Garland, TX Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Baseline rule
- MS4 discharges must be stormwater only
- Administering official
- Managing Director of Engineering & Street Services
- Max criminal fine
- $2,000.00 per violation, per day
- Enforcement tools
- Cease-and-desist orders, construction-site 'red tags'
- Classification
- Class C misdemeanor
Summary
Garland bans discharging anything but stormwater into its municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4), covering everything from used motor oil to pool water and construction sediment. A short list of narrow affirmative defenses exists, like firefighting flows or uncontaminated groundwater, but the City can void any defense once it identifies the discharge as a pollutant source, under § 31.171.
No person shall introduce or cause to be introduced into the municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) any discharge that is not composed entirely of stormwater. It is an affirmative defense to any enforcement action for violation of subsection (A) of this section that the discharge was composed entirely of one or more of the following categories of discharges: (1) A discharge authorized by, and in full compliance with, an NPDES/TPDES permit (other than the NPDES/TPDES permit for discharges from the MS4). (2) A discharge or flow resulting from firefighting. ... No affirmative defense shall be available under subsection (B) of this section if the discharge or flow in question has been determined by the City to be a source of a pollutant or pollutants to the waters of the United States or to the MS4, and written notice of such determination has been provided to the discharger.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4862189; v40 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
171(A) sets the City's baseline rule for the MS4: no discharge may enter it unless it is composed entirely of stormwater. Subsection (B) then lists the only recognized affirmative defenses, covering things like permitted NPDES/TPDES discharges, firefighting flows, agricultural stormwater runoff, water-line flushing without chlorine contamination, lawn and landscape irrigation water, diverted streams or natural springs, uncontaminated groundwater or sump-pump flow, potable-water tank cleaning without harmful residue, unmixed air-conditioning condensate, residential or charity car washing, riparian or wetland flows, uncontaminated street-washing water, and uncontaminated roof runoff.
171(C)). 172 then lists specific bans layered on top of the general rule, prohibiting used motor oil or antifreeze, industrial or hazardous waste, sewage or grease-trap waste, commercial vehicle-wash or aircraft-cleaning wastewater, swimming pool or spa water and filter backwash, ready-mix concrete or asphalt residue, petroleum storage tank releases, and any sediment from construction or grading beyond what erosion controls can retain on site. 170).
Violations & Fines
Violating the stormwater discharge rules is a class C misdemeanor under Texas Local Government Code § 54.012(5) as implemented by § 31.180, punishable by a fine of not more than $2,000.00 per violation, per day. Knowingly falsifying a required application, report, or monitoring record carries the same $2,000.00-per-day exposure, and the City can also pursue civil penalties, injunctive relief, emergency cease-and-desist orders, and construction-site 'red tags' under §§ 31.178-31.180.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can't legally go into a Garland storm drain?
Is there any legal excuse for a non-stormwater discharge into Garland's MS4?
How much can the City fine a stormwater violation in Garland?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Garland
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Garland to another location·View the Texas environmental rules overview
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Stormwater Management in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dallas County handle stormwater management.