Leander, TX Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing system
- Municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4)
- Adopted
- Ord. No. 23-009-00, effective Feb. 2, 2023
- Banned examples
- Motor oil, hazardous waste, garbage, concrete washout
- Construction trigger
- SWPPP required at 1+ acre disturbed
- Max penalty
- $2,000/day criminal, plus up to $5,000/day civil
Summary
Leander bans discharging anything but stormwater or authorized non-stormwater flows into its municipal storm sewer system, naming motor oil, hazardous waste, wastewater, garbage and yard debris among the prohibited pollutants, with fines up to $2,000 a day plus state civil penalties.
Sec. 6.07.023. - Discharge prohibitions. (a)Prohibition of illegal discharges. No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged into the municipal storm sewer system (MS4) or conveyances any materials, including but not limited to pollutants or waters containing any pollutants that cause or contribute to a violation of applicable water quality standards, other than stormwater or authorized non-stormwater discharges. ... (c)Specific prohibitions. (2) No person shall dump, spill, leak, pump, pour, emit, empty, discharge, leach, dispose, or otherwise introduce or cause, allow, or permit to be introduced any of the following substances into the MS4 or conveyances: ... (F)Any garbage, trash, or yard waste, including brush, leaves, grass clippings, or other yard waste previously gathered for disposal.
Full Breakdown
07 of the Leander Code of Ordinances, the Stormwater Pollution Control Ordinance adopted February 2, 2023, governs everything that reaches the city's municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) within Williamson County city limits. Sec. " Subsection (c) lists specific banned substances, including sediment or soil from construction and grading, motor oil and other vehicle fluids, industrial waste, hazardous materials including household hazardous waste, wastewater or septic and grease-trap waste, garbage, trash and gathered yard waste, commercial car wash washwater, and ready-mix concrete or asphalt residue.
Subsection (b) exempts a defined list of naturally occurring or low-risk flows, such as landscape irrigation runoff, air-conditioning condensation, dechlorinated pool water under one part per million chlorine, and firefighting activities. Sec. 023(d) separately bans illicit physical connections to the MS4, including sewage lines, whether made recently or in the past. Construction sites disturbing an acre or more must file a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan approved by the city engineer before work begins (Sec. 061), and every commercial or multifamily stormwater facility owner must have it inspected annually and keep the report on file (Sec.
063). The city manager or a designated director administers the article, can suspend a violator's MS4 access without prior notice in an emergency (Sec. 024), and can issue notices of violation, mandatory compliance orders, or emergency cease-and-desist orders (Sec. 029).
Violations & Fines
Sec. 6.07.032 sets a maximum criminal fine of $2,000 per day for each day a violation continues, on top of which the state's Local Government Code ch. 54 allows a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per day. Each violation and each day it continues is a separate offense, and the city may also seek injunctive relief and recover abatement and remediation costs as a lien against the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hose oil or antifreeze into a Leander storm drain?
Is washing my car in the driveway illegal under Leander's stormwater rule?
When does a Leander construction site need a stormwater pollution prevention plan?
What's the penalty for an illegal discharge into Leander's storm sewer?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Leander
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Stormwater Management in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Williamson County handle stormwater management.