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CAR WASH DRYING BEDS

Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 47, art. XI, div. 7
in effect

Houston Code of Ordinances § 47-481 Permit required.

Sec. 47-481. - Permit required. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or cause to be operated a drying bed for grit trap waste at any car wash premises for which a current and valid generator permit has not been issued under this article. (Ord. No. 97-196, § 4, 2-19-97; Ord. No. 07-544, § 26, 5-9-07)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 47-482 Application; standards.

Sec. 47-482. - Application; standards. In order to obtain a drying bed generator permit, a car wash operator shall make application on a form provided for that purpose by the health officer and shall demonstrate that the facility will, at a minimum, meet the following requirements: (1) The base of the drying bed shall be made of impervious material sufficient to prevent the release of any leachate; (2) The drying bed shall be surrounded by a berm made of impervious material sufficient to prevent the release of any leachate, be not less than two feet in height and provide at least one foot of freeboard at all times; (3) The drying bed shall be covered. The cover shall not be more than eight inches nor less than four inches in height above the wall of the drying bed and shall extend at least one foot beyond the outside of the berm; (4) The drying bed shall be adequately ventilated to prevent the accumulation of emissions; (5) All construction must comply with the Construction Code; (6) All discharges from the drying bed shall be returned to a grit trap or back to the structure itself; and (7) The drying bed must be at least ten feet from any property boundary. (Ord. No. 97-196, § 4, 2-19-97; Ord. No. 02-399, § 94, 5-15-02; Ord. No. 07-544, § 27, 5-9-07)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 47-483 Issuance; acceptance.

Sec. 47-483. - Issuance; acceptance. (a) Following receipt of a properly completed application, the health officer shall issue a generator permit to the applicant for the site designated on the application, unless it is determined that the facility will not comply with the criteria established in section 47-482 of this Code. If the application is denied, then the applicant shall be given written notice of the grounds and shall be afforded an opportunity for a hearing. (b) Following receipt, the applicant shall review the generator permit for accuracy and sign it if it is correct. If the generator permit contains any inaccuracies, the applicant shall notify the department and return the generator permit for correction. The generator permit shall be valid only when signed by the car wash operator. (Ord. No. 97-196, § 4, 2-19-97; Ord. No. 07-544, § 28, 5-9-07)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 47-484 Term; cancellation.

Sec. 47-484. - Term; cancellation. (a) Subject to continuing compliance with applicable provisions of this article, a registration certificate shall be of perpetual duration. (b) Following notice of the grounds and an opportunity for a hearing, the health officer may cancel a registration certificate. (Ord. No. 97-196, § 4, 2-19-97)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 47-485 Amendment.

Sec. 47-485. - Amendment. A generator permit holder shall have a continuing duty to request amendment of its generator permit whenever there is a change in any item for which a representation or response was made in its application. The generator permit holder shall submit an application for the amendment in writing within 15 days following the occurrence of the event making the amendment necessary. Failure to timely submit an application for amendment shall cause the generator permit to become void. (Ord. No. 97-196, § 4, 2-19-97; Ord. No. 07-544, § 29, 5-9-07)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 47-486 Fees; lost generator permits.

Sec. 47-486. - Fees; lost generator permits. There shall be no fee for the filing of an original application or amendment application under this division or for the issuance of an original generator permit or an amendment thereto. However, a fee shall be imposed for reissuance of a lost or missing generator permit. (Ord. No. 97-196, § 4, 2-19-97; Ord. No. 07-544, § 30, 5-9-07; Ord. No. 08-1229, § 25, 12-30-08)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 47-487 Assignment or transfer prohibited.

Sec. 47-487. - Assignment or transfer prohibited. A generator permit is personal to the holder to whom it is issued and is valid only for the site specified thereon. Any attempt to assign or transfer a generator permit to another person or site shall render it void. (Ord. No. 97-196, § 4, 2-19-97; Ord. No. 07-544, § 31, 5-9-07)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 47-488 Posting required.

Sec. 47-488. - Posting required. Each generator permit holder shall cause its generator permit to be conspicuously posted at the site to which it pertains. Upon request of a transporter or the health officer, the generator permit holder shall specify the location at which the generator permit is posted and shall make the generator permit available for verification and inspection. (Ord. No. 97-196, § 4, 2-19-97; Ord. No. 07-544, § 32, 5-9-07)
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_ARTXITRTRCEWA_DIV7CAWADRBEFetched: 10/26/2026

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