Non-emergency suspension of utility service and MS4 access.
Houston Code of Ordinances § 47-607
in effectSec. 47-607. - Non-emergency suspension of utility service and MS4 access.
(a) When the city engineer determines that a person is discharging or threatening to discharge to the MS4 in violation of this article, the city engineer may terminate city water supply, sanitary sewer connection and MS4 access to the person discharging or threatening to discharge to the MS4 if the city engineer determines that:
(1) The service or access is an instrumentality of or contributes to the unlawful discharge or threatened discharge; and
(2) Termination would prevent, abate or reduce:
a. The discharge of a pollutant; or
b. The commission of any other act or activity which in itself or in conjunction with any other discharge or activity causes, continues to cause, or may cause pollution of any of the waters of the United States.
(b) The city engineer shall notify a discharger of the proposed suspension of its water supply, sanitary sewer connection or MS4 access pursuant to this section before the service is suspended or access denied. Notice shall be mailed, certified mail, return receipt requested, to the name and address on the city water service records for the account of the property where service is proposed to be suspended or access denied. If there is no water service account, the city engineer shall send notice to the address of the owner of the property as shown on the Harris County Appraisal District's appraisal roll. The notice shall specify the basis for the proposed suspension of service or access and shall order the discharger to cease the discharge or threatened discharge immediately. The discharger may request a hearing prior to termination pursuant to section 47-608 by filing a written request with the city engineer not later than the tenth day after the day the notice is deposited in the mail. Upon timely receipt of a request for a hearing, the city shall not suspend service or deny access until after the hearing officer renders a decision authorizing the suspension of service or denial of access. If the discharger does not request a hearing within the time specified, the city shall suspend the service or deny the access as described in the notice.
(c) The city shall not reinstate suspended services or MS4 access to the discharger until:
(1) The discharger presents proof that the unlawful discharge or threatened discharge has been eliminated and its cause determined and corrected; and
(2) The discharger pays the city for all costs the city will incur in reinstating service or MS4 access or otherwise provides financial assurance to cover such expenses.
(3) The remedies provided by this section are in addition to any other remedies set out in this chapter. Exercise of this remedy shall not be a bar against, nor a prerequisite for, taking other action against a discharger.
(d) A person commits an offense if the person reinstates water service, sanitary sewer service or MS4 access suspended pursuant to this section without the prior approval of the city engineer.
(Ord. No. 01-800, § 3, 8-29-01; Ord. No. 06-892, § 8, 8-23-06)
Source: City of Houston, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH47WASE_ARTXIISTWADI_DIV1INGE_S47-607NERSUUTSEMSACFetched: 10/26/2026