Frequently Asked Questions

The Holiday Waste Collection Schedule can be found on the Solid Waste Services page in the links tab at the bottom of the page.

You can also find it here via the link below:

Holiday Waste Collection Schedule

The City of Brownwood street department handles road repair within Brownwood city limits.  A street repair work order can be placed by calling 325 643-4200, or online. 

Code violations in the City of Brownwood can be reported by calling 325-646-5775, or by filling out the following form.

The City of Brownwood has adopted the following codes: - 2021 International Building Code - 2021 International Residential Code - 2021 International Plumbing Code - 2021 International Fuel Gas Code - 2021 International Mechanical (HVAC) Code - 2020 National Electric Code - 2021 International Fire Code - 2021 International Energy Conservation Code - 2021 International Property Maintenance Code - 2021 International Existing Building Code

Yes, everyone that uses our facility will be charged the current gate rate based on where you are coming from. Example; City of Brownwood, Brown County or Out of County.

We accept cash, checks, and all major credit cards.

Holiday Waste Collection Schedule

If you currently have a roll-out garbage cart that you place curbside for Sanitation department to pick up twice a week. You may request a second cart by calling Utility Billing at (325) 646-9700 (deposit and additional rates apply).

The sanitation department collects solid waste once per week for residential alley dumpsters and twice per week for residential roll-out containers. Commercial customers are emptied from 1 to 6 times per week depending on what they are paying for.

Specific times vary, but your garbage must be at the curb at 7:00 a.m. to ensure pick-up. Please leave your cart out until 3:30 p.m. regardless of the time the driver normally picks it up, to allow for back up drivers, vehicle break downs and unforeseen circumstances.

Every cart has a number on it, which is assigned to your address. If your cart goes missing and you have found one that you believe is yours, please call (325) 643-4200 to get the number for your cart to make sure it is the correct one.  

Deceased Animal Disposal
To dispose of a deceased pet or report a dead animal please call Animal Control at 325-646-2525. To assist with this process please report a specific location or landmark.

If you live within Brownwood city limits or its extra territorial jurisdiction you may call the Utility Billing department at (325) 646-9700 to establish new service. The Utility Billing office is located at Brownwood City Hall, 501 Center Ave. 8-5 M-F. To set up new service, you will need a valid Drivers License, renter's agreement or resident information and the deposit for service. Once your request has been verified, a work order will be initiated and if you live in an area that is supplied with blue or green roll-out carts, a new cart along with instructional paperwork should be delivered to your home within a couple of days. If you do not receive a cart check your alley for dumpster access, if there are no dumpster within two houses call sanitation department to check for adequate quantity of dumpsters in the alley or to make sure that a work order was initiated to set a roll-out cart.

Items must be left at the curb if you have curbside solid waste pickup. Please do not place them on the ground right next to your dumpster as the driver will not be able to empty your trash can. Items may be placed in the alley ONLY if solid waste is collected from the alley. Please be aware of water or gas meter's when placing your items!

Call the Solid Waste (sanitation) Department at 325-643-4200. Office hours are Monday thru Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A voicemail may be left after hours. Please indicate the type of dumpster that needs repair (metal, black plastic, blue or green roll-out cart) and if commercial the name of the business.

If your trash collection day falls on a holiday, your trash will be picked up that week on another day in order to continue providing convenient service and to avoid trash building up for an additional week. When your trash will be collected depends on the day of the week on which the holiday falls: Link:

This service is not available to: Commercial Customers, Apartments, Schools, Churches, Evictions, or Storage Units.

The cost per meal is a suggested donation of $6.44 for seniors 60 and over. If you are visiting with a senior the required cost is $6.44.

Yes we do. Please look at our calendar on the webpage and it will give you a listing of the many activities we offer monthly.

If you have a personal cutoff installed at your residence, you may turn that cutoff off anytime you need to.  If you do not have a personal cutoff installed, you will need to contact the City of Brownwood Service Center at 325-646-6000 to have your water turned off at the meter.  Please do not get in the meter box.  Someone is available 24/7 to turn your water off.  

Call 325-646-6000 is the 24-hour number to report water problems.

Follow link for a list of accepted items of call 325-641-8832 for additional information.

We ask that you please call ahead of time to make sure that we have the staff and the equipment to be able to get it loaded for you. Note: We do not load between the hours of 11a.-1pm

No. We have certified staff members who will recover the refrigerant and dispose of it properly. However, we do ask that you remove all food, trash, loose shelving, and any drawers that may still be inside prior to bringing it to the recycling center. Note: Acceptable freon R134a for refrigerators  and R22 for air conditioners.

We accept latex paint with the original label for recycling. Paint must be from a residential source, and will not be accepted from a business or any other commercial source. There is also a 10 gallon limit on buckets of paint.

Pulverized glass is available at no charge to the public upon availability, but at this time we do not provide containers.

The Holiday Waste Collection Schedule can be found on the Solid Waste Services page in the links tab at the bottom of the page.

You can also find it here via the link below:

Holiday Waste Collection Schedule

No, we only pickup within Brownwood city limits.  Brush from the lake can be taken to the City recycling center at 6800 FM 45 S.,  just make sure it is covered with a tarp when you bring it in. Proof of residency is also required.

We have a brush and debris crew that attends to your brush/bulky item pickup separate from the residential garbage pickup.  You may request a brush and bulky item pickup  by completing an online form 24/7,  or by calling Solid Waste Department at 325-643-4200. > please indicate the address and location on the property (curb or alley).  Brush and Bulky items must be placed curbside if your trash is picked up curbside.

No, City employees are not permitted to go on private property to collect items for disposal. 

This service is not available to commercial customers (business offices, apartments, schools, churches, evictions, or storage units). 

The commercial division offers collection from one to six times per week. The neighboring business may have requested a different pickup day or may be paying for more or less pickups than you.   All commercial cans should be labeled with the pickup days. For example: M/TH = Monday and Thursday.

A special pick up can be requested by calling the Sanitation Department at 325-643-4200 (we call this a Hotshot). The fee is based on a prorated charge for dumpster pickup or $50.00 per dumpster emptied, whichever is greater. There must be someone there to authorize and sign a ticket before the driver can perform the hotshot.

There is a $36.00 fee for each dumpster that is deodorized. You may make a request by calling the sanitation department at 325-643-4200.

There are 17 sectors that are considered “essential service” under Texas Executive Order GA-14.

Follow this link for steps to determine whether your business is an “essential service” as defined by Texas Executive Order GA-14.

Effective 11:59 PM March 27th until 11:59 PM April 30th

Citizens should stay home unless they have an essential need to get out, for example: 

• Going to work 
• Going to purchase items you need for their household (related to food, shelter or clothing) 
• Going to the doctor or healthcare related activities  
• Going to mental health or religious activities  
  
  
  

CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

See the tutorial and how to make a home made mask at www.brownwoodtexas.gov/cdcmask

City playscapes and park equipment are closed.

City parks are open, but people must observe social distancing and limit groups to 10 or less people at all times.

 Green space and walking trails are open for use. 

Yes, but observe social distancing and limit groups to 10 or less people at all times.

Yes. If you have any signs of COVID-19 (fever, shortness of breath, cough) then you must stay home until you no longer have fever for 72 hours, AND your symptoms have improved, AND 14 days have passed since you first had symptoms. These are based on CDC guidelines. 

No. No one may leave the house for 14 days unless going to seek medical care. 

Entertainment businesses (game rooms, movies, bowling, and related businesses) 

Non-health related personal services (hair salons, hair stylists, barbershops, beauty shops, nail salons, tattoo shops, piercing businesses, and any services requiring close personal contact) 

Take necessary action to have social distancing for employees and customers. 

Take the necessary steps to sanitize the workplace for employees and customers. 

Monitor the health of employees regularly. 

Employees with a temperature of more than 99.9 must be sent home and follow the stay at home order regarding sickness. 

No, but clergy and church leaders are encouraged to follow best practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

The Brownwood Municipal Development District has created a consolidated resource guide include federal, state, and other aid available here. 

The following symptoms may occur 2-14 days after exposure

• Fever
• Cough, usually not productive
• Shortness of breath, or chest pain

Per CDC not everyone needs to be tested for COVID-19. This information might help in making decisions about seeking care or testing.

• Most people have mild illness and are able to recover at home.
• There is no treatment specifically approved for this virus.
• Testing results may be helpful to inform decision making about who you come in contact with.

Please see https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/testing.html for more information from the CDC.

• If you have fever or cough or shortness of breath AND close contact with a lab confirmed COVID-19 person within 14 days of symptom onset.
• If you have fever AND cough or shortness of breath AND have travel from an area affected by COVID-19 within 14 days of symptom onset OR have risk factor that put you at high risk (65 or older, have a chronic Medical condition or are immunocompromised).
• If you have fever and cough or shortness of breath requiring hospitalization AND no know etiology.

• Over age 60
• Some chronic medical conditions
  • Heart disease
  • Lung disease including asthma
  • Kidney disease
  • Diabetes
  • Immunocompromised such as cancer or autoimmune disease

• If you meet the criteria above call your medical care provider or the COVID-19 hotline for a screening.
• After screening criteria has been completed and prioritized a swab could be scheduled through your health care provider.
• Testing submitted through the Department of State Health Services labs must meet the guidelines and prioritization screening before being submitted.
• Testing submitted through private labs may have different criteria.

• Call you health care provider before you arrive at their office.
• If you do not have a health care provider there are several clinics who could see you but remember to call first.

• Severe difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion or difficulty to arouse
• Bluish lips or face.
• Call the ER before you arrive or if calling an ambulance, please tell the dispatch you have these symptoms so health care workers can protect themselves.

• Spread occurs from person to person who are in contact with each other closer than 6 feet via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
• Droplets can land in the mouth or nose of people who are nearby or possibly inhaled into the lungs.
• Droplet can be on common surfaces where droplets feel. The virus can be washed from hands with hand washing and removed from surfaces with disinfecting cleaners.

• Wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap especially after being in a public place or blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
• If soap is not available use hand sanitizer.
• Sneeze into a tissue and toss in the trash, then wash your hands
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Maintain social distancing. Stay at lease 6 feet apart from others in public.
• Limit close personal contact with others in public.

CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

• Wear gloves when possible when cleaning
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets and sinks.
• If surfaces are dirty, clean them with detergent or soap and water before disinfecting. You can use most household disinfectants to disinfect, CDC has a 7-page list of cleaners on their website.
• Lysol or Clorox cleaners are preferred. Items such as baby wipes will not kill the virus.
• A bleach solution of 1/3 cup bleach per gallon of water or 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water may also be used.
• For clothing, use the warmest water and launder as labeled.

• People who have traveled to areas know to have COVID-19, should self-isolate and monitor their temperature twice daily.
• If you have had contact with a lab confirmed case of COVID-19, you must self-isolate and monitor temperature twice daily.

• Currently, there is no evidence to support the transmission of COVID-19 associated with imported goods.

No. The City of Brownwood FY 20/21 adopted budget is based upon the No-New-Revenue tax rate of $.7448 per $100 valuation. It is a reduction of 4.21¢ or 5.4% and is the lowest tax rate since 1996.

The City of Brownwood has proactively worked to bring this multipurpose event center project without growing the City’s budget. 

The Event Center project is being funded by the Brownwood Municipal Development District through their economic development sales tax funds.

 The project is anticipated to take 18-24 months to complete.

Yes. The City will continue to operate and maintain the other City facilities including the Depot & Adam Street Community Center.   The Brownwood Coliseum will be managed and operated by Howard Payne University, but will be able to be rented by the pubic for events, subject to availability.

Part of the allocated project funds will be used for the development of additional parking areas around the new Event Center with the potential to develop hundreds of new parking spaces.

Yes. There will be up to 7 available breakout rooms of various sizes available in the new center to facilitate small to mid-size conferences. 

Yes. There will be multiple outdoor areas to host events, festivals, concerts, weddings and more.

One of the major components of the space is the development of a covered stage/pavilion that can be rented and available for live musical performances of various sizes.

Under Texas law, local Hotel Occupancy Tax (H.O.T.) revenue can be used only to directly promote tourism and the convention/hotel industry. This means the proceeds should be spent on projects or events that result in visitors or attendees staying overnight in the community, generating more hotel occupancy tax.

According to the Comptroller’s Data Analysis & Transparency Division, these categories include:

• the construction, maintenance and operation of a convention or visitor center;
• facilities and personnel for the registration of convention delegates;
• advertising and promotional programs to attract tourists;
• encouragement and promotion of the arts;
• historical restoration and preservation projects; 
• advertising to encourage tourists to visit historic sites and museums;
• signage directing the public to sights and attractions frequently visited by tourists; 
• certain transportation systems serving tourists and hotel guests;
• and, for certain cities,
• sporting events for which the majority of participants come from out of town;
• qualifying sports facilities that routinely host regional or national tournaments; and
• coliseums or multiuse facilities. 

After researching numerous event centers in cities across the state, City leadership decided to focus on preserving and redeveloping existing buildings in the Historic Depot Civic and Cultural Complex to embrace the rich history of the area, coordinate with existing meeting facilities, and reduce the cost of building from ground up.

Lead is a naturally occurring metal that can be harmful if ingested or inhaled.

Lead exposure can lead to health issues such as: 

• Increases blood pressure in adults
• Developmental delays in infants and young children 
• Reduced attention span, hearing, and learning abilities in children

Lead is rarely present in source or treated water. If found, it usually comes from the corrosion of pipes, fixtures, and plumbing materials. Factors like mineral content, water movement, pH, and temperature affect how much lead may dissolve into the water.

High-risk homes include those with: 

• Lead service lines
• Copper pipes with lead solder built before 1988
• Lead pipes
• Older brass fixtures may contain lead

Lead cannot be seen, tasted, or smelled, so testing is the only way to confirm its presence in water. Brownwood residents at risk can have their drinking water tested. For more information, call 325-646-6000.

If your service line is suspected to contain lead, copper, or galvanized steel, you'll receive a certified letter with further details. You can also contact a licensed plumber to assess or work on your plumbing. Brownwood residents at risk of lead exposure can have their water tested.

Lead exposure is most often from old lead-based paint, banned in homes since 1978. It can also be present in household plumbing and water service lines. The EPA estimates 10-20% of lead exposure may come from drinking water.