Compare Regulations
Compare state baseline against local requirements in a single view
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Compare state baseline against local requirements in a single view
Rows with an amber indicator differ across selections.
| Field | State Texas TCEQ | Local Fort Bend County Fort Bend County Engineering Department, 301 Jackson St., Richmond, TX 77469 |
|---|---|---|
| Permit | ||
| Permit / Authorization | Construction General Permit (TXR150000) | Fort Bend County Drainage Permit |
| Submit To | TCEQ | Fort Bend County Engineering Department, 301 Jackson St., Richmond, TX 77469 |
| Lead Time | Must file NOI and receive authorization before construction begins | 4–6 weeks for standard residential or commercial projects; larger or complex projects may require 8–12 weeks |
| Application Method | Online via TCEQ Water Quality ePay system | Submit application package to the Fort Bend County Engineering Department including drainage plan, hydrologic/hydraulic study, and erosion control plan, all signed and sealed by a licensed Texas PE. Pre-application meeting may be required for projects exceeding 10 acres of disturbance. |
| Fee | $325 for projects disturbing < 5 acres; $525 for ≥ 5 acres | Contact agency for current fee schedule |
| Water Quality | ||
| Impervious Cover Limit | No statewide limit | No blanket countywide impervious cover cap; detention requirements triggered by any increase in impervious cover or alteration of drainage patterns for sites disturbing more than 1 acre. Incorporated cities within Fort Bend County may impose stricter local limits. |
| On-Site Treatment Required | Not specified at state level | No |
| Detention Required | Not specified at state level | Yes — Post-development peak discharge must not exceed pre-development peak discharge for the 2-, 10-, 25-, and 100-year 24-hour storm events per the Fort Bend County Drainage Criteria Manual. Detention facilities must include emergency spillway and minimum 1 ft freeboard above the 100-year water surface elevation. Wet pond designs require additional water quality review. |
| Turbidity / Discharge Standard | Not specified in CGP; discharges must not cause or contribute to violations of water quality standards | No separate county turbidity numeric standard. Compliance with TPDES Construction General Permit (TXR150000) required. SWPPP BMPs must be installed and maintained; weekly inspections and post-storm event inspections required per state CGP. |
| SWPPP | ||
| SWPPP / Local Plan Required | Yes | No local plan |
| PE Stamp Required | No | No |
| Inspections | ||
| Inspection Requirements | Every 14 days and within 24 hours of a rainfall event producing ≥ 0.5 inches | Fort Bend County Engineering inspects detention facilities and drainage infrastructure during construction and performs a final acceptance inspection before the drainage permit is closed. For detention basins, an as-built certification confirming final detention volume must be submitted. Projects within Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District boundaries require subsidence-related certification as well. |
| Inspector Qualification | Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) Inspector — no state license required but must be knowledgeable | County inspections conducted by county engineering staff. As-built certifications must be sealed by a licensed Texas PE or RPLS. Third-party geotechnical reports may be required for detention embankments exceeding 6 feet in height. |
| Design & Zones | ||
| Local Design Manual | N/A — state level | Fort Bend County Drainage Criteria Manual |
| Special Overlay Zones | N/A — see local jurisdictions | Brazos River Floodplain and Floodway, Buffalo Bayou / Barker Reservoir Watershed, Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District (HGCSD) Regulated Area |