Environmental Rules in Fort Worth, TX (2026)
7 verified environmental rules for Fort Worth, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Fort Worth requires a CFRA Certificate of Compliance, or a full Stormwater Drainage Study for one-acre-plus projects, before anyone builds within a City Flood Risk Area, drainage-prone land upstream of FEMA's mapped floodplains. New structures must reach the design flood elevation, the 100-year flood plus two feet of freeboard, and building permits are denied without approval.
Fort Worth City Flood Risk Area Stormwater Rules
Some RestrictionsFort Worth City Code § 7-392.3
A CFRA Certificate of Compliance is required for developments with less than one acre of land disturbance to ensure compliance with the provisions of this division. A development with areas of land disturbance of one acre or more will not require a CFRA Certificate of Compliance, but must comply with the city's Stormwater Criteria Manual. No development shall occur on any land within a CFRA unl...
Erosion Control
Fort Worth regulates grading and drainage through the Development Code and the Storm Water Management Design Manual. A grading permit is required for earthwork exceeding specified thresholds. Drainage plans must demonstrate that post-development runoff does not exceed pre-development rates for the 25-year storm event. Fill placement must not redirect drainage onto adjacent properties. The Public Works Department reviews grading plans as part of the development permitting process.
Fort Worth Grading & Drainage Rules
Light RestrictionsTex. Local Government Code Sec. 232.003(5), (8)
Sec. 232.003. SUBDIVISION REQUIREMENTS. By an order adopted and entered in the minutes of the commissioners court, and after a notice is published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county, the commissioners court may: ... (5) adopt reasonable specifications to provide adequate drainage for each street or road in a subdivision in accordance with standard engineering practices; ... (8)...
Flood Zones
Fort Worth requires a floodplain development permit before any building, fill, or use change in a FEMA-mapped special flood hazard area. The floodplain administrator issues permits under City Code § 7-318; work must start within six months, and new residential structures must sit at least two feet above the base flood elevation. Violators face fines up to $2,000 per day.
Fort Worth Floodplain Development Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsFort Worth City Code § 7-318
A floodplain development permit shall be required to ensure compliance with the provisions of this article. No structure or land in an area of special flood hazard shall hereafter be located, altered, have its use changed, or otherwise be developed unless a floodplain development permit has been issued, pursuant to the terms of this floodplain article. Proposed work must be started within six m...
Boat Dock Permits
Anyone building, enlarging or moving a dock, pier or boathouse on Fort Worth-controlled water, chiefly Lake Worth, needs a permit under Chapter 36 of the Building Administrative Code before work starts. The Lake Worth Management Office reviews plans, the Water Department controls variances on safety-related sections, and a licensed engineer must design the structure to specific wave-action and anchoring load standards.
Fort Worth Boat Dock and Pier Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsFort Worth Building Administrative Code, Ch. 36 §§ 3601, 3601.1, 3603 (City Code § 7-1)
3601 General. The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to any body of water within the corporate limits of Fort Worth that is under the jurisdiction and control of the City of Fort Worth. ... 3601.1 Variances/Water Department Release. Lake Worth is owned by the City of Fort Worth. The Fort Worth Water Department has the charge for the safety of the water, as well as, safe usage of the water s...
Vehicle Idling Restrictions
Fort Worth sits inside the Dallas-Fort Worth ozone nonattainment area, so TCEQ Rule 30 TAC 114.512 caps heavy-duty diesel idling at five consecutive minutes. The city has no separate municipal idling ordinance and defers enforcement to TCEQ.
Heavy Diesel Idling Capped at Five Minutes Under TCEQ Rule
Light RestrictionsTex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 382.0191
Sec. 382.0191. IDLING OF MOTOR VEHICLE. (a) In this section, "idling" means allowing an engine to run while the motor vehicle is not engaged in forward or reverse motion.(b) The commission may not prohibit or limit the idling of any motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 8,500 pounds that is equipped with a 2008 or subsequent model year heavy-duty diesel engine or liq...
Cool Roof Requirements
Fort Worth's adopted International Energy Conservation Code, with local amendments, requires reflective roofing or compliant alternatives on most low-slope commercial roofs and sets reflectivity options for residential reroof projects. The provisions support Climate Action Plan heat-island goals.
Fort Worth Energy Code Adopts IECC Reflective Roofing Provisions
Light RestrictionsTex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 388.003
Sec. 388.003. ADOPTION OF BUILDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. (a) To achieve energy conservation in single-family residential construction, the energy efficiency chapter of the International Residential Code, as it existed on May 1, 2001, is adopted as the energy code in this state for single-family residential construction. On September 1, 2016, the energy efficiency chapter ...
Flood Elevation Requirements
Fort Worth requires new and substantially improved homes to raise their lowest floor at least two feet above the base flood elevation, not just meet it. The Transportation and Public Works Director enforces the standard through the floodplain development permit.
Fort Worth Base Flood Elevation Freeboard Rule
Some RestrictionsFort Worth City Code § 7-347(a)
New construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure shall have the lowest floor (including basement, finished garage, and machinery or equipment servicing the building), elevated at least two feet above the fully developed base flood elevation or the FEMA regulatory base flood elevation, whichever is greater. A registered public land surveyor or professional engineer shall...
Looking for Tarrant County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Fort Worth city rules.
Environmental Rules in Tarrant County →