SWPPP Services
in Houston, TX

Is a SWPPP required in Texas?

Yes, once a job disturbs one acre or more, or is part of a larger common plan, and drains to state waters. From 1 to under 5 acres, you need the SWPPP, a posted site notice and a copy to the City or county. At 5 acres or more, the operator also files a Notice of Intent through TCEQ's STEERS system. Under one acre in Houston, there is no state plan, but the City still expects controls on every site. See our erosion control page for the physical controls the plan requires.

Who is the SWPPP operator, and who files the NOI?

The permit names two operators. The primary operator has day-to-day control of the site or control over the plans, usually the general contractor. The secondary operator is often the owner. The primary operator files the NOI, and the secondary posts its own notice. If there is no primary operator, the secondary becomes the primary. When the GC changes mid-job, the new contractor files its own NOI at least 10 days before taking over. In Texas these filings go through TCEQ's STEERS system. EPA's eNOI only covers tribal land here. Our site preparation crew mobilizes once the notices are in place.

How often do SWPPP inspections have to happen?

The plan picks one schedule. Inspect every 14 days plus within 24 hours of a half-inch rain, or inspect every 7 days no matter the weather. Several small showers that add up to half an inch in a day count as one storm. Stabilized areas are checked at least monthly. The schedule can change once per calendar month, with the reason written down. Each report is written within 24 hours, and fixes go in before the next rain when possible.

Who can do SWPPP inspections, and how long are records kept?

Texas does not require a certified inspector or an engineer's stamp on the plan. TCEQ asks for inspectors who know the permit, the site and the plan. Their names and qualifications are listed in the SWPPP, and each report is signed under TCEQ's rules. Records stay on file for at least 3 years after the Notice of Termination or site notice removal. Some inspectors hold voluntary credentials like CESSWI or CPESC, though the state does not require them.

What does the City of Houston check, and what are the penalties?

Inside the city, stormwater inspectors drop by unannounced. They look for the TCEQ site notice at the gate and ask for the SWPPP. The City wants a copy of the NOI or notice at least two days before earth disturbance. A first visit that finds a problem brings a Notice of Violation, and citations follow if it is ignored. TCEQ fines can reach $25,000 a day for each violation. Repeat, avoidable violations that release harmful pollution can reach $40,000 a day. The City's storm water quality permit is a separate, permanent permit for the finished site's water features, handled by the design engineer. Those features can tie into our detention and retention pond work.

How much does a SWPPP cost, and when does it end?

Price depends on the job. The drivers are acres, small versus large site, the number of phases and operators, the inspection schedule and the project length. Sediment basin needs and the amount of corrective work also move the price. The NOI filing fee is TCEQ's own charge, listed at $225 for an online filing at last check. Coverage ends at final stabilization, with 70 percent of native cover grown back, and the Notice of Termination or notice removal is filed within 30 days. Ask for a free line-item estimate and we will price every part on its own line.