Shenandoah, TX Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger for SWPPP duty
- 1+ acre disturbed
- NOI filing deadline
- 7 days before construction
- Inspection frequency
- Every 14 days, plus after 0.5in storms
- Record retention
- 3 years after final stabilization
- City leverage
- Can withhold permits/certificate of occupancy
Summary
Shenandoah, Texas requires every construction site to use best management practices controlling sediment and soil runoff into the storm sewer system, and sites disturbing one acre or more must file a TPDES notice of intent, prepare a storm water pollution prevention plan, and inspect the site every 14 days. The city can withhold building permits or certificates of occupancy for noncompliance.
All operators of construction sites shall use best management practices to control and reduce the discharge, to the MS4 and to waters of the United States, of sediment, silt, earth, soil and other material associated with the clearing, grading, excavation, and other construction activities to the maximum extent practicable. ... Any operator who intends to obtain coverage for storm water discharges from a construction site under the TPDES general permit for storm water discharges from construction sites ("the storm water quality permit") shall submit a signed copy of its notice of intent (NOi) to the city engineer at least seven days prior to the commencement of any construction activities.
Full Breakdown
Shenandoah Code of Ordinances Sec. 75-180 requires all operators of construction sites to use best management practices to control and reduce the discharge of sediment, silt, earth, soil, and other material from clearing, grading, and excavation into the city's storm sewer system, to the maximum extent practicable. Listed practices include stabilizing disturbed soil with seeding or mulching, diverting flows away from exposed soil, minimizing sediment tracking off-site by vehicles, and providing secondary containment for portable fuel tanks. Sec. 5 inches or more. Contractors and subcontractors named in the SWPPP must sign a certification statement, and records of inspections and the SWPPP itself must be kept for at least three years after the site is finally stabilized.
Both sections were added by Ord. No. O-21-026 on November 17, 2021, within Chapter 75's storm water article. The city engineer or storm water manager may deny or withhold a building permit, grading permit, certificate of occupancy, subdivision plat, or site development plan approval if the required best management practices or SWPPP are not being properly implemented, giving the city direct leverage over active construction sites within Shenandoah's corporate limits in Montgomery County.
Violations & Fines
Failing to implement required best management practices, or to file a timely NOI and maintain a SWPPP on a site disturbing one acre or more, exposes an operator to denial or withholding of building permits, grading permits, or certificates of occupancy under Sec. 75-181(3), plus the misdemeanor penalties of $250.00 to $2,000.00 per day under Sec. 75-220.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does a Shenandoah construction site need a storm water pollution prevention plan?
How often must a Shenandoah construction site be inspected for erosion control?
Can Shenandoah stop construction over an erosion control violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Shenandoah
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Erosion Control in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Montgomery County handle erosion control.