Carrollton, TX Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- Code of Ordinances Ch. 173, adopted 2009
- Core rule
- No non-stormwater discharge to MS4
- Enforcing official
- Designated City Official (City Manager designee)
- Criminal penalty
- Misdemeanor under § 10.99
- Civil penalty
- Max civil penalty allowed, per day
- Reconsideration window
- 15 calendar days to petition DCO
Summary
Carrollton bans any discharge into the municipal storm sewer system (MS4) that is not composed entirely of stormwater under City Code § 173.03(A). A separate clause bars any "harmful quantity" of any substance from reaching the MS4, and only seventeen narrow categories, like uncontaminated groundwater or emergency firefighting flows, count as an affirmative defense.
(A) No person may dispose of, or release, or introduce or cause to be introduced into the MS4 a discharge that is not composed entirely of stormwater. ... (E) No person may dispose of, release, introduce or cause to be introduced into the MS4 any harmful quantity of any substance.
Full Breakdown
03(A)). 04(C) lists thirty specifically banned substances that may not reach the MS4 or a water body, including motor vehicle fluids, hazardous waste, carwash and vehicle-maintenance wastewater, pool or spa water without proof of dechlorination, concrete washout, paint, and dewatering discharge unless managed by best management practices. 26). 25). 03(C)).
Violations & Fines
Violating Chapter 173 is a misdemeanor punishable under § 10.99 for each act and for every day the violation continues (§ 173.28(A)). The city may separately pursue civil penalties "to the maximum civil penalty allowed by law, per violation, per day" plus attorneys' fees, court costs, and cleanup expenses (§ 173.27), and can recover an administrative fee equal to half the assessed cleanup cost. Remedies are cumulative and non-exclusive (§ 173.29).
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as an illegal discharge into Carrollton storm drains?
Can I still wash my car in the driveway?
Who enforces the stormwater ordinance in Carrollton?
What happens if I get cited for a stormwater violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Carrollton
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Stormwater Management in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dallas County handle stormwater management.