Permits and Inspections
Austin Watershed Protection issues permits and conducts inspections for certain stormwater systems and business activities. This helps to protect Austin’s residents and environment from stormwater pollution, flooding, and erosion.
You may need a City of Austin Stormwater Discharge Permit if you run a business that has a higher risk of polluting our creeks or lakes. Meeting the permit requirements helps you protect Austin’s waterways.
We inspect over 9,000 privately owned stormwater control measures at businesses and in neighborhoods around Austin. These systems collect, slow down, filter or move rainwater after a storm. They help reduce flooding and remove pollution before runoff reaches a creek, lake or aquifer. Property owners are responsible for maintenance.
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Maintaining Stormwater Control Measures
Property owners are responsible for keeping stormwater control measures working properly. While most are inspected every three years, underground systems and systems in the Barton Springs Zone have different requirements.
They may receive a Notice of Violation if a stormwater control measure is poorly maintained, not working properly, or cannot be accessed for inspection. If you have received a Notice of Violation, read the notice carefully and complete the required corrections by the deadline. If you have questions, please contact the inspector listed on the notice.
Common maintenance issues inspectors may look for include:
Trash, leaves, branches or other debris blocking the system
Built-up sediment near inlets, outlets, pipes or drains
Overgrown vegetation
Invasive plants or nuisance trees
Bare soil, erosion or animal burrows
Damaged concrete, grates, pipes or other structures
Standing water that does not drain as designed
For official maintenance requirements of privately owned water quality control measures, view the Environmental Criteria Manual maintenance requirements.
A re-inspection fee of $500 may be assessed to the property owner for non-compliance of a stormwater control measure.
Types of Stormwater Control Measures
Key Contact: Email Pond Inspection and Dam Safety
Many stormwater control measures look alike at first glance. A pond, planted basin or grassy area may be designed for flood control, water quality treatment or both. The difference is often in how water enters, moves through and leaves the system.
Because these systems work in different ways, they may have different maintenance needs.
Common above-ground stormwater control measures include:
- Flood Detention Ponds
Hold stormwater for a short time after a storm and release it slowly. Their main purpose is to reduce flooding and erosion downstream.
- Sedimentation and Sand Filtration Ponds
Usually has two parts. One part collects larger sediment and debris. The second part filters smaller particles from the water before it leaves the system.
- Wet Ponds
Hold water all the time. They are designed to capture stormwater, allow sediment to settle and use plants to help remove pollution. Wet ponds are not intended for swimming, fishing or other recreation.
- Retention and Irrigation Systems
Collect stormwater and use it to irrigate nearby areas. This helps stormwater soak into the ground instead of flowing directly into creeks or storm drains.
- Rain Gardens and Biofiltration Areas
Slightly sunken areas with lots of plants to collect and filter stormwater. Plants and soil help slow the water down, filter pollution and reduce erosion.
- Vegetated Filter Strips
Open, vegetated areas where stormwater flows across. The plants help slow the water and filter out pollutants such as sediment, nutrients and pesticides.
Barton Springs Zone Operating Permit
Key Contact: Email Barton Springs Zone Operating Permits
The Barton Springs Zone has extra water quality protections because stormwater drains into the Edwards Aquifer, specifically the part that feeds into Barton Springs. This is an environmentally sensitive area, and water quality regulations dating back to the early 1990s help protect it.
Certain developments in this area have water quality controls that are subject to the Barton Springs Zone Operating Permit.
The Barton Springs Zone includes parts of seven watersheds: Barton, Bear, Little Barton, Little Bear, Onion, Slaughter and Williamson.
Who Needs This Permit
Most properties in the Barton Springs Zone with water quality ponds need to have a Barton Springs Zone Operating Permit. Property owners or managers will need to renew it every year.
Property owners or managers must keep water quality controls maintained, pay the annual permit fee, submit maintenance records and complete required repairs, if needed.
Austin Build + Connect Portal
Use the Austin Build + Connect portal to check permit status, apply for or renew a permit, make payments and upload required documents.
Keep contact information up to date in Austin Build + Connect. Reminder emails are sent to the applicant email address on file. You can also email the program contact to update contact information for a property.
How to Renew a Barton Springs Zone Operating Permit
Pay any outstanding permit fees.
Submit an updated renewal application.
Provide the previous year’s maintenance records for the water quality controls on site.
These items can be completed in the Austin Build + Connect portal. If you need to create a new account, email the program contact with the email address used for the account and the site you represent.
Payment Options
You can make a payment through the Austin Build + Connect portal. Other options include:
Over the Phone: 512-974-7045, Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 3 p.m.
In Person: Planning and Development Center, 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr., Austin, Texas, 78752, Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Mail via United States Postal Service (include invoice): City of Austin-PDC DSD-Cashier, P.O. Box 1088, Austin, Texas 78767
Overnight/express courier service (include invoice): City of Austin – PDC DSD-Cashier, 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr., Austin, Texas 78752
Do not send permit applications or maintenance records to the cashier’s office.
Resources
- Barton Springs Zone Operating Permit Initial Application
- Renewal application
- Maintenance Requirements for water quality control measures (Environmental Criteria Manual 1.6.3 (C). Additional maintenance requirements for retention irrigation systems are in Section 1.6.3 (C) 5)
Stormwater Discharge Permits
Key Contact: Email Stormwater Permits, 512-974-2550, Option #3.
A City of Austin Stormwater Discharge Permit is required for commercial and industrial operations that have higher risk of pollutants entering the storm drain system within Austin city limits.
- Business activities that need this permit include:
Aircraft repair
Automotive repair
Boat repair
Bulk petroleum storage and distribution
Chemical manufacturing and storage
Commercial cleaning
Concrete batch plant operation
Fuel dispensing
Groundwater remediation
Heavy equipment repair
Hydraulic system repair
Lubrication services
Machine shop services
Radiator repair
Small engine repair
Transmission rebuilding and repair
Vehicle salvage
Routine Inspections
City inspectors check permitted facilities for compliance with the City of Austin Water Quality Code. During an inspection, staff may review storm drain connections, waste storage, waste handling, disposal practices and site maintenance.
These inspections help prevent commercial or industrial waste from entering Austin’s storm drain system and waterways.
Maintaining a Stormwater Discharge Permit
Stormwater Discharge Permits are issued annually. Each facility is responsible for keeping a current permit.
The permit fee is $10 per month and is billed on the property’s utility bill. Permits renew automatically, and a paper copy of the annual permit is typically mailed to the business address in January.
To request a Stormwater Discharge Permit, contact the program by email or phone.
Permit fees will be on your water bill:
TPDES Stormwater Permits
The City of Austin Stormwater Discharge Permit Program is separate from Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System stormwater permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Resources
- TPDES and Austin's MS4 Stormwater Management Program
Subsurface Stormwater Control Measures
Key Contact: Email Pond Inspection and Dam Safety
Some stormwater control measures are underground. These are called subsurface stormwater control measures. They are often located under parking structures or other developed areas.
Use the Public Search function in Austin Build + Connect to check whether your property has a subsurface stormwater control measure.
Annual Inspection Report Requirement
Property owners or managers of subsurface stormwater control measures must submit an annual third-party inspection report to Austin Watershed Protection for review.
Reports must:
Be submitted every year
Apply to both stormwater detention and water quality controls
Be completed by a third party
Be signed and sealed by a Texas-licensed professional engineer
Be emailed to PIDS@austintexas.gov
There is no official City of Austin inspection report template. Inspection and report requirements are in Environmental Criteria Manual Section 1.6.2.E.
Safety: Do Not Enter Underground Systems
Do not enter underground stormwater systems unless you are trained and authorized. These spaces can be dangerous. They may have poor ventilation, poor lighting, toxic or flammable gases, wild animals, sharp objects or fast-rising water during storms.
The City of Austin does not endorse, recommend or guarantee any contractor or their work.
Violations
The City may issue a Notice of Violation if permit, inspection, reporting or maintenance requirements are not met.
Examples of violations include:
Unauthorized discharge of pollutants
Failure to maintain a stormwater control measure
Failure to submit the required annual subsurface stormwater control measure inspection report
If You Receive a Notice of Violation
Read the notice carefully and complete the required corrections by the deadline. Contact the inspector or program contact listed on the notice if you have questions. Keep records of maintenance, repairs or other work completed.
Potential Penalties
Noncompliance may result in criminal penalties and fines up to $2,000 per day per violation.