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Fort Bend County, TX Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

Light Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Plans required
Subdivisions and large sites
FFE rule
Above top-of-curb minimum
Reviewer
Engineering / Drainage District
Certification
Lot grading at completion

Summary

Fort Bend County requires lot grading and drainage plans for new subdivisions and many site developments, ensuring positive drainage and downstream protection.

City-specific rules exist: Rosenberg, Stafford, Sugar Land, Fulshear, and Katy have their own erosion control rules that differ from Fort Bend County's county-level regulations. If you live in one of those cities, check the city-specific page instead.

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 o

Source: City of FortbendcountyView official code

Full Breakdown

Under the county's Regulations of Subdivisions and the Drainage Criteria Manual, applicants must submit grading and drainage plans demonstrating positive lot drainage, swale design, finished floor elevations relative to top-of-curb, and protection of adjacent properties. Engineering reviews proposed cut/fill, slope stability, and conveyance to outfalls. Lot-grading certifications are typically required prior to final acceptance of subdivision improvements and certificate of occupancy in many cases.

Violations & Fines

Improper grading that ponds water on neighbors or alters subdivision drainage can trigger enforcement, required regrading, and denial of building inspections until corrected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a grading plan to add fill on my acreage?
Substantial fill, especially in or near floodplains or that affects neighbor drainage, requires county engineering review. Small landscaping changes typically do not.
Who certifies that final grading meets the plan?
A licensed engineer or surveyor typically certifies finished lot grades against the approved plan before final subdivision acceptance.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Fort Bend County

All Fort Bend County rules

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