GRADING PERMIT

Fort Worth City Code ch. 12.5, art. X

in effect

Fort Worth City Code § 12.5-874 DEFINITIONS.

§ 12.5-874 DEFINITIONS. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning. CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT (CIP). Public infrastructure design and construction that is funded and managed by the City of Fort Worth. COMMON PLAN OF DEVELOPMENT. Shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in the Stormwater Criteria Manual. DRAINAGE STUDY. A drainage study performed in accordance with the Stormwater Criteria Manual. HUD. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. LAND DISTURBANCE or DISTURBANCE OF LAND. Any construction or other activity caused by a person, which disturbs the surface of the land, including, but not limited to, clearing, grubbing, grading, excavations, embankments, development, demolition activities, the moving, depositing, stockpiling, staging or storing of fill material, soil, rock or earth materials, regardless of whether the activity is related to a public or private infrastructure project. SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT (SRIP). Public infrastructure design and construction for a single-family residential development project in the City of Fort Worth that will submit construction plans to the city's Infrastructure Plan Review Center. STORMWATER CRITERIA MANUAL. The current edition of the Fort Worth Stormwater, Criteria Manual, and all subsequent revisions and amendments thereto. (Ord. 26964-06-2024, § 2, passed 6-11-2024, eff. 7-15-2024)

Fort Worth City Code § 12.5-875 INCORPORATION OF STORMWATER CRITERIA MANUAL.

§ 12.5-875 INCORPORATION OF STORMWATER CRITERIA MANUAL. The Stormwater Criteria Manual is incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this article for all purposes. (Ord. 26964-06-2024, § 2, passed 6-11-2024, eff. 7-15-2024)

Fort Worth City Code § 12.5-876 CONSTRUCTION OF SINGLE-FAMILY AND DUPLEX HOMES.

§ 12.5-876 CONSTRUCTION OF SINGLE-FAMILY AND DUPLEX HOMES. (a) An applicant for a detached single-family or duplex building permit shall submit the grading pattern of the land to be disturbed to the city at the time of building permit application. (b) The applicant shall identify one of the following grading patterns: (1) HUD Type A grading - all drainage to the front; (2) HUD Type B grading - drainage to the front and rear; or (3) HUD Type C grading - all drainage to the rear. (c) The applicant shall affirm that the drainage pattern conforms with any approved subdivision grading plans. If the applicant cannot affirm that the proposed grading pattern of the land to be disturbed conforms to one of the HUD drainage patterns in this section and an approved subdivision grading plan, the Transportation and Public Works Department shall review the proposed lot grading prior to approval of the building permit. (Ord. 26964-06-2024, § 2, passed 6-11-2024, eff. 7-15-2024)

Fort Worth City Code § 12.5-877 GRADING PERMIT REQUIRED; EXEMPTIONS FROM GRADING PERMIT REQUIREMENT.

§ 12.5-877 GRADING PERMIT REQUIRED; EXEMPTIONS FROM GRADING PERMIT REQUIREMENT. (a) Except as otherwise provided by this article, no person may commence with the Disturbance of Land of 1.0 acre or more, or commence with the disturbance of land that is part of a Common Plan of Development, unless a grading permit has been approved by the city for the land disturbance. (b) A grading permit shall not be required for the following: (1) Construction of detached single-family or duplex homes that will disturb less than 1.0 acre and are not a part of a Common Plan of Development; (2) Disturbance of land activities that consist of only agricultural plowing or tilling, timber harvesting activities, road maintenance activities, routine channel maintenance or utility maintenance; (3) A CIP that disturbs one acre or more, or is part of a Common Plan of Development if the CIP complies with the review and approval process defined by the City Engineer for a CIP and is reviewed and approved by the Environmental Services Department, the Urban Forestry and Gas Well Sections of the Development Services Department, the Water Department, the Park and Recreation Department, and the Transportation and Public Works Department; or (4) A SRJP that disturbs one acre or more, or is part of a Common Plan of Development if the SRIP complies with the review and approval process defined by the Infrastructure Plan Review Center for a SRIP and is reviewed and approved by the Environmental Services Department, the Urban Forestry and Gas Well Sections of the Development Services Department, the Water Department, the Park and Recreation Department, and the Transportation and Public Works Department. (c) A person commits an offense if the person is required to obtain a grading permit and causes a disturbance of land without a grading permit that is approved by the city. A person commits an offense if the person is required to obtain a grading permit and allows a disturbance of land to remain without a grading permit that is approved by the city. (Ord. 26964-06-2024, § 2, passed 6-11-2024, eff. 7-15-2024)

Fort Worth City Code § 12.5-878 APPLICATION FOR A GRADING PERMIT; APPROVAL.

§ 12.5-878 APPLICATION FOR A GRADING PERMIT; APPROVAL. (a) Applications for a grading permit shall be submitted to the Development Services Department. The approval of any grading permit by the city shall require the consent of the Environmental Services Department, the Urban Forestry and Gas Well Sections of the Development Services Department, the Water Department, the Park and Recreation Department, and the Transportation and Public Works Department. (b) Submission of grading and drainage plans. An applicant for a grading permit must submit grading and drainage plans prepared by a professional engineer with the permit application. The grading permit application shall require an approved Drainage Study. Grading and drainage plans must conform to the approved Drainage Study. The Transportation and Public Works Director or his or her designee shall review these documents for conformance with stormwater design policies contained in the Stormwater Criteria Manual. (c) Submission of Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). An applicant for a grading permit must submit a SWPPP prepared by the applicant with the grading permit application. The grading permit application shall require an approved SWPPP. The SWPPP must comply with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Stormwater Construction General Permit. The Environmental Services Department shall review SWPPP for conformance with the current State Construction General Permit as required under the city's Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit issued by TCEQ. (Ord. 26964-06-2024, § 2, passed 6-11-2024, eff. 7-15-2024)

Fort Worth City Code § 12.5-879 EARLY GRADING PERMITS.

§ 12.5-879 EARLY GRADING PERMITS. (a) The city may issue an early grading permit for a land disturbance that involves only earthwork, prior to the issuance of a grading permit in accordance with the Stormwater Criteria Manual. An SRIP may obtain an early grading permit. (b) An applicant who has obtained an early grading permit must obtain a grading permit for any land disturbance beyond earthwork. (c) A person commits an offense if the person has been issued an early grading permit and performs, or allows to be performed, land disturbance activity that consists of more than earthwork. (Ord. 26964-06-2024, § 2, passed 6-11-2024, eff. 7-15-2024)

Fort Worth City Code § 12.5-880 ADDITIONAL GRADING REQUIREMENTS.

§ 12.5-880 ADDITIONAL GRADING REQUIREMENTS. (a) All grading activities performed pursuant to a grading permit or early grading permit must conform to all applicable city, state, and federal policies including, but not limited to the city's stormwater management, floodplain management, urban forestry, water department, and stormwater pollution prevention policies. (b) All fill material placed in existing or proposed right-of-way pursuant to a grading permit or early grading permit must conform to the requirements of the city's standard specifications for street and storm drain construction. If testing and certification of fill material is not performed in conjunction with city infrastructure inspection, the city may require testing and certification by an independent soils laboratory, removal of the fill material at the expense of the applicant or property owner, or both. (c) The placement of fill material pursuant to a grading permit or early grading permit shall comply with Chapter 12.5, Article IX of the City Code. (d) The removal of trees pursuant to a grading permit or early grading permit shall comply with section 6.302 of the Zoning Ordinance. (e) A person commits an offense if the person fails to grade property in conformance with the construction plans approved by the city or in conformance with the grading permit issued by the city. (Ord. 26964-06-2024, § 2, passed 6-11-2024, eff. 7-15-2024)

Fort Worth City Code § 12.5-881 GRADING CERTIFICATE.

§ 12.5-881 GRADING CERTIFICATE. (a) A grading certificate certifying that all grading and related stormwater infrastructure construction was completed in compliance with this article, the grading permit, and the early grading permit if applicable, must be prepared by the land owner or owner's representative and submitted to the Development Services Department prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy for any building permit involving a disturbance of land of 1.0 acre or more, or that is part of a Common Plan of Development for which the city issues certificates of occupancy. (b) A person commits an offense if a person fails to submit the Grading Certificate upon completion of all grading and related stormwater infrastructure construction in compliance with this Article. (Ord. 26964-06-2024, § 2, passed 6-11-2024, eff. 7-15-2024)

Fort Worth City Code § 12.5-882 PERMIT FEES.

§ 12.5-882 PERMIT FEES. (a) For all land disturbance involving 1.0 acre or more, or that is part of a Common Plan of Development, for which an early grading permit or grading permit is required, a permit fee, as established by the City Council, shall be assessed to the applicant. (b) No fees will be charged for review of information concerning grading patterns for detached single-family or duplex residences pursuant to § 12.5-876. (Ord. 26964-06-2024, § 2, passed 6-11-2024, eff. 7-15-2024)

Fort Worth City Code § 12.5-883 VIOLATIONS.

§ 12.5-883 VIOLATIONS. (a) A violation of any provision of this article is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $2,000.00. Each separate occurrence of a violation or each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense. (b) The issuance of a citation shall not limit the city's ability to pursue civil remedies or take other actions as set forth in chapter 12.5, Article I, Division 3 of the City Code. (Ord. 26964-06-2024, § 2, passed 6-11-2024, eff. 7-15-2024)

Source: City of Fort Worth, Code of Ordinances, City Charter and Zoning Ordinance (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/ftworth/latest/ftworth_tx/0-0-0-16177Fetched: 10/26/2026