Farmersville, TX Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 65-49, Code of Ordinances
- Design approval
- Licensed engineer + city engineer sign-off
- Ditch/channel alteration
- Written city engineer permission required
- Max fine
- $2,000 per offense (§ 65-12)
- Applies in
- City limits and ETJ
Summary
In Farmersville, every storm water collection system must be designed by a licensed professional engineer and approved by the city engineer under Code of Ordinances § 65-49, and no one may alter a drainage ditch, channel or stream without the city engineer's written permission.
(a)System design requirements. Drainage improvements shall accommodate runoff from the upstream drainage area in its anticipated maximum "build-out" condition, and shall be designed to prevent overloading the capacity of the downstream drainage system. The city may require the phasing of development, the use of control methods such as retention or detention, or the construction of off-site drainage improvements in order to mitigate the impact of the proposed development. No storm water collection system shall be constructed unless it is designed in accordance with the city's design manual and standard construction details by a licensed professional engineer, and unless it is reviewed and approved by the city engineer. ... (c)Permission required. No person, individual, partnership, firm or corporation shall deepen, widen, fill, reclaim, reroute or change the course or location of any existing ditch, channel, stream or drainage way without first obtaining written permission of the city engineer and any other applicable agency (such as FEMA or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) having jurisdiction.
Full Breakdown
Farmersville's subdivision ordinance requires drainage improvements to handle the anticipated maximum "build-out" runoff from the upstream area without overloading the downstream system. Under § 65-49(a), the city may require phased development, retention or detention facilities, or off-site drainage improvements to mitigate a project's impact, and no storm water collection system may be built unless a licensed professional engineer designs it to the city's design manual and standard construction details and the city engineer reviews and approves the plans, including a full drainage layout and design calculations.
S. Army Corps of Engineers. The city engineer may also require a flood study, paid for by the developer, when storm drainage concerns arise on, above or below the property. Section 65-49(e) bars cross-street flow of runoff unless the city engineer approves it and it crosses on a concrete valley gutter, and § 65-49(f) requires above-ground retention and detention facilities to be maintained by a homeowners association. These rules were re-enacted by Ord. No. 2018-0508-002, § 3, adopted May 8, 2018, and apply within the city limits and its extraterritorial jurisdiction.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 65's general enforcement section, § 65-12, makes any violation of the subdivision chapter, including the drainage provisions in § 65-49, a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $2,000.00 per offense, with each day of continuing violation counted as a separate offense. The city may also pursue civil action to restrain, correct or abate a violation, whether the land lies inside the city limits or within its extraterritorial jurisdiction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to alter a drainage ditch on my Farmersville property?
Who has to design a new storm water system in a Farmersville subdivision?
What happens if my development's runoff would overload downstream drainage?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Farmersville
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Stormwater Management in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Collin County handle stormwater management.