Guadalupe County, TX Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- General Grading
- No county permit
- Floodplain Fill
- Permit required
- Cities
- Seguin, Schertz set own rules
- Runoff
- Cannot divert onto neighbors
Summary
Texas counties cannot zone, so unincorporated Guadalupe County has no general grading ordinance. Placing fill or altering drainage inside a mapped floodplain still requires a county floodplain development permit under state floodplain law.
All political subdivisions are hereby authorized to take all necessary and reasonable actions that are not less stringent than the requirements and criteria of the National Flood Insurance Program, including but not limited to:
Full Breakdown
Outside the floodplain, unincorporated Guadalupe County does not require grading or drainage permits, because Texas counties lack general land-use authority. Inside FEMA-mapped floodplains along the Guadalupe River, Cibolo Creek, and their tributaries, grading, fill, and drainage changes require a floodplain development permit so the county can confirm the work does not raise the base flood elevation on adjacent land - a critical check in Flash Flood Alley. Subdivision plats reviewed by the county must show drainage that does not divert concentrated runoff onto neighboring tracts. Within Seguin, Schertz, Cibolo, and other incorporated cities, the city engineering department administers grading and drainage rules instead.
Violations & Fines
Diverting concentrated stormwater onto a neighbor can create civil liability for drainage damage. Grading or filling in the floodplain without a permit triggers county enforcement and required restoration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Guadalupe County require a grading permit?
Can I regrade my lot to drain toward my neighbor?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Guadalupe County
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Guadalupe County to another location·View the Texas environmental rules overview
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