HOUSTON, Texas – Houston city leaders say fines aren’t enough to stop the growing concerns around after-hours bars and clubs.
During a recent public safety committee meeting, council members and residents expressed frustration.
“The fines don’t seem to be hindering anyone from continuing to operate,” Councilmember Amy Peck, chair of the public safety committee, said.
The cost of these fines is no less than $500 and no more than $2,000 a day if they are violating the rules, and many of these bars and clubs are repeated violations.
The discussion comes just weeks after a shooting at an after-hours bar on Hillcroft left six people shot.
Despite the severity of the incidents, city officials say they’re limited in what they can do without stronger ordinances in place.
Resident, Douglas Smith, said he felt compelled to speak out after listening to the meeting.
“I couldn’t help myself from not making comments today because I was so appalled at what I heard,” he said.
Between December 2024 and February 2025, not a single bar, club, or lounge lost its permit due to noise violations, even though several were issued fines.
“My experience with city citations is… they are close to being worthless,” Smith added.
The issue, according to officials, lies in enforcement.
“We will do everything we can to bring the clubs or bars into compliance, but we can’t shut somebody down unless there is a life safety component that needs to be addressed.” Rudy Moreno, director of the Houston Permitting Center, said.
Council Member Julian Ramirez mentioned Fuego’s Saloon and Bar 5306 citing numerous complaints.
KPRC 2 reached out to Fuego’s Saloon and Bar 5306, but neither responded.
There’s also concern about staffing.
The Houston Fire Marshal’s Office revealed they have about 102 employees, but on weekends, only three working the weekends that can respond to issue a citation(s) at bars and clubs.
“Some bar owners say, ‘Why are you coming down on us when it’s not us?‘” KPRC 2’s Rilwan Balogun asked.
Council member Peck responded, “That’s an argument we’ve heard, but it starts with making sure those owners are operating under the right rules and sometimes they aren’t.”
City leaders say if they want to truly address the issue, they’ll need to rework existing ordinances giving law enforcement agencies more power and resources to act before dangerous situations escalate.
