City of Austin
City of Austin Watershed Protection Department (WPD)
CityMS4 Phase IIVerified 2025-01
Local Permit / Authorization
- Permit Required
- Yes
- Permit Name
- Drainage Criteria Manual Authorization (site plan / grading permit)
- Submit To
- City of Austin Watershed Protection Department (WPD)
- Lead Time
- Variable — site plan approval required before grading permit issuance; plan review typically 2–6 weeks
- Application Method
- Online via Austin Build + Connect (ABC) portal (abc.austintexas.gov); paper submittals accepted at Development Services Department
- Fee
- Based on project size and impervious cover; grading permit fee schedule at AustinTexas.gov/BuildingPermits
Water Quality Standards
- Impervious Cover Limit
- Varies by watershed: 15% in Barton Springs Zone (BSZ); 25% in Water Supply Rural (WSR); 40% in Water Supply Suburban (WSS); no citywide cap in urban watersheds (some Water Quality Transition Zones apply)
- On-Site Treatment Required
- Yes
- Detention Required
- Yes
- Detention Standard
- 2-year and 100-year storm detention required for increases in impervious cover; water quality volume (WQv) capture required; bioretention, wet ponds, or cisterns typical
- Turbidity Standard
- No numeric NTU limit in local ordinance; discharges must comply with TCEQ TXR150000 and not cause erosion or visible turbidity in receiving creeks
Local SWPPP / Drainage Plan
- Local Plan Required
- Yes
- Plan Name
- Erosion & Sedimentation Control (ESC) Plan, required as part of grading permit package
- PE Stamp Required
- Yes
ESC Plan must be prepared and sealed by a Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) or a Licensed State Land Surveyor for projects exceeding certain thresholds. The ESC Plan is reviewed by WPD prior to grading permit issuance. An Erosion Hazard Zone (EHZ) review is triggered for sites near creeks.
Local Inspection Requirements
- Requirements
- City of Austin WPD conducts periodic site inspections separate from TCEQ. Inspections triggered by complaints or during storm events. Grading permit requires a final stabilization inspection before close-out.
- Inspector Qualification
- No additional city-specific certification beyond TCEQ requirements; however, the PE-of-record is responsible for ESC plan compliance
Special Overlay Zones
Critical Water Quality Zone (CWQZ)
Trigger: Within 200 ft of the centerline of a creek with a drainage area ≥ 64 acres, or within the 100-year floodplain of larger creeks
Restriction: No impervious cover, no grading, no fill; only soft-surface trails and utility crossings allowed by variance
Water Quality Transition Zone (WQTZ)
Trigger: 100 ft beyond the outer edge of the CWQZ
Restriction: Reduced impervious cover allowed; water quality controls required; native vegetation buffer preferred
Barton Springs Zone (BSZ) / Edwards Aquifer Contributing Zone
Trigger: Properties over or draining to the Edwards Aquifer recharge and contributing zones (roughly SW Austin and the Hill Country)
Restriction: Most stringent: 15% max impervious cover; 100% on-site retention of the 2-yr storm required; no hazardous materials storage; enhanced water quality controls; Save Our Springs (SOS) Ordinance applies
Erosion Hazard Zone (EHZ)
Trigger: Within 100 ft of a creek or drainage feature subject to lateral erosion
Restriction: No development; structural erosion control required; bank stabilization plan may be required
Floodplain
Trigger: Within FEMA-designated 100-year floodplain or City's more restrictive floodplain mapping
Restriction: No fill in floodway; compensatory storage required; floodplain development permit required from WPD
Design Manual
- Manual Name
- City of Austin Drainage Criteria Manual (DCM)
Official Resources
Jurisdiction Notes
Austin has some of the most complex local stormwater requirements in Texas, driven by the Save Our Springs (SOS) Ordinance protecting Barton Springs Pool and the Edwards Aquifer. Projects in the Barton Springs Zone face requirements that often exceed state standards. The dual-review system (WPD for water quality + Development Services for permits) requires careful coordination. Austin's impervious cover limits are enforced at the subdivision/site plan level and are among the most stringent of any major Texas city.
Remember: These local requirements are in addition to the TCEQ state construction permit. Both must be satisfied before breaking ground.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for general reference only. Always verify requirements directly with City of Austin Watershed Protection Department (WPD) and the agency website before beginning construction.