Environmental Inspections

Here are some of the Environmental Inspection Services the Development Services Department provides:
 

• Inspect permitted land developments and construction sites for compliance with City environmental protection regulations.
   
• Perform site investigations and evaluate erosion/sedimentation controls and tree preservation for best management practices and compliance with landscape and tree ordinances. 
   
• Perform final inspections of drainage facilities and other site improvements.
   
• Perform site investigations to evaluate the need for additional support from specialists, such as biologists and geologists.
   
• Identify locations of environmentally sensitive resources.
   
• Provide technical assistance and education to citizens, community/special interest groups, developers, and others on environmental/engineering code requirements, ordinances and regulations.
   
• Provide testimony and affidavits for enforcement cases.
   
• Issue directives and initiate enforcement actions when environmental and drainage regulations are not met.
   
• Underground Storage Tanks (UST) – site plan reviews UST-related matters, UST Construction Permitting, Hazardous Materials Storage Permitting, UST construction and compliance inspections, regulatory oversight, and customer assistance.

  Open the Relevant Environmental Territories Map

To schedule your Tree or Environmental Inspection, you must use either the Residential or Commercial Environmental Territories Map. Click the relevant map for your project:
 

Residential Environmental Territories Map 

Commercial Environmental Territories Map 

Once you have opened the correct map, refer back to these steps. 

  Enter Permit Address

Enter the permit address on the search line (you also can select the correct territory on the map itself). Select the full address when it appears. You should see the inspector’s name, along with a list of available inspection types.

  Select Inspection

Scroll to the type of inspection needed and select it. 

If you are scheduling a Pre-Construction inspection, be sure you have installed all required erosion controls first.

  Select Date and Time

When the inspector’s schedule appears, choose the date and time desired and click Continue.
 

  Enter Contact Information

You will now be prompted to enter your contact information. Once done, click Schedule it.

Expect a lead time of three business days for all inspections. 

If you cannot schedule your inspection within the scheduled timeframe, please email EVCommercial.Inspections@austintexas.gov for help.

Need an Austin Underground Storage Tank Construction Permit?

The following types of construction activities require an Underground Storage Tank (UST) Construction Permit:

• New Facility Construction (includes Hazardous Materials Interceptor (HMI))

• Remodel of a UST Facility (addition or replacement of whole system components, e.g., tanks and/or lines)
   
• Manway Construction (installation, repair, or replacement of spill buckets, Submersible Turbine Pump (STP), or Under Dispenser Containment (UDC) sumps)
   
• Repair / Maintenance of Existing UST Facility
   
• Permitted Tank Removal / Closure
   
• Ghost Tank or Waste Oil Tank Removal / Closure

Underground Storage Tank (UST) Permit  Process

  Submit your Permit Application

Complete the Underground Storage Tank (UST) Construction Permit Application ^(PDF) and email it to UST@austintexas.gov.

  Make Payment

Once your permit application has been submitted to UST@austintexas.gov, an invoice will be generated and emailed to the address listed on the permit application. UST Construction Permit fees vary depending on the type of work that is being performed. You will then log into your AB+C account to make an online payment.

  Application Review, Processing, and Approval

The review process begins when the payment and permit application have been received. Once the Underground Storage Tank (UST) Construction Permit has been approved, the approved permit will be emailed to you, and it should remain on-site during construction activities. The permit is valid for 6 months.

  Initial Inspection

You are required to provide 24 – 48 hour notice when you are ready to begin construction. An Underground Storage Tank (UST) inspector will meet on-site the day construction begins to perform an Initial Inspection. During the Initial Inspection, the inspector will verify proper erosion/sedimentation and safety controls are in place. The UST Inspector will discuss the scope of work of the project and discuss required inspections for the type of construction being performed.

  Follow-up Inspections and Final Inspection

Depending on the type of construction being performed, 2 – 10 follow-up inspections will be required throughout the project. This will be discussed at the Initial Inspection.

When construction is complete, a Final Inspection will be conducted to ensure that everything is returned to normal operating status and that the UST facility is compliant with state and local rules and regulations. If the Final Inspection passes, the Underground Storage Tank (UST) Construction Permit will be closed.

Need an Austin Underground (UST) Hazardous Materials Storage Permit?

A Hazardous Materials Storage Permit is required if an Underground Storage Tank (UST) Facility is:
 

• Located within the City of Austin UST Program Jurisdiction as discussed in Austin Code of Ordinances § 6-2-2 – Applicability, and
   
• If the UST Facility will be using a UST to store regulated materials as discussed in Austin Code of Ordinances § 6-2-3 – Regulated Materials
   
• For Above Ground Storage Tanks (AST) for Hazardous Materials, please see Austin Fire Department.

Hazardous Materials Storage Permit Process

  Submit your Permit Application

Complete the Hazardous Materials Storage Permit application ^(PDF) and email it to UST@austintexas.gov.

  Make Payment

Once your permit application has been submitted to UST@austintexas.gov, an invoice will be generated for the permit cost and emailed to the email address listed on the permit application. You will then log into your AB+C account to make an online payment.

  Application Review, Processing, and Approval

The review process begins when the payment and permit application have been received. Once the Hazardous Materials Storage Permit has been approved, the approved permit will be emailed to you, and it should be displayed at the UST Facility. The permit is valid for 3 years.

  Environmental Monitoring and Records Management

As a permitted UST Facility, you will be required to maintain leak detection (e.g., tanks, lines, and line leak detectors (LLDs), Cathodic Protection, spill-overfill protection, and other required financial and training documentation. A City of Austin UST Inspector may request any of this documentation at any time.

The cost of the Hazardous Materials Storage permit includes three compliance inspections conducted annually at the discretion of the UST Inspector. During a compliance inspection, the UST inspector will visually inspect all aspects of the UST system and request environmental monitoring data.

  Transfer of a Hazardous Materials Storage Permit (optional)

If property or UST ownership changes, the Hazardous Materials Storage Ordinance allows the permit to be transferred to the new owner if it is done within 30 days of the tank-ownership transaction. If you intend to transfer the permit, a Transfer of Hazardous Materials Storage Permit Application ^(PDF) must be completed and submitted to UST@austintexas.gov. Both the previous owner and new owner are required to sign the transfer permit application.

If a permit transfer is requested outside of the 30-day time frame, a new permit will be required. If this tank system does not continue to be monitored on a 30-day basis, the owner will be required to proceed with the UST closure procedures.

• Pre-Construction Meeting Handout - Residential Sites ^(PDF) 
   
• Pre-Construction Meeting Handout - Commercial Sites & Subdivisions ^(PDF) 
   
• Tree Protection and Erosion/Sedimentation Controls Flowchart ^(PDF) 
   
• Tree Ordinance Review Process ^(PDF) 

Questions or Complaints?

Questions? Please email Environmental.Inspections@austintexas.gov or call 512-974-2278 for assistance.