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TX(1 more)

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The Woodlands Township(2 more)

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Field	State Texas TCEQ	Local The Woodlands Township The Woodlands Township Development Standards Committee (DSC), 2801 Technology Forest Blvd., The Woodlands, TX 77381
Permit
Permit / Authorization	Construction General Permit (TXR150000)	The Woodlands Township Development / Drainage Plan Review
Submit To	TCEQ	The Woodlands Township Development Standards Committee (DSC), 2801 Technology Forest Blvd., The Woodlands, TX 77381
Lead Time	Must file NOI and receive authorization before construction begins	4–8 weeks for DSC review; projects must also obtain Montgomery County drainage permit (allow additional 4–8 weeks). DSC review runs concurrently with county review but both approvals required before construction.
Application Method	Online via TCEQ Water Quality ePay system	Submit development plan application to The Woodlands Township Development Standards Committee. Application must include site plan, drainage plan, tree survey, landscape plan, and impervious cover calculations. Both DSC approval and Montgomery County Engineering Department drainage permit are required before construction commences.
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	The Woodlands Development Standards impose impervious cover limits by land use category more restrictive than Montgomery County baseline. Residential lots: typically 45–65% depending on lot size and village. Commercial/retail: maximum per approved site plan with natural open space and tree canopy preservation requirements.
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 conditions per Montgomery County Drainage Criteria Manual (2019 post-Harvey edition). The Woodlands Township additionally requires that natural drainage patterns be preserved to the greatest extent practicable. Storm drainage systems must utilize natural swales, bioswales, and existing low-lying areas before resorting to constructed detention basins.
Turbidity / Discharge Standard	Not specified in CGP; discharges must not cause or contribute to violations of water quality standards	No separate township turbidity numeric standard. TPDES Construction General Permit (TXR150000) applies. High-performance turbidity barriers required near Lake Woodlands and Spring Creek.
SWPPP
SWPPP / Local Plan Required	Yes	No local plan
PE Stamp Required	No	Yes
Inspections
Inspection Requirements	Every 14 days and within 24 hours of a rainfall event producing ≥ 0.5 inches	The Woodlands Township Development Standards Committee may conduct site inspections during construction to verify compliance with approved plans, tree protection measures, and impervious cover limits. Montgomery County Engineering Department also inspects drainage facilities. Final DSC sign-off on landscaping and tree preservation compliance required. Tree protection fencing must remain in place and be inspected by a certified arborist throughout the construction phase.
Inspector Qualification	Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) Inspector — no state license required but must be knowledgeable	Tree protection inspections must be performed by a certified arborist (ISA Certified Arborist credential or equivalent). Drainage as-built certifications must be sealed by a licensed Texas PE or RPLS. Montgomery County inspection requirements also apply.
Design & Zones
Local Design Manual	N/A — state level	The Woodlands Development Standards and Montgomery County Drainage Criteria Manual (2019 Post-Harvey Edition)
Special Overlay Zones	N/A — see local jurisdictions	Lake Woodlands Watershed Protection Area, Spring Creek Riparian Corridor, Natural Drainage Corridor / George Mitchell Greenway Preservation Areas, Tree Preservation Area (Significant and Heritage Trees)

Field	State Texas TCEQ	Local The Woodlands Township The Woodlands Township Development Standards Committee (DSC), 2801 Technology Forest Blvd., The Woodlands, TX 77381
Permit
Permit / Authorization	Construction General Permit (TXR150000)	The Woodlands Township Development / Drainage Plan Review
Submit To	TCEQ	The Woodlands Township Development Standards Committee (DSC), 2801 Technology Forest Blvd., The Woodlands, TX 77381
Lead Time	Must file NOI and receive authorization before construction begins	4–8 weeks for DSC review; projects must also obtain Montgomery County drainage permit (allow additional 4–8 weeks). DSC review runs concurrently with county review but both approvals required before construction.
Application Method	Online via TCEQ Water Quality ePay system	Submit development plan application to The Woodlands Township Development Standards Committee. Application must include site plan, drainage plan, tree survey, landscape plan, and impervious cover calculations. Both DSC approval and Montgomery County Engineering Department drainage permit are required before construction commences.
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	The Woodlands Development Standards impose impervious cover limits by land use category more restrictive than Montgomery County baseline. Residential lots: typically 45–65% depending on lot size and village. Commercial/retail: maximum per approved site plan with natural open space and tree canopy preservation requirements.
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 conditions per Montgomery County Drainage Criteria Manual (2019 post-Harvey edition). The Woodlands Township additionally requires that natural drainage patterns be preserved to the greatest extent practicable. Storm drainage systems must utilize natural swales, bioswales, and existing low-lying areas before resorting to constructed detention basins.
Turbidity / Discharge Standard	Not specified in CGP; discharges must not cause or contribute to violations of water quality standards	No separate township turbidity numeric standard. TPDES Construction General Permit (TXR150000) applies. High-performance turbidity barriers required near Lake Woodlands and Spring Creek.
SWPPP
SWPPP / Local Plan Required	Yes	No local plan
PE Stamp Required	No	Yes
Inspections
Inspection Requirements	Every 14 days and within 24 hours of a rainfall event producing ≥ 0.5 inches	The Woodlands Township Development Standards Committee may conduct site inspections during construction to verify compliance with approved plans, tree protection measures, and impervious cover limits. Montgomery County Engineering Department also inspects drainage facilities. Final DSC sign-off on landscaping and tree preservation compliance required. Tree protection fencing must remain in place and be inspected by a certified arborist throughout the construction phase.
Inspector Qualification	Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) Inspector — no state license required but must be knowledgeable	Tree protection inspections must be performed by a certified arborist (ISA Certified Arborist credential or equivalent). Drainage as-built certifications must be sealed by a licensed Texas PE or RPLS. Montgomery County inspection requirements also apply.
Design & Zones
Local Design Manual	N/A — state level	The Woodlands Development Standards and Montgomery County Drainage Criteria Manual (2019 Post-Harvey Edition)
Special Overlay Zones	N/A — see local jurisdictions	Lake Woodlands Watershed Protection Area, Spring Creek Riparian Corridor, Natural Drainage Corridor / George Mitchell Greenway Preservation Areas, Tree Preservation Area (Significant and Heritage Trees)

Field

State

Texas

TCEQ

Local

The Woodlands Township

The Woodlands Township Development Standards Committee (DSC), 2801 Technology Forest Blvd., The Woodlands, TX 77381

Permit

Permit / Authorization

Construction General Permit (TXR150000)

The Woodlands Township Development / Drainage Plan Review

Submit To

TCEQ

The Woodlands Township Development Standards Committee (DSC), 2801 Technology Forest Blvd., The Woodlands, TX 77381

Lead Time

Must file NOI and receive authorization before construction begins

4–8 weeks for DSC review; projects must also obtain Montgomery County drainage permit (allow additional 4–8 weeks). DSC review runs concurrently with county review but both approvals required before construction.

Application Method

Online via TCEQ Water Quality ePay system

Submit development plan application to The Woodlands Township Development Standards Committee. Application must include site plan, drainage plan, tree survey, landscape plan, and impervious cover calculations. Both DSC approval and Montgomery County Engineering Department drainage permit are required before construction commences.

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

The Woodlands Development Standards impose impervious cover limits by land use category more restrictive than Montgomery County baseline. Residential lots: typically 45–65% depending on lot size and village. Commercial/retail: maximum per approved site plan with natural open space and tree canopy preservation requirements.

On-Site Treatment Required

Not specified at state level

Detention Required

Not specified at state level

Yes — Post-development peak discharge must not exceed pre-development conditions per Montgomery County Drainage Criteria Manual (2019 post-Harvey edition). The Woodlands Township additionally requires that natural drainage patterns be preserved to the greatest extent practicable. Storm drainage systems must utilize natural swales, bioswales, and existing low-lying areas before resorting to constructed detention basins.

Turbidity / Discharge Standard

Not specified in CGP; discharges must not cause or contribute to violations of water quality standards

No separate township turbidity numeric standard. TPDES Construction General Permit (TXR150000) applies. High-performance turbidity barriers required near Lake Woodlands and Spring Creek.

SWPPP

SWPPP / Local Plan Required

Yes

No local plan

PE Stamp Required

Yes

Inspections

Inspection Requirements

Every 14 days and within 24 hours of a rainfall event producing ≥ 0.5 inches

The Woodlands Township Development Standards Committee may conduct site inspections during construction to verify compliance with approved plans, tree protection measures, and impervious cover limits. Montgomery County Engineering Department also inspects drainage facilities. Final DSC sign-off on landscaping and tree preservation compliance required. Tree protection fencing must remain in place and be inspected by a certified arborist throughout the construction phase.

Inspector Qualification

Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) Inspector — no state license required but must be knowledgeable

Tree protection inspections must be performed by a certified arborist (ISA Certified Arborist credential or equivalent). Drainage as-built certifications must be sealed by a licensed Texas PE or RPLS. Montgomery County inspection requirements also apply.

Design & Zones

Local Design Manual

N/A — state level

The Woodlands Development Standards and Montgomery County Drainage Criteria Manual (2019 Post-Harvey Edition)

Special Overlay Zones

N/A — see local jurisdictions

Lake Woodlands Watershed Protection Area, Spring Creek Riparian Corridor, Natural Drainage Corridor / George Mitchell Greenway Preservation Areas, Tree Preservation Area (Significant and Heritage Trees)