Environmental Rules in Grand Prairie, TX (2026)
5 verified environmental rules for Grand Prairie, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Grand Prairie bans discharging anything but stormwater into its municipal storm sewer system. City Code § 13-605 lists specific prohibited pollutants, from used motor oil and industrial waste to livestock runoff and construction sediment, while § 13-606 requires a stormwater pollution prevention plan and TPDES permit before land-disturbing construction begins.
Grand Prairie Stormwater Discharge Rules
Some RestrictionsGrand Prairie Code of Ordinances § 13-605
(a) No user of the MS4 shall introduce or cause to be introduced into the MS4 any discharge that would result in or contribute to a violation of a water quality standard, the TPDES permit issued to the city, or any state-issued discharge permit for discharges from its MS4. (b) No person shall discharge any substance to the MS4 that is prohibited by the Clean Water Act, the Texas Water Code or t...
Erosion Control
Grand Prairie bars any construction-related stormwater discharge until the operator has a TPDES permit (when applicable) and a city-accepted stormwater pollution prevention plan on file. Sec. 13-606 requires best management practices, an erosion control plan under the city drainage design manual, and regular site inspections for every land-disturbing project.
Grand Prairie Erosion & Sediment Control Rules
Some RestrictionsGrand Prairie Code of Ordinances § 13-606
(a)No person shall discharge stormwater associated with a construction activity without first having obtained a TPDES permit to do so, when applicable.(b)No person shall discharge stormwater associated with a construction activity without first having submitted a fully executed electronic version of a stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWP3) for review and acceptance, a copy of the notice of...
Flood Zones
Grand Prairie requires a Floodplain Development Permit from the Stormwater Department before any structure, fill, or land-use change occurs inside a FEMA-mapped Special Flood Hazard Area. The city adopted the Tarrant, Dallas, Ellis and Johnson County Flood Insurance Studies and their Flood Insurance Rate Maps by reference, and Unified Development Code Article 15 sets the permit, floodway-encroachment and floodproofing standards enforced citywide and in the extraterritorial jurisdiction.
Grand Prairie Floodplain Development Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsGrand Prairie Unified Development Code art. 15, §§ 15.6.1, 15.15.1
15.6.1 The SFHAs include: A. The areas of special flood hazard identified by FEMA in the current scientific and engineering report entitled, "The Flood Insurance Study (FIS) for Tarrant County, Texas and Incorporated Areas," dated March 21, 2019, with accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) dated March 21, 2019 and any revisions thereto are hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a...
Vehicle Idling Restrictions
Grand Prairie bars idling a motor vehicle's primary engine for more than five consecutive minutes while parked under Code Sec. 13-83, a rule aimed at heavy trucks and buses rather than passenger cars. Vehicles under 14,000 pounds, clean-diesel engines, emergency vehicles, and drivers using a sleeper berth for mandated rest are exempt; violators face a fine of up to $500 per offense.
Grand Prairie Motor Vehicle Idling Limit
Some RestrictionsGrand Prairie Code of Ordinances § 13-83(b)-(d)
(b)Idling prohibited. A person commits an offense if he causes, suffers, allows, or permits the primary propulsion engine of a motor vehicle to idle for more than five (5) consecutive minutes when the motor vehicle is not in motion.(c)Defenses. It is a defense to prosecution under this section that:(1)The motor vehicle has a gross vehicle weight rating of fourteen thousand (14,000) pounds or le...
Flood Elevation Requirements
Any new home or business built in a mapped Grand Prairie floodplain must set its lowest floor at least one foot above the fully-developed base flood elevation, or two feet above FEMA's mapped 100-year BFE, whichever is higher, under UDC § 15.18.1. A registered Texas engineer or surveyor certifies the elevation to the City's Floodplain Administrator before the project closes out.
Grand Prairie Flood Elevation Freeboard Rule
Some RestrictionsGrand Prairie UDC Art. 15, § 15.18.1
15.18.1 In all SFHAs where base flood elevations data has been provided as set forth in this Article, the following provisions are required: A. Residential Construction - New construction and substantial improvements of any residential structure shall have the lowest floor elevation (including basement) be the greater of one foot above the base flood elevation (BFE) for fully developed conditio...
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