City of Pasadena
City of Pasadena Public Works / Engineering
CityMS4 Phase IVerified 2026-03
Local Permit / Authorization
- Permit Required
- Yes
- Permit Name
- Grading / Drainage Permit
- Submit To
- City of Pasadena Public Works / Engineering
- Lead Time
- Plan review typically 2–4 weeks
- Application Method
- Submit via City of Pasadena Permitting at 1149 Ellsworth Dr., Pasadena, TX 77506 or contact city engineering department
- Fee
- Contact agency for current fee schedule
Water Quality Standards
- Impervious Cover Limit
- No citywide impervious cover cap; drainage systems must accommodate design storm flows per City of Pasadena Drainage Design Criteria; industrial and petrochemical land use creates heightened water quality concerns
- On-Site Treatment Required
- No
- Detention Required
- Yes
- Detention Standard
- Detention required to limit post-development peak flows to pre-development levels for 2-, 10-, and 100-year storms per City of Pasadena Drainage Design Criteria; low-lying terrain adjacent to the Houston Ship Channel requires careful drainage design
- Turbidity Standard
- No numeric NTU limit; discharges must comply with TCEQ TXR150000 and not degrade Galveston Bay, Houston Ship Channel, or Armand Bayou
Local SWPPP / Drainage Plan
- Local Plan Required
- Yes
- Plan Name
- SWPPP per TCEQ TXR150000; drainage report required for local permit
- PE Stamp Required
- Yes
Drainage study prepared by a Texas PE required for grading permits. Pasadena is home to significant petrochemical, refining, and industrial facilities along the Houston Ship Channel. Construction projects in industrial areas must address spill prevention and SPCC coordination. SWPPP must account for potential hydrocarbon, chemical, and industrial waste exposure. Armand Bayou Nature Center is an ecologically sensitive wetland area within the city.
Local Inspection Requirements
- Requirements
- City of Pasadena Public Works inspects grading permits at rough grading and final stabilization. Industrial corridor construction requires enhanced BMP measures and coordination with facility environmental staff.
- Inspector Qualification
- No city-specific certification required beyond TCEQ SWPPP requirements
Special Overlay Zones
Houston Ship Channel Industrial Corridor
Trigger: Construction on or adjacent to petrochemical, refining, or chemical facilities along the Houston Ship Channel
Restriction: SPCC plan coordination required; potential TCEQ industrial stormwater permit requirements; coordinate with facility environmental compliance staff; USACE Section 10 permits for work in navigable waters
Armand Bayou Watershed and Nature Center
Trigger: Development draining to Armand Bayou or within the Armand Bayou Nature Center buffer zone
Restriction: Armand Bayou is one of the last remaining natural tidal bayous near Houston; enhanced turbidity and hydrocarbon controls required; coordinate with Armand Bayou Nature Center for projects in the immediate vicinity
Harris County Flood Control District Bayou Channels
Trigger: Development connecting outfalls to HCFCD-maintained bayous and drainage channels
Restriction: HCFCD outfall connection permit required; HCFCD design criteria apply for connections; coordinate with HCFCD Galveston-Brazos operations center
Design Manual
- Manual Name
- City of Pasadena Drainage Design Criteria
Official Resources
Jurisdiction Notes
Pasadena is an industrial city east of Houston along the Houston Ship Channel, home to one of the largest concentrations of petrochemical facilities in the world. The city's stormwater program must contend with industrial runoff risks, low-lying terrain, and proximity to Galveston Bay. Phase I MS4 status reflects its large urban footprint. Hurricane Harvey (2017) caused severe flooding and highlighted the vulnerabilities of the low-lying bayou drainage system. Armand Bayou provides an important natural drainage and ecological corridor within the 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 Pasadena Public Works / Engineering and the agency website before beginning construction.