OFF-CAMPUS LIVING
The Bryan-College Station community offers a variety of options for living off-campus. Student Life provides resources and information to students who are preparing to or are currently living off-campus.
Whether you are new to living off-campus or continuing off-campus, below are common areas for students to be informed:
Be a Good Neighbor
Being a good neighbor means staying informed and complying with city rules and community standards. Additionally, it means getting to know your neighbors and engaging as a community member. We hope you take pride in being in Aggieland and experiencing the greater B/CS community.
Frequent Code Violations
Students should be aware of city code violations to be a good neighbor. Being aware makes following the codes so much easier! Stay informed so you do not receive a violation from the city.
Per city ordinance, no more than four unrelated individuals can reside in a single-family home.
Four friends living together are complying with the ordinance. Four siblings living together are also complying, but if an unrelated friend moved in, it would be a code violation. Students in violation of the “No More Than 4” city ordinance are subject to a fine of $452 per summons or citation. Students can be charged with a violation if:
- The student is a signee on a lease that violates the city ordinance.
- The student is a “ghost tenant” or a tenant living at the property but not on the lease; this also violates the city ordinance.
For both: The violation continues, and legal action can continue daily.
Living in College Station and at risk of being in violation of this ordinance? In partnership with Texas A&M University, College Station city officials have agreed to stop proactive enforcement of the “No More Than 4” city ordinance until May 2023 as we work to educate and bring awareness to the student population. Texas A&M students that would like to speak to a lawyer for free legal advice and assistance can contact Student Legal Services by emailing studentlegalservices@tamu.edu or calling 979-862-4502. For questions about code enforcement or city ordinances, contact Code Enforcement at CodeEnforcement@cstx.gov or 979.764.6363.
Community ordinances are clear that it is unlawful for anyone to engage in "loud noise" that because of its volume level, duration or character annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, health, peace or safety of reasonable persons of ordinary sensibilities within the limits of the City, especially during the hours of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Learn more about noise considerations on the City of College Station website.
After trash has been collected, tenants have 12 hours to remove the sanitation container from the street. Trash should be securely stored in the provided container until the scheduled pickup day, and the lid should be secured so the litter doesn’t spread.
Residential streets need to stay safe and accessible for everyone, especially emergency vehicles. Make sure to be aware of important parking tips to abide by city parking rules and regulations.
Tips
- Don’t park on the grass within city limits.
- Don’t park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
- Don’t park facing traffic. Park in the direction of traffic flow.
- Don’t park in a no parking zone.
- Don’t park within 20 feet of a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
Not following parking rules could result in a parking violation or an emergency vehicle not being able to access someone in need. Do your part in being a good neighbor and make sure you are aware of parking guidelines.
Searching for Housing
There are plenty of options to live in the Bryan/College Station community. AggieSearch is a fully searchable database that allows students, parents, faculty/staff and guests to find off-campus housing that meets their needs.
- Individuals can walk through virtual tours of the properties as well as see a large gallery of images for the various floorplans and property amenities. All prospective tenants are encouraged to exercise their own good judgment when evaluating a prospective rental unit or landlord.
- AggieSearch allows an individual to create a profile and search for roommates in the Bryan/College Station community.
- Students should use their university email account for immediate access to the site.
Leasing 101
Securing your new place in Aggieland means signing a lease. Reading and understanding the lease is critical prior to signing a lease. Leases are legally binding in Texas and there are very limited means to get out of the lease. No matter where you are living there are some things that all good residents should do:
- Read everything – It is said frequently, but it cannot be emphasized enough that if a document is being signed, it is critical to know what the signee will be accountable for.
- All requests should be put in writing – the TAA lease states that all repair requests should put in writing; it is okay to call in a repair, but then follow up with written notice.
- Keep a copy of everything – every repair request, all receipts from rent payments, etc; should a repair not be fixed, and it gets to the point where the lease must be broken, documentation will be required to show how that point was reached.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions – the property staff deals with leases, repairs, and more every day and sometimes might forget to explain something fully so be sure to ask questions to ensure a proper understanding of what is being signed, as well as their processes.