Environmental Rules in Nueces County, TX (2026)
4 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Nueces County, Texas.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Any subdivision plat filed in unincorporated Nueces County must include storm water drainage facilities engineered to Table VI-6's design storm frequencies. The Department of Public Works reviews the design, and drainage easements along natural waterways must run at least 30 feet wide before the Commissioners Court will approve the plat.
Stormwater Drainage Design Rules in Nueces County
Some RestrictionsNueces County Subdivision Regulations, § VI-4.1
Storm water drainage facilities shall be designed and constructed to accommodate the design storm event shown in Table VI-6. ... The storm water drainage facilities shall be designed to: (a) Account for both on-site and off-site storm water, including water entering the subdivision. (b) Honor natural drainage divides. (c) Convey storm water to a stream, channel, or drainageway. (d) Discharge th...
Erosion Control
New subdivisions in unincorporated Nueces County must divert erosive sheet flow to a stable outlet or detention facility, and open drainage channels cannot exceed a 4-foot-per-second design velocity in grass-lined sections unless erosion control measures are built into the channel design.
Erosion Control for Subdivision Drainage in Nueces County
Some RestrictionsNueces County Subdivision Regulations, § VI-4.2(b), VI-4.8
Unconcentrated sheet flow which may cause erosion or sedimentation shall be diverted to a stable outlet or detention facility. ... VI – 4.8 Open Channels. The channels shall be designed to provide a minimum of six (6) inches of freeboard when conveying the design storm. The channel side slopes should be sloped at 3:1 (Horizontal to Vertical) or flatter. For grass-lined channels the maximum desi...
Flood Zones
Unincorporated Nueces County requires a Development Permit before any structure, fill, or land-use change occurs within a mapped area of special flood hazard. The Commissioners Court's Flood Plain Ordinance, administered by the County Engineer as Floodplain Administrator, bars construction, alteration, or use changes on flood-hazard land without full compliance, and violators face civil penalties up to $200 per day.
Floodplain Development Permits in Nueces County
Some RestrictionsNueces County Flood Plain Ordinance (2022), Art. 3 §§ A, C & D
ARTICLE 3 GENERAL PROVISIONS SECTION A LANDS TO WHICH THIS ORDINANCE APPLIES The ordinance shall apply to all areas of special flood hazard with the jurisdiction of Nueces County. ... SECTION C ESTABLISHMENT OF DEVELOPMENT PERMIT A Development Permit shall be required to ensure conformance with the provisions of this ordinance. SECTION D COMPLIANCE No structure or land shall hereafter be locate...
Flood Elevation Requirements
In unincorporated Nueces County, new and substantially improved residential structures in a mapped flood hazard area must have their lowest floor, including any basement, elevated to or above the base flood elevation. A registered engineer, architect, or land surveyor must certify compliance to the county's Floodplain Administrator before the permit closes.
Base Flood Elevation Rules in Nueces County
Some RestrictionsNueces County Flood Plain Ordinance (2022), Art. 5 § B(1)
SECTION B SPECIFIC STANDARDS In all areas of special flood hazards where base flood elevation data has been provided as set forth in (i) Article 3, Section B, (ii) Article 4, Section B (8), or (iii) Article 5, Section C (3), the following provisions are required: (1) Residential Construction - new construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure shall have the lowest floor ...
Environmental Rules by City in Nueces County
1 cities in Nueces County have their own environmental rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Nueces County ordinances
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