Wichita Falls, TX Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit needed for
- cutting or filling land
- Enforcing agency
- Building Code Administrator
- Small-fill exemption
- under 50 cubic yards, under 1 ft
- Plans must show
- contours, drainage channels, runoff
- Governing sections
- § 22-638, § 22-639, § 22-645
Summary
Wichita Falls requires a grading permit for most cutting or filling of land, with engineered drainage and terracing required to keep runoff off neighboring property.
No person shall do any grading without first having obtained a grading permit from the building code administrator except for the following: ... (8) A fill less than one foot in depth, and placed on natural terrain with a slope flatter than five horizontal to one vertical, or less than three feet in depth, not intended to support structures, which does not exceed 50 cubic yards on any one lot and does not obstruct a drainage course.
Full Breakdown
Under City Code § 22-638, no one may grade land (cut or fill) without a permit from the building code administrator, unless the work falls under a narrow list of exemptions: small excavations under two feet deep, minor fills under 50 cubic yards that don't block a drainage course, utility trenches, and similar minor work. Section 22-639 requires an application with plans showing existing contours, drainage channels, and runoff estimates, plus a soil engineering report when the administrator requires one. Cuts and fills must include drainage and terracing under § 22-645, and hazardous excavations or fills must be corrected on the administrator's written notice under § 22-641.
Violations & Fines
Grading without a permit is enforced by the building code administrator, who can require correction or elimination of a noncompliant excavation, fill, or drainage hazard on written notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to regrade my yard in Wichita Falls?
What must a grading permit application include?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wichita Falls
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