.

Not only is spraying costly and ineffective, there may be serious environmental impacts caused by the chemicals.

Spraying also does nothing to affect the larva present in standing water.  The spraying of chemicals also has the potential of contaminating our waterways, killing the beneficial fish and organisms that feed on mosquito larva, adding harmful volatile organic chemicals to the atmosphere and providing a potential inhalation or ingestion hazard to residents who are in affected areas shortly after spraying occurs.

Residents themselves are the best defense against mosquito infestation by using the steps outlined above. 
Thousands of mosquitoes can hatch from a single puddle of water that is stagnant for at least four days.

Public/Private Property

The City has an on-going program of treating standing water on public property with mosquito dunks where it is not feasible to drain the water. 

The City cannot treat standing water on private property, with the exception of abandoned property with due notice provided to the legal owners.

If you are concerned about a location having the potential for mosquito breeding please call Streets and Drainage Department at (830) 221-4030 between 7:00 am and 4:00 pm Monday – Friday or use our Report a Problem form. Please have the street address available when you call.

On-Site Sewage Systems - Septic Systems

The Health & Food Safety Division serves as the authorized agent for the city. The authorized agent administers the OSSF program and handles the proper implementation of Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 366, 30 TAC Chapter 285. 

The division reviews new septic installations and investigates complaints. Contact our office for questions about new or existing septic's.

• Planning Materials for Aerobic Systems
• Planning Materials for Non Aerobic Systems 
• Application for Authorization to Construction an OSSF 

Would you like to know how a septic system works?

Smoking Ordinance

New Braunfels City Council voted to make additional changes to the smoking ordinance in March of 2017. The changes to the smoking ordinance will take effect March 23, 2017. Some of the changes to the smoking ordinance are summarized below, but you can read the entire smoking code listed below for full details. 

Indoors

Smoking will be prohibited inside all public places and places of employment within the city limits.

Public place means any enclosed area that is open to or is used by the general public, and includes, but is not limited to: retail stores, grocery stores, offices, professional, commercial or financial establishments, bars, hotel and motel rooms, food establishments, movie theaters,public and private institutions of education, health care facilities, nursing and convalescent homes, residential treatment facilities, buildings owned or occupied by political subdivisions and public restrooms. For the purpose of this section, the following places are not included in this definition: private residence that is not used as a child care, adult daycare, or heath care facility; retail tobacco store; or outdoor areas.

Place of Employment means an area under the control of a public or private employer, including, but not limited to, private clubs, work areas, private offices, employee lounges, restrooms, conference rooms, meeting rooms, classrooms, employee cafeterias, hallways, and temporary offices. 

Outdoors

Smoking will be allowed outdoors as long as the 5 foot setback is complied with for all public places and places of employment. The exception to this rule is for bars and private clubs, which do not have a setback requirement.

Smoking Ordinance - Chapter 62 Article VII Smoking in Public Places

Signs

Enforcement

The Environmental Services Division is responsible for the enforcement of the New Braunfels Smoking ordinance. The division can provide information and assistance to businesses to educate owners and operators of public facilities on the smoking ordinance and ensure they are in compliance with this ordinance.

To report a complaint please call 830-221-4041 or submit this form.

Child Care

Child Care Assessments

The Health & Food Safety Division also performs assessment’s on the following:

• Adoption placements
• Day care centers
• Foster home placements

Please contact the Health & Food Safety Division to schedule and pay for the assessment. 

You may also contact The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) for additional questions on child placement.