Frequently Asked Questions

To apply for a library card, a person must provide photo identification and proof of current residence. There is no minimum age to get a library card. Minors (under 18 years) must have their parent or guardian sign to accept financial responsibility.

Faxing services are available during normal business hours. The cost is $1 per page for the first five pages, and $0.50 for each page after. A cover sheet can be obtained for no additional charge.

All ages are welcome in the Library, but children must be at least 10 years old before they may be left unattended and children under 10 years old must be under adult supervision at all times. Even if the child is old enough to be in the library alone, the child is expected to follow the same rules as adults. If a child violates a library policy, the parents will be notified immediately.

If any child has not been picked up from the library at closing time, the police may be called. Whether a parent or guardian is present, the staff of the library does not act in loco parentis.

Tax forms are available on a first come, first serve basis. In accordance to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, only a limited number of print forms are provided. If a form you need is not available, it may be printed from the IRS Website or requested by calling the IRS at 800-829-3676. Many of the forms are found using the Texas Law Help Website and the TexShare Databases. The Library has access to a variety of forms, such as:

• Divorce
• Guardianship
• Property
• Real estate
• Wills

Staff Cannot Provide Legal Recommendations

Disclaimer: The library staff are information providers, not physicians, health care professionals, lawyers or counselors. By law, staff cannot provide recommendations for forms, legal/medical advice, or recommend specific practitioners.

When you access your account online, you can do the following things:

• Place a reserve on an item
• Renew your materials that are checked out
• Review your fines if you have any
• See when your items are due
• Set up a watchlist for your favorite authors
• Update your information

Login to Your Account

Visit the Bay City Public Library Website to login in to your account, access our OPAC, and to search our collection. Your username is you library barcode number. Your pin is defaulted to the last four digits of your phone number. You may change your pin number once logged in, however, staff will only be able to reset it back to the default if you forget your pin.

Book donations are accepted on behalf of the Friends of the Library. Materials that are able to be used in the collection are sorted through first. Items that cannot be used in our collection will be sold during the Friends ongoing book sale, given to other agencies in need of materials, or recycled. It is at the discretion of the Library and Friends what the final use of donated materials.

Materials Not Accepted

Materials should be in like-new or gently used condition. Textbooks can be sold but are not added to the library collection. Unfortunately, we cannot accept encyclopedias.

The Bay City Library Association, a 501(c)3 nonprofit agency, accepts memorial and honor donations to help supplement the book budget for the Bay City Public Library. A form is available at the library to be filled out with your name, acknowledgment information, and preferred type of book. These donations are tax deductible, and an acknowledgement letter is provided from the Bay City Library Association.

Contact the Utility Operations Department at 979-323-1659.

Contact the Public Works Department at 979-323-1659.

No, but Matagorda County does own a Transfer Station, and you can reach this location at 979-245-4547.

Contact the Public Works Department at 979-323-1659.

Contact the Building Department at 979-323-1659.

If it involves a problem in a drainage ditch, creek, or in the street, contact the Street and Bridge Department at 979-323-1659.

Contact the Building Department to determine what type of improvements, if any, can be built over the easement. Call 979-245-0997 or email the Building Department.

Call the Street and Bridge Department at 979-323-1659, or email Public Works.

Bay City contracts out trash collection to WCA. If you are having problems with trash collection or if you need a trash tote replaced, contact WCA at 979-245-0368. For billing issues, contact the billing office at 979-245-2322 for both residential and commercial service. For temporary dumpsters, contact WCA at 979-245-0368.

All traffic signals are maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation. This office may be reached at 979-245-8338.

Contact the Public Works Department at 979-323-1659.

Stop signs may be requested through the Public Works Department. In order to place a stop sign, certain criteria must be met. These deal with traffic counts, safety, and other factors. The Public Works Department and the Police Department work together to the criteria needed. To start the process, contact the Public Works Department at 979-323-1659.

AEP, the power company that provides power to the street light, maintains the street light. They can be reached at 877-373-4858. The exact address for the street light and the pole number will be required.

The Public Works Utility Department maintains the City’s water distribution system. Any questions about water leaks or water meters can be directed to them at 979-323-1659 or by emailing Public Works.

Call 979-323-1659 or 979-323-1692.

Most often, air is trapped in the water lines causing the water to look milky. Normally, if you let the water stand in a glass for a few minutes the air will dissipate leaving the water crystal clear. If this works, try turning your water on full blast for a few minutes to clear the air in the lines. If this does not work, call us, and we’ll assist you.

Wastewater (sewer), is the used water that goes down the drains inside your houses and businesses. The wastewater portion of your bill pays the cost associated with cleaning wastewater.

Absolutely. Bay City water meets or exceeds all standards set by the State of Texas and federal government. The State of Texas has designated Bay City’s water a "Superior Public Water Supply," the highest rating given by the State.

There are lots of good reasons to conserve water. Here are a few.

• It’s the responsible thing to do.
• Save money on water bills.
• Model responsible behavior for children.
• Save money on sewer (wastewater) bills.
• Reduce storm water pollution.
• Preserve a scarce natural resource.

Water only in the early morning, when evaporation rates are at the lowest.

No, the City works three feet from the edge of the road. It is the responsibility and obligation of all owners, occupants and users of real property abutting upon streets in the city, at their own expense, to maintain and keep the driveway aprons extending from their property line free of depressions, elevations, inequalities, obstacles, or obstructions, and generally to keep such driveway aprons in safe, adequate, and non-defective condition.

No, the City is not responsible for sidewalk maintenance. It is the responsibility and obligation of all owners, occupants, and users of real property abutting upon streets in the City, at their own cost and expense, to maintain and keep the sidewalks free of depressions, elevations, inequalities, obstacles, or obstructions and generally to keep such sidewalk in safe, adequate, and non-defective condition.

During normal working hours, call the Street and Bridge Department at 979-323-1659. After-hours emergencies can be reported through the after-hours service number at 979-245-7146; City crews are on call 24 hours a day.

Please call the Public Works Department at 979-323-1659.

No. In accordance with the City’s Ordinance Number 1373, if limbs are trimmed by a professional trimmer, this is not considered part of the service included in your monthly fee. The professional trimmer has the responsibility to remove the limbs from the property.

Please call the Street and Bridge Department at 979-323-1659.

The minimum bill for residential (inside jurisdiction) accounts is $101.13.  The minimum bill includes garbage service with one toter, up to 2,000 gallons of water, and up to 2,000 gallons of sewer.

Yes, it will be automatically applied to your next bill.

The City provides a sewer cap for residential accounts in place of a pool credit billing adjustment.

Annually, the City provides two (2) sewer billing adjustments for domestic leaks not impacting the sewer system.  These adjustments require an average minimum usage of 2,000 gallons or less based on the previous two months and the previous year's same month usages, as well as proof of repair (i.e.. plumber's receipt) .  The applicable billed usage must be over 15,000 gallons. *No adjustments for toilet and irrigation leaks.

You can report that to GFL at 979-245-0368.

Signing up for trash service can be done at the Utility Billing Office.

Based on daily workload, the City provides same-day service for all accounts.  All documentation must be received by 1:00 PM in our office.

For paid cutoff for non-payment accounts, water service will be reinstated the same day, maybe after 5 PM.

Please call our Municipal Service Building at 979-323-1659.

Please call our Municipal Service Building at 979-323-1659.

City Charters are like rulebooks for how cities work. They explain how the local government is set up, what powers officials have, and key processes. Any changes to a City Charter must be approved by voters. These amendments aim to update Bay City's Charter to make the government work better, be more flexible, and more stable. They are based on best practices, past experiences, and public input.

Bay City voters will decide in the May 3, 2025 election. Each amendment will be on the ballot separately, so voters can choose 'For' or 'Against' for each one.

These changes build on the work of past Charter Review Commissions from 2012 and 2018, which used public input and data to suggest updates. The current effort includes discussions between City Council, staff, and legal experts, aiming to modernize the Charter while keeping in line with past community input and long-term goals.

No, these changes are about how the city is run and won't affect tax or utility rates.

The Texas Constitution provides that a city charter shall not be altered, amended or repealed more often than every two years.

In 2019, City Council terms were changed to three years, leading to four seats being up for election at the same time every three years. This can cause a lack of continuity and disrupt projects. Staggering the elections means only two positions are up for election each year, which helps with stability and consistent leadership.

Yes, it will cost about $10,000 every third year for an extra election. But the benefits of stable leadership and continuity are worth this cost.

No. The Council can still hold as many meetings as needed. This change just allows them to cancel a meeting if there's no urgent business, saving time and resources. 

All meetings will still follow the Texas Open Meetings Act, with public notices on the City’s website and other channels. The Council also adopts an ordinance each year listing the regular meeting dates, giving the public advance notice. 

This change allows the Council to hire or keep the best person for City Manager, even if they live outside Bay City but within Matagorda County. Many factors, like housing availability and family needs, can make strict residency rules a barrier. This amendment helps Bay City stay competitive in hiring top talent. More than half (52%) of Texas Home Rule cities in the San Jacinto-Houston area have either residency flexibility or no residency requirements for city managers. Including: Pearland, La Porte, Katy and Angleton to name a few.  

This amendment does apply to the current City Manager, who has shown great service and progress for our city. But it's not just for one person. Future Councils can decide on a case-by-case basis whether to enforce or waive the residency rule, based on what's best for the city.

No. The City Manager must live within Matagorda County and within 20 miles of Bay City, keeping a strong local connection. Bay City is the largest city and county seat, so living nearby ensures the City Manager stays engaged with the community. 

Election Day is May 3, 2025. Early voting starts on April 22, 2025, at the Bay City Service Center (USO), 2105 Avenue M, Bay City, TX 77414. 

Visit www.cityofbaycity.org or contact the City Secretary’s Office for more details. 

No. The City never receives payment of local occupancy taxes from these platforms, no matter what services you choose. In 2017, the State Comptroller’s Office entered into an agreement with Airbnb to collect and remit State of Texas hotel occupancy taxes on behalf of all hosts. Many other platforms also automatically collect state taxes. This agreement does not apply to local taxes. Platforms will often mislead hosts into believing they are compliant, because they do not track city and county-level tax laws. 

No. Chapter 351 of the Texas Tax Code allows for the imposition and collection of hotel occupancy taxes by municipalities. The maximum rate is nine percent (9%) of the room rate.

All hoteliers, including hosts of short-term rentals, are required to collect and remit Hotel Occupancy Tax. This is not optional.

Hotel Occupancy Tax is not levied on you as the owner/operator of a short-term rental. It is levied on your guests and is meant to be paid by them. Most hotels add this tax as a separate line item on a bill rather than adding it into their room rate, just as they would sales tax. It is your decision how you would like to collect this tax from your guests, but you are a “pass-through” entity. This means that you do not pay this tax, nor is it considered part of your income. You collect it from your guests and pass it through to the City.

The City of Bay City Hotel Occupancy Tax is _______ percent (___%) of your occupancy income. It applies only to the room rate. Fees (booking fees, pet fees, cleaning fees, etc.) are excluded. The gross occupancy income is calculated and self reported by you monthly. The City does not require receipts, but retains the right to audit your records if necessary.

Taxes are due on the last calendar day of the month following their collection. For example, any occupancy tax collected from guests for November hotel stays will be due on December 31st. 

The City of Bay City uses...

As long as you are actively operating a short-term rental property or hotel, you must file a return every month, by the last calendar day of the month. If you have zero occupancy for a month, you should still file a return, but you will simply enter “0” for your gross occupancy revenue.

Hotel Occupancy Tax only applies to stays of 30 days or fewer. Longer stays are not taxed, even if your property normally operates as a short-term rental.

Section 351.101 of the Texas Tax Code requires that hotel occupancy taxes can only be used for specific tourism-related expenses. 

Please contact Samantha Denbow for more information.