Certain Gulf-coast counties must clean and maintain public beaches and provide lifeguard coverage and warning signs at specified beach structures, unless a limited weather/emergency suspension applies or a narrow population-based exception excludes the lifeguard-coverage rule.
Sec. 61.066. DUTY OF COUNTY. (a) It is the duty and responsibility of the commissioners court of any county located or bordering on the Gulf of Mexico to clean and maintain the condition of all public beaches located inside the county but outside the boundaries of any incorporated city located or bordering on the Gulf of Mexico and all public beaches owned by the county and located inside the boundaries of an incorporated city, town, or village. (b) As part of the duty under this section to clean and maintain the condition of public beaches, a county shall: (1) during reasonable daylight hours, as established and posted by the county, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, provide: (A) occupied lifeguard towers or mobile lifeguard units on each side of each pier, jetty, or other structure that protrudes into the Gulf of Mexico that is located on a public beach described by Subsection (a); or (B) a single occupied lifeguard tower or mobile lifeguard unit at each pier, jetty, or other structure that protrudes into the Gulf of Mexico that is located on a public beach described by Subsection (a) if the single tower provides an unobstructed view of both sides of the structure; and (2) post within 100 yards of each side of each structure described by Subdivision (1) signs clearly describing the dangerous water conditions that may occur near the structure. (c) A county may suspend or alter the duties imposed under Subsection (b) during dangerous weather conditions or emergency operations. (d) Subsection (b)(1) does not apply to a county adjacent to a county with a population of more than 3.3 million that contains a municipality adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico with a population of less than 1,000. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2481, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977. Amended by: Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 724 (H.B. 3807), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2021. Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 466 (H.B. 630), Sec. 2, eff. June 10, 2023. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 204 (H.B. 1620), Sec. 22.001(29), eff. September 1, 2025.