Cedar Hill, TX Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Requirement
- Engineered drainage plans required for new development
- Requirement
- iSWM criteria used for detention and water quality sizing
- Requirement
- Cannot fill or block recorded drainage swales/easements
- Federal Basis
- Retaining walls over 4 ft require building permit
- Requirement
- Discharge cannot exceed pre-development peak rate
Summary
Cedar Hill requires engineered drainage plans for new development and prohibits altering lot grading in a way that diverts stormwater onto neighboring properties or blocks established drainage patterns.
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:(1) require a right-of-way on a street or road that functions as a main artery in a subdivision, of a width of not less than 50 feet or more than 100 feet;(2) require a right-of-way on any other street or road in a subdivision of not less than 40 feet or more than 70 feet;(3) require that the shoulder-to-shoulder width on collectors or main arteries within the right-of-way be not less than 32 feet or more than 56 feet, and that the shoulder-to-shoulder width on any other street or road be not less than 25 feet or more than 35 feet;(4) adopt, base
Full Breakdown
Cedar Hill's drainage ordinance and engineering design manual require that new subdivisions, commercial sites, and significant residential additions submit a grading and drainage plan demonstrating that runoff is conveyed to a public drainage system, easement, or detention facility without increasing peak discharge to downstream lots. The city follows the iSWM (Integrated Stormwater Management) criteria common in North Texas for sizing detention and water quality features. Homeowners may not regrade lots, fill swales, or build retaining walls that obstruct the drainage pattern shown on the recorded subdivision plat. Lot-to-lot drainage disputes are common civil matters; the city enforces only when public drainage easements or recorded patterns are altered. Permits are required for retaining walls over 4 feet in height.
Violations & Fines
Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact Cedar Hill code enforcement directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my Cedar Hill neighbor regrade and flood my yard?
Do I need a permit to install a French drain?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cedar Hill
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Erosion Control in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dallas County handle erosion control.