Health and Safety Code Sec. 121.022 defines "health authority" as a physician and sets out various authorities of the health officer. H&S Code Sec.341.012 tells me I need a health authority to pursue a nuisance abatement. Does everyone (except us) have a physician "health authority"? Assuming some of you don't, why not?

Look at chapter 343 instead. From what I've read, it allows the county to set abatement procedures through its code enforcement or environmental department; there's no need to wait for a referral from a local health authority.

25 TAC 85.1

(e) A regional director of the department* shall perform the duties of a health authority for a municipality, county, public health district, or entity authorized to appoint a health authority in a jurisdiction in the regional director's region in which there is no health authority.

*Texas Department of State Health Services -- see http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/rls/lha/default.shtm