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The following is a list of questions frequently asked by citizens. You may search for specific words or phases, or shorten the list by selecting a specific category.
Administration / Town Hall
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North on FM 423 - West on Eldorado Parkway (FM 720) approximately four miles. Town Hall located on south side of roadway at 100 West Eldorado Parkway.
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Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., except for federal holidays and weather emergencies.
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Animal Control
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License forms are available at the Police Department in the Town Hall Center. You will need to bring a current 12-month rabies vaccination, in the form of a printed certificate (tags will not be accepted as proof). This needs to be renewed every year when the animal receives their rabies vaccination.
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All adoption fees are $10.00.
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No. You are responsible for getting that done within 30 days (or six months) of the adoption, depending on the age of the animal.
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You have 24 hours to bring an animal back if you live outside the city limits. If it is over 24 hours, you will need to take the animal to the shelter in the area where you reside.
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The first step is to go to the shelter located at 1104 W. Eldorado Parkway and view the animals. When you find the one you are interested in adopting, go to the Police Station, located at 100 W. Eldorado Parkway and fill out the adoption contract. You will need to provide them with a valid driver's license also.
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The address is 1104 W. Eldorado Parkway, next door to Pirates Cove.
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Business hours are Tuesday through Friday - 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for walk-ins.
Monday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. by appointment only.
Saturday 8:00 AM to Noon by appointment only. Saturday appointment must have been made prior to 5:00 PM to preceding Friday.
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Finance
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Town of Little Elm $ .53580
Denton County $ .23589
Little Elm Independent School District $ 1.46000
Frisco Independent School District $ 1.35000
Sales Tax Rate: $ .0825
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Fire Department
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You may burn brush but no trash or building materials once you have an approved burn permit. Purchase a $25 burn permit from the fire administration office at 101 Hardwicke Lane (check or exact change).
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Yes, by appointment only. Call 214-975-0420 for information on scheduling an appointment for installing your car seat.
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Yes, for residents living within town limits. Permits are $25 and can be purchased at the fire department administration office at 101 Hardwicke Lane Monday-Friday during normal business hours.
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Denton County’s Emergency Management Office makes the determination on burn days. Call 1-940-349-2840 for automated information and to log in your control burn.
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No, not currently. Contact the American Heart Association or the Dallas Chapter of the American Red Cross for information on CPR classes offered in our area. www.americanheart.org or www.redcrossdallas.org
Fire Department
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No, but we can arrange for a fire engine to stop by your party if the location is in town. Contact Amy Ferguson at 214-975-0422 to schedule.
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Batteries in all smoke detectors need to be changed out at the same time, preferably twice a year. Dust and dirt buildup also affects how well the units operate, so clean your smoke detectors thoroughly when you change out the batteries. If the problem persists, contact the fire administration office at 214-975-0420 during normal business hours. After hours, contact Denton County at 1-940-349-1600.
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Garage Sales
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Garage sale permits are available at the Planning & Development Office located on the second floor of Town Hall Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and at the Library on the first floor of Town Hall Saturday 10AM-3PM. The fee is $10.00 (cash or check) and includes five (5) signs that meet our specifications. The permit may only be obtained by an adult occupant of the property where the garage sale will be conducted, or their designated representative. Proof of ownership or occupancy may be verified by the Town by a copy of the deed, copy of the rental / lease agreement or by water account information. You will be required to post a copy of the permit on the location of the garage sale throughout the duration of the sale.
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Garage sale permits are issued by property address, not applicant name. Each address is allowed three garage sales per calendar year. A minimum of 30 days must elapse between garage sales. Community garage sales do not count against your three allowed sales per year.
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A garage sale may only be issued for properties that are zoned for residential use. Garage sale items may be displayed for sale only in the following areas: residential yard, garage, patio area, under a carport covering, driveway or inside a residence.
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A garage sale permit will be valid for up to three consecutive calendar days. On each day, the garage sale is allowed to open 30 minutes following the sunrise and must close 30 minutes before sunset. All garage sale items must be removed by 8:00 a.m. the day following the last day of the sale.
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If inclement weather occurs during the garage sale long enough to cause a full day’s worth of cancellation, the garage sale shall not count towards the three allowed garage sales per year for that property. The occupant must contact the Planning and Development Department the next business day following the cancellation to reschedule the sale. If the applicant does not notify the Planning & Development Department the following business day, the garage sale will be counted. Permit fees will not be refunded under any circumstances.
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No more than three families may combine their property for sale at a single garage sale. If you want to include more than three families then you will need to follow the regulations for a Community
Garage Sale.
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A Community Garage Sale can be held by an Organized Neighborhood Association (POA, HOA, NA). Each Neighborhood Association is allowed two Community Garage Sales per calendar year. A Board member of the Neighborhood Association would be responsible for obtaining the permit. Community Garage Sales do not count against your allowed sales per year for your individual property. Items must be placed at least seven feet back from the curb and at least five feet from the sides of the property.
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A nonprofit organization may conduct a garage sale on the Nonprofit Organization’s property regardless of zoning or on other property with permission. If the Nonprofit desires to conduct a garage sale on property not its own they must present a letter from the property owner authorizing the garage sale on their property. The letter must include the name of the nonprofit organization as well as the dates the sale is to take place. The garage sale will be counted as a sale for the property on which it takes place. The number of families in the garage sale is not restricted.
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The Town will issue five signs for each garage sale. All other signs are strictly prohibited. You may only use the signs provided to you by the Town and only for the sale they are permitted for.
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When you apply for a garage sale permit you will be provided five signs from the Town. The fee for the permit covers the cost of the signs. These signs must then be affixed to a wood or metal stake.
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No signs are allowed in any public right of way or on a utility pole. Prior to placement of a garage sale sign on private property, permission must be obtained from the
property owner. Such permission must be indicated by the property owner’s signature on the back of the garage sale sign.
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Library
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Applicants must complete a library card application available at the Front Desk. You must show proof of current address in the form of an ID or document such as a lease or utility bill. Parents can obtain a card for their minor children.
Download the Library Card Application
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Yes, there are 18 computer stations that can access the internet. If you wish to print, black and white prints cost ten cents and color prints cost twenty-five cents.
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Yes, you can send and receive faxes. Costs for outgoing faxes are:
$0.10/ page for local faxes
$0.50/ page for long distance faxes Incoming faxes are $0.10/ page.
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Yes, in fact we have them all year. Or if you have access to the Internet you can download forms from
IRS tax forms
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You can renew items in person or by calling (214)975-0430, or through the electronic catalog. For Details see the Circulation Page.
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If an item is checked out you may place a hold to reserve that item. For details see the Circulation Page.
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For more details about library cards, holds, renewals, or donations see to the Circulation Page.
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A PIN must be obtained in person at the library. Just bring in your card or ID for verification and library staff will issue your PIN. If you lose or forget your PIN a new PIN can only be issued in person.
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Parks & Recreation
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A Rental and Use Agreement must be completed and returned to the Little Elm Fire Department where applicable fee and dates vertified.
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You can pick up a registration form at Town Hall, Public Works Service Center, or download it from the link below.
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You can register your child through the Little Elm Area Youth Sports Association (LEAYSA) website.
Visit the LEAYSA website
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You can register at the Public Works Service Center.
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Planning & Zoning
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Zoning is a manner of establishing the types of land uses permitted on a specific tract of land. Zoning also sets development standards, density, parking and loading requirements, lot coverage, lot area and screening requirements.
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Zoning is established to protect the community’s health, safety and welfare. The restrictions placed on the way certain areas are developed ensure safer neighborhoods, more attractive business areas, and well-designed communities. Regulating the way in which property develops also provides citizens with an idea of the type of future development which can occur in their neighborhood or adjacent to their business. Zoning is also one of several tools to use in implementing the Town’s long-range plans.
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Property must be zoned correctly before a building permit will be issued. In addition, development plans must comply with the development standards for that district. For example, in the more intense commercial and industrial districts, there are increased setback and screening standards when located next to residentially-zoned properties. These standards decrease adverse impacts on residential property.
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The specific zoning district you need depends on the type of uses you wish to develop. The Town of Little Elm has 26 zoning districts each with their own requirements and allowed uses. In addition, an applicant can ask for a Planned Development, which allows the applicant to “pick and choose” their uses and development requirements. A PD will require additional reviews by Town Staff prior to going to public hearing and the applicant will have to provide the Town with detailed site plans along with their application.
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The Town’s processing fees are based on the type of zoning request and the land area being zoned: Zoning Request(<50 acres): $500 + postage
Zoning Request(>50 acres): $500 + $10/acre + postage
Planned Development(PD): $900 + $20/acre + postage
Specific Use Permit(SUP): $300 + postage
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All uses listed in a chart in Section 6 of our Zoning Ordinance which is available online. Contact the Planning and Development Department at (214) 975-0472 to verify the type of zoning you need for a specific use. Staff will discuss your proposed uses and whether those uses are permitted in your current zoning district. If your intended use is not permitted, staff will advise you as to the zoning district you would need to apply for.
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Zoning may only be changed through the public hearing process. If you determine that you need to change the zoning on your property you must first discuss your change with a Town Planner. The Planning staff will discuss the surrounding zoning, land uses, recent area zoning trends, adopted development-related policies and any other factors important to your zoning change. Staff will also provide you with a zoning application form and a submittal schedule.
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A signed and completed zoning application form and fee should accompany any submission for a zoning change. A survey of the property with metes and bounds along with a certified tax certificate for the property are also required. In addition, the applicant must provide mailing labels (Avery 5160) with the property owners’ addresses for every lot or portion thereof within 200 feet of the lot in question. The applicant will also be held responsible to make sure that a sign is erected on the property making the public hearing known. Sign specifications, applications and other information is available below.
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A Specific Use Permit (SUP) allows for specific uses on a property that is not commonly allowed in that zoning district. These are typically used for daycares, self-storage facilities, used car lots and other uses. The process for obtaining a SUP is similar to the zoning process. The Planning and Zoning Commission, Town Council and/or Town Staff may require a site plan and/or a feasibility study to be included with the SUP application. Section 6 of the Town’s Zoning Ordinance lists what SUPs are available in each Zoning District.
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During Public Hearings, the applicant and any individuals in “favor” of or “opposed” to the request have an opportunity to present their views. In addition to speaking at the Public Hearing, you may also send letters to the Commission and Council or discuss the case with the members. A more formal process is to submit a petition of support of opposition to the case.
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Platting & Subdivisions
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There are several different types of plats and different processes for approving plats. Contact the Planning and Development Department for additional information at (214) 975-0472.
Preliminary Plat
A Preliminary Plat is required if you are dividing your property into more than one lot. This step may be skipped if you are platting a one-lot subdivision. A Preliminary Plat shows the street layout, lots and other information needed to ensure that the subdivision design concept conforms with Town and State regulations. It is intended to be general in nature, showing approximate locations and dimensions.Final Plat
A Final Plat is the next step in the development process after approval of a Preliminary Plat by the Planning and Zoning Commission and Town Council. The Final plat is a technical drawing showing the exact dimensions and bearings and is the instrument which becomes the official, permanent record of the division of land filed with Denton County. Final plats must comply with the approved Preliminary Plat. A Final Plat may be created for every lot shown on the approved Preliminary Plat or for a portion of the lots shown on the Preliminary Plat. Replat
A replat is required when you are revising existing platted lots or combining platted and unplatted lots for the purpose of creating a new lot configuration. Certain replats require a public hearing and written notice to other property owners within the existing subdivision. Amended Plat
An Amended Plat is used if you are relocating an internal lot line, combining lots, correcting an error, or other minor changes. This is approved administratively.
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A signed and completed plat application form, fee, a signed plat checklist and current certified copies of tax certificates should accompany any plat submission. If construction is anticipated to follow platting, a signed copy of the Engineering Plan checklist is required along with preliminary Engineering Plans. Replats may also require mailing labels (Avery 5160) with the property owner’s addresses for every lot within the subdivision. You will need to submit seven (7) folded copies of your plat (24”X36”) and seven (7) copies of the engineering plans (if construction will follow platting). Checklists, applications, the submittal schedule and our Subdivision Ordinance can be obtained at the Planning and Development Department or can be accessed below.
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The Town’s processing fees are based on the type of plat and the land area being platted: Preliminary Plat
Single Family $300 + $15/lot
Multi-Family and Non-Residential $300 + $25/acre Final Plat
Single Family $300 + $10/lot
Multi-Family & Non-Residential $300 + $20/acre Replat
Single Family $200 + $15/lot + postage
Multi-Family & Non-Residential $200 + $25/acre Amended Plat
Amended Plat $100 + $20/lot
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A plat is a survey of property that describes the dimensions and location of lot lines, streets, and easements. A plat also establishes the lot, block, and subdivision name used in real estate transactions. A plat is a legal document complete with a drawing of the property boundaries, a written description of those boundaries, a dedication statement, an owner’s certification statement, a title block, and approval statements. Plats must be prepared by a licensed land surveyor or engineer. A plat is not the property survey required by mortgage companies when closing the sale of property.
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The platting process ensures that all lots comply with the Town of Little Elm’s Subdivision Ordinance and protects public health, safety and welfare. Plats are reviewed for compliance with regulations regarding minimum lot size and lot width; setbacks; street access and size; utility provisions; parks and open space
provisions; and drainage and flood protection.
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There are several situations which require platting of property. Generally, a plat is required: 1. If your property is vacant, has never been platted and you wish to build a new structure on it. A plat is not required if you are adding to or altering an existing home or adding a storage shed, etc. 2. If you are selling a portion of the property you own, you must have a plat showing all the property you own and how you intend to divide it approved by the Town. 3. If you own two adjacent lots and wish to build over the common lot line.
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Police Dept
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Traffic citations may be paid in one of two ways. (1) You may mail in your citation along with your check or money order to the address printed at the bottom of your citation. (Municipal Court, 100 W. Eldorado Parkway Little Elm, Texas 75068) or (2) bring the citation to our offices, located at the same address, to pay in person.
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Town ordinance # 730 requires that alarm system users obtain a permit. The permit must be obtained within 30 days of activation of the alarm. The permit must be renewed annually. Each year there is a fee of $25.00.
Alarm Permit
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If you believe that the Little Elm Police Department has property that belongs to you, please call Detective G.W.Howard at 214-975-0467 or by e-mail at gwhoward@littleelm.org Once we have verified that we have your property, we will set up an appointment time for you to retrieve your property. The Property and Evidence Room is purposely controlled by a single detective to ensure consistency and comply with chain of custody requirements. As a result, Detective Howard may be out of the station conducting other business and may not be available to immediately assist you. Please ensure that you have an appointment before coming to the Police Department to retrieve your property.
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Public Works
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Call the Public Works Service Center at (972) 377-5556.
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Call the Public Works Service Center at (972) 377-5556.
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Attend our “Clean & Green” Event, call the Public Works Service Center at (972) 377-5556.
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Residential Safety Inspections
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Only the property owner or owner’s designee can obtain an application for a Residential Safety inspection at the Building Inspections Office. A designee may be anyone over 18 that is not the tenant. The property must have no outstanding fees, liens or other amounts due to the Town prior to the Residential Safety Inspection. This includes but is not limited to outstanding utilities bills or fees for code violations.
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The inspectors will not inspect a building unless the owner or a representative of the owner is present. An additional inspection fee will be charged for each inspection trip after the initial two.
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In order to complete the inspection, the inspector requires the water and electricity to be functioning in the home. The applicant or Building Inspections department can authorize temporary electric utility service for a period of 10 days while repairs are underway. Water service can also be authorized for a period not to exceed ten (10) days, assuming that the owner properly sets up a water account with a deposit.
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If a residence fails the inspection, the building inspector will give notice of noncompliance to the owner, and permanent water and utilities will not be authorized. If corrections are not made within 10 days, temporary utilities will be disconnected. For more information read | |
