Universal City, TX Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit threshold
- 50 cubic yards
- Code basis
- IBC Appendix J
- Foundation slope
- 5 percent for 10 feet
- Retaining wall threshold
- 4 feet
- Neighbor discharge
- Prohibited
Summary
Universal City requires grading permits for projects moving over 50 cubic yards of soil and mandates drainage plans that preserve sheet flow and avoid concentrating runoff onto neighbors.
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: ... (5) adopt reasonable specifications to provide adequate drainage for each street or road in a subdivision in accordance with standard engineering practices; ... (8) adopt reasonable specifications that provide for drainage in the subdivision to:(A) efficiently manage the flow of stormwater runoff in the subdivision; and(B) coordinate subdivision drainage with the general storm drainage pattern for the area; and(9) require lot and block monumentation to be set by a registered professional surveyor before recordation of the plat.
Full Breakdown
Universal City regulates grading and drainage under its subdivision and building ordinances adopting the International Building Code Appendix J. Projects involving over 50 cubic yards of cut or fill, or altering drainage patterns on a lot, require a grading permit and an engineered drainage plan. All new construction must preserve historic drainage patterns so runoff does not concentrate or discharge onto adjacent properties in a manner that causes damage. Finished grade within 10 feet of a foundation must slope away at 5 percent minimum to protect structural integrity. Drainage swales, downspout extensions, and surface drains must connect to approved outfalls such as streets, drainage easements, or detention facilities. Retaining walls over 4 feet tall require engineering and permits under IBC Chapter 18.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to regrade my yard?
Can water from my roof drain onto my neighbors yard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Universal City
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Erosion Control in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Bexar County handle erosion control.