The Austin Environmental Inspection Division performs inspections on permitted sites to ensure temporary and permanent erosion controls, stormwater controls, critical environmental features, protection of trees and natural areas, landscape installation, and other relevant features to comply with approved site plan requirements.
Inspections are performed to ensure compliance with City Code and State Regulations. Before construction, contractors, developers, and environmental inspectors hold a pre-construction conference to ensure controls are compliant. Periodic inspections during construction ensure that appropriate temporary erosion controls are in place and that ongoing development is consistent with approved plans. A final environmental inspection is required before the site work is considered complete.
Other Environmental Inspector Services:
- Performing annual compliance and construction inspections on permitted Underground Storage Tank (UST) facilities and UST facilities that are under construction.
- Responding to citizen complaints about possible environmental violations. To report a complaint, call 3-1-1 (inside the city limits) or 512-974-2000 (outside the city limits).
What you will find on this page:
- About Environmental Inspection Services
- How to schedule a Tree or Environmental Inspection
- Underground Storage Tank (UST) Construction Permit Application
- Hazardous Materials Storage Permit
- Environmental Inspection Resources
- Inspectors Phone List
- Contacts
About Environmental Inspection Services
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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.
- Inspect permitted land developments and construction sites for compliance with City environmental protection regulations.
How to schedule a Tree or Environmental Inspection
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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.
How to Apply for an Underground Storage Tank (UST) Construction Permit
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Need an Austin Underground Storage Tank Construction Permit?
The following types of construction activities require an Underground Storage Tank (UST) Construction Permit:
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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.
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How to Apply for a Hazardous Materials Storage Permit
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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.
- Located within the City of Austin UST Program Jurisdiction as discussed in Austin Code of Ordinances § 6-2-2 – Applicability, and
Environmental Inspection Resources
Inspector Phone List
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INSPECTIONS & ENFORCEMENT:
TREE/ ENVIRONMENTAL,
GENERAL PERMIT, LANDSCAPE,
UST, AND SOUND ENFORCEMENTInspection Area
Name
Office
Cell
Division Manager
Chapman, David
Admin. Specialist
Ramos, Vanessa
INSPECTIONS & ENFORCEMENT
Inspection Area
Name
Office
Cell
EV Compliance Supervisor
Wyrick, Amanda
EV Enforcement
Eickstead, Jacob
EV Enforcement
Donahue, Dale
EV Enforcement
Eagan, Brian
EV Enforcement
Howard, Lamont 512-661-6736 Sound Enforcement
Moreno, Victor 512-593-0649 Sound Enforcement
Crouch, Jason 512-299-3163 Sound Enforcement
Rodriguez, John 512-665-8516 UST
Goodwin, Hunter
UST
Simmons, Elizabeth
COMMERCIAL/LANDSCAPING INSPECTIONS
Inspection Area
Name
Office
Cell
EV Compliance Supervisor
Brown, Walter
EV Compliance Supervisor
Adair, Lyle 512-974-2292 512-605-8457 1
Bogard, Michael
2
McMillan, Scott
3
Garrido, Oscar
4
Mendoza, Marco
5
Randle, Arester
6
Smith, Eric
7
Ramirez, Felix
8
Ruiz, Robert L.
9
Urrutia, Hugo
10
Lee, Derrick
RESIDENTIAL/LANDSCAPING INSPECTIONS
Inspection Area
Name
Office
Cell
Compliance Supervisor
Dear, Doug
11
Bock, David
12
Garcia, Oscar
13
Deskin, Doug
14
Stonecipher, Ty
15
Setliff, Rebecca
16
Lawrence, Paul
17 Stewart, Regan 512-665-4024 18 Ruben, Erik 512-203-3189 Contacts
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Questions or Complaints?
Questions? Please email Environmental.Inspections@austintexas.gov or call 512-974-2278 for assistance.