Shenandoah, TX Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing division
- Ch. 75, Art. III, Storm Water
- Base rule
- Sec. 75-150, storm water only into MS4
- Misdemeanor fine range
- $250.00 to $2,000.00 per violation
- Dumpster overflow fine
- Up to $250.00
- Enforcing official
- City storm water manager
Summary
Shenandoah, Texas bars anyone from introducing anything other than storm water into its municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4), naming motor oil, industrial waste, sewage, and dumpster overflow among the prohibited discharges. Violators face a misdemeanor fine between $250.00 and $2,000.00 per day under the city's storm water ordinance.
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 storm water. ... Any person who violates any provision of this ordinance shall be guilty of a misdemeanor offence and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not less than $250.00 nor more than $2,000.00 for each violation. Each day in which any violation shall occur shall constitute a separate offense.
Full Breakdown
Shenandoah Code of Ordinances Sec. 75-150 sets the city's general prohibition: 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 storm water, subject to narrow affirmative defenses such as firefighting flows, lawn-watering runoff, and uncontaminated groundwater. Sec. 75-160 then lists specific prohibited discharges, including motor oil, antifreeze, industrial waste, hazardous waste, sewage, and wastewater from commercial car washes or pressure washing. 00. The article, added by Ord. No. O-21-026 on November 17, 2021, is enforced by the city's storm water manager, the city administrator or a designee, who can inspect properties, issue notices of non-compliance, and, under Sec.
75-210, issue cease-and-desist orders when a violation threatens imminent harm to the MS4 or waters of the United States. Judicial enforcement under Sec. 00 per violation, with each day of a continuing violation a separate offense. Because the article governs the city's own storm sewer system, it applies within Shenandoah's corporate limits in Montgomery County and is separate from any drainage rule maintained by neighboring The Woodlands Township.
Violations & Fines
Introducing anything other than storm water into Shenandoah's MS4, including motor oil, sewage, industrial waste, or an overflowing dumpster, is a misdemeanor under Sec. 75-220, punishable by a fine of $250.00 to $2,000.00 per violation, with each day a separate offense. A poorly maintained dumpster alone can draw a fine of up to $250.00 under Sec. 75-160(3)(f)2.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can't I dump into Shenandoah's storm drains?
What is the penalty for a storm water violation in Shenandoah?
Do dumpster rules count as a storm water violation in Shenandoah?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Shenandoah
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Shenandoah to another location·View the Texas environmental rules overview
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Stormwater Management in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Montgomery County handle stormwater management.