Harlingen, TX Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Max lot grading slope
- 4:1
- Drainage report requires
- hydrology + hydraulic calcs
- Watercourse buffer
- high bank + 20 ft each side
- Code violation fine
- up to $500 per violation
- Reviewing official
- city engineer / public works director
Summary
Harlingen requires every new subdivision plat to include an engineered drainage plan with hydrology and hydraulic calculations, and caps lot grading at a 4:1 slope before the city will approve or record the plat.
Proposed lot grading shall produce a top of ground slope no steeper than 4:1. ... Drainage facilities shall be provided and constructed as specified by the director of public works, and/or the city engineer. ... The proposed subdivision must have drainage plans. The drainage report must include detailed hydrology, hydraulic calculations, flood plain data, soils data, and other data as required by the city engineer.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4546847; v3 updated 2025-07-16).
Full Breakdown
The city engineer or director of public works must sign off on a drainage plan before a subdivision plat can be recorded in Harlingen. The drainage report has to include detailed hydrology, hydraulic calculations, floodplain data, soils data, and a drainage area map showing anticipated stormwater flow in cubic feet per second. Where a watercourse crosses the tract, the developer must dedicate public right-of-way covering the high bank plus 20 feet on each side. Proposed lot grading is capped at a top slope of 4:1. This isn't optional design guidance, it's a prerequisite the engineering department checks before a plat can be recorded.
Violations & Fines
Harlingen Code of Ordinances § 1-7 makes violating any Code provision, including unapproved grading or a deficient drainage plan, punishable by a fine of up to $500 per violation, and noncompliant plats are simply not recorded.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Harlingen issue a separate grading permit?
What must a Harlingen drainage report include?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Harlingen
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Harlingen to another location·View the Texas environmental rules overview
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Erosion Control in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle erosion control.