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Texas Local Compliance

City of Lubbock

At AQUALIS, we know Lubbock's sustainable water compliance standards and manage regulator relations for our clients.

It is our mission to help you become compliant with these stormwater, wastewater and drinking water regulations through inspections, maintenance, repairs and rehabilitation services. As your water compliance provider, we handle the regulatory guidelines specific to Lubbock, Texas and ensure that our services meet the highest compliant procedures to keep you in compliance with local regulators.

Last Updated 07/29/2026

Excerpt from Lubbock Municipal Code

Article 22.11 Stormwater Regulations

(f) No person shall introduce or cause to be introduced into the MS4 any harmful quantity of concrete, asphalt, sediment, silt, earth, soil, or other material associated with clearing, grading, excavation or other construction activities in excess of what could be retained on site or captured by employing sediment and erosion control measures to the maximum extent practicable.

(g) No person shall connect a line conveying sanitary sewage, domestic or industrial, to the MS4, or allow such a connection to continue.

22.11.036 Facility inspection for stormwater discharges.

(a) Applicability for industrial and construction activity.

(1) This section applies to all facilities and construction sites located within the city limits or otherwise subject to the regulatory authority of the City of Lubbock that have stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity or construction site activity.

(2) State of Texas regulations require that subject facilities apply for and obtain general permits for industrial facilities (TPDES TXR050000) and construction sites (TXR150000) that have been determined to contribute or have the potential to contribute substantial pollutant loads to the municipal stormwater drainage system or waters of the state. The general permits require that the permittee develop, implement, and maintain a stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWP3) and submit a notice of intent notifying the TCEQ and the municipal stormwater drainage system operator (City of Lubbock).

(3) The MS4 permit issued to the City of Lubbock by the TCEQ mandates that the City of Lubbock “Carry out all inspections, surveillance, and monitoring procedures necessary to determine compliance with permit conditions” (Part III (E)(6)) and implement a program that includes “Inspection of construction sites and enforcement of control measure requirements” (Part III (B)(9)(b)).

d) Review and modifications of best management practices (BMPs).

(1) Any person engaged in activities or operation, or owning facilities or property, which will or may result in pollutants entering the MS4 or waters of the United States by means of wind and/or precipitation, shall implement BMP’s to the MEP to prevent and reduce such pollutants. The owner or operator of a regulated facility shall provide reasonable protection from accidental discharge of prohibited materials or other wastes into the MS4 or waters of the United States. Practices implemented to prevent accidental discharge of prohibited materials or other wastes shall be provided and maintained at the owner or operator’s expense.

(2) The City of Lubbock will maintain a list of approved BMP’s within the City of Lubbock’s Drainage Criteria Manual. The stormwater engineer may request a demonstration of the effectiveness of implemented BMP’s.

(3) The stormwater engineer may require an operator of a regulated facility to modify its BMP’s if, in the best professional judgment of the stormwater engineer, the BMP’s do not provide effective protection from accidental discharge of prohibited materials or other wastes from entering into the municipal stormwater drainage system or waters of the United States.

(4) The deficiencies in a facilities BMP’s will be communicated in writing, and the stormwater engineer will provide the operator a reasonable amount of time, not to exceed sixty (60) days, to make the necessary changes in the BMP’s. Permit time requirements for controlling pollutants in runoff shall remain applicable.

22.11.039 Post-construction

(a) All permanent stormwater facilities must be designed to meet the criteria and specifications of the Lubbock Drainage Criteria Manual and/or Integrated Stormwater Management Manual (iSWMTM). Stormwater runoff quality after development or redevelopment of the property should not exceed pre-development conditions, to the greatest extent practicable. The city reserves the right to inspect all stormwater facilities for compliance with maintenance guidelines.

(b) All owners of a permanent stormwater facilities shall submit to the city an operations and maintenance plan as directed in the Lubbock Drainage Criteria Manual.

Operations and maintenance plan requirements.

(A)The operations and maintenance plan must clearly identify the person(s) responsible for operations and maintenance of temporary and permanent BMPs to ensure proper and continuous function. The operations and maintenance plan and records of all maintenance tasks as performed shall be retained on site.

(B) The operations and maintenance plan shall include, but is not limited to:

(i) Identification of person(s) or position title responsible for all tasks in the plan, either:

a. The property owner or the homeowner’s association (HOA), if the facility is part of a subdivision;

b. The city; or

c. Any other party designated by written, signed agreement;

(ii) Inspection requirements;

(iii) Maintenance requirements, including:

a. Vegetation maintenance;

b. Debris removal;

c. Mechanical equipment check;

d. Ensure no erosion or slope failure;

e. Sediment removal; and

f. Repair and replacement of defective features; and

(iv) All specifications of maintenance easements dedicated to the city to allow for safe access for inspections and maintenance.

2. Adherence with local guidelines.

Activities outlined in the operations and maintenance plan shall adhere to all design criteria in the Lubbock Drainage Criteria Manual and/or Integrated Stormwater Management Manual (iSWMTM) regarding operation and maintenance of stormwater facilities. Inspection and maintenance requirements may be altered or increased if the City deems it necessary to maintain the proper function of the stormwater facility.

22.11.040 Enforcement.

(a) Enforcement responsibility.

The stormwater engineer or his/her designee shall have the responsibility for enforcement of the provisions of this article. The duties of such designee shall include the responsibility of ensuring that all facilities and construction sites conform with this article and to any other applicable state and federal laws, requirements and regulations of this Code of Ordinances, or otherwise of the City of Lubbock. The city manager shall have the authority to adopt policies and procedures consistent with the terms of this article necessary to implement its provisions.

(b) Violations.

It shall be unlawful for any person to violate any provision or fail to comply with any of the requirements of this article. Any person who has violated or continues to violate the provisions of this article, will be subject to the enforcement actions outlined in this section or may be restrained by injunction or otherwise abated in a manner provided by law. The penalties set forth herein are nonprogressive, and may be assessed in any order.

(d) Notice of violations/administrative appeals, interpretations, and variances.

(1) If the stormwater engineer determines that there is a violation of this article, written notice shall be served upon the property owner, operator of record, or responsible party of the construction site or facility.

(2) The notice shall specify the measures, as appropriate, required to attain full compliance with this article, and further shall specify the time within which such measures shall be completed. Failure by the property owner, operator of record, or responsible party of the construction site or facility to comply within the time specified shall be deemed to be a violation of this article subject to the penalties outlined herein.

(3) Any appeals or interpretations of, or variances to, administrative decisions of the stormwater engineer shall first be to the director of public works, then to the permit and license appeal board, then to a court of competent jurisdiction, including municipal court.

(4) Written request for an appeal, interpretation or variance of an administrative decision must be made within ten (10) days of receipt of violation or claim.

(f) Penalties and violations.

(1) Violations of provisions of this article or failure to comply with any of its requirements (including violations of conditions and safeguards established in connection with approval of variances) shall constitute an offense punishable by a fine not to exceed $2,000.00 per violation per day. Any person who violates this article shall upon conviction thereof be fined in accordance with section 1.01.004 general provisions of this code. Each day such violation continues shall be considered a separate offense.

(2) The owner or operator of any facility, construction site, structure, premises, or part thereof, and any architect, builder, contractor, agent, or other person who commits, participates in, assists in, or maintains such violation may each be found guilty of a separate offense and suffer the penalties herein provided.

(3) Nothing herein contained shall prevent the city from taking such other lawful action as is necessary to prevent or remedy any violation.

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Resources

Lubbock Municipal Code

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Lubbock, Texas Drainage Criteria Manual

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City of Lubbock Stormwater Compliance

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are property owners required to do after a stormwater facility is built?

Once a permanent stormwater facility is in place, the City of Lubbock requires it to meet the design criteria in the Lubbock Drainage Criteria Manual or the Integrated Stormwater Management Manual. Runoff quality after development or redevelopment should not exceed pre development conditions, to the greatest extent practicable. The city also reserves the right to inspect these facilities to confirm they meet maintenance guidelines. AQUALIS can help property owners design and maintain facilities that meet these standards from day one.

Do I need a formal maintenance plan for my stormwater facility?

Yes. Owners of permanent stormwater facilities must submit an operations and maintenance plan to the city, following the requirements in the Drainage Criteria Manual. The plan needs to clearly identify who is responsible for keeping temporary and permanent best management practices (BMPs) working properly, and records of completed maintenance must be kept on site.

Who can be named as responsible for stormwater facility maintenance?

The operations and maintenance plan must identify one of the following as responsible:

The property owner or the homeowner’s association, if the facility is part of a subdivision
The city
Any other party named in a written, signed agreement

What maintenance tasks are property owners expected to perform?

The maintenance plan needs to address several core tasks, including:

Vegetation upkeep around the facility
Debris removal
Mechanical equipment checks
Erosion and slope monitoring, to confirm the facility isn’t at risk of failure or safety violation
Sediment removal
Repair or replacement of any defective features

Owners must also dedicate maintenance easements so the city can safely access the facility for inspections and repairs. AQUALIS can help property owners build a maintenance plan that covers all of these requirements.

What counts as a stormwater violation for a completed facility?

It’s unlawful to violate any provision of the city’s stormwater article or fail to meet its requirements, including conditions tied to an approved variance. This covers ongoing obligations like maintaining BMPs and keeping a facility in proper working order, not just construction phase requirements.

What happens if my property is found in violation?

The stormwater engineer will serve written notice on the property owner, operator, or other responsible party. That notice specifies what needs to be fixed and the timeframe for fixing it. Missing that deadline is itself treated as a separate violation, subject to penalties.

What are the penalties for stormwater violations in Lubbock?

Violations can result in a fine of up to $2,000 per violation, per day. Each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense, and the owner, operator, and anyone else involved (such as an architect, builder, contractor, or agent) can each be found guilty separately. AQUALIS can help property owners resolve issues quickly to limit this kind of exposure.

Why does the city inspect construction sites and industrial facilities?

The state issues Lubbock’s own MS4 permit, and that permit requires the city to carry out inspections, surveillance, and monitoring to confirm permit compliance, including inspecting construction sites specifically. Local facility inspections are how the city meets this state level obligation.

The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Regulations change frequently — AQUALIS makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of this content, and any reliance on it is at your own risk. Consult a qualified professional or your local regulatory authority to confirm requirements applicable to your specific property.

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