REGULATIONS OF HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS FOR THE APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE OF INFRASTRUCTURE AS ADOPTED: AUGUST 11, 2009 EFFECTIVE: SEPTEMBER 1, 2009 AMENDED: 1 MAY 2011 HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE DEPARTMENT ARCHITECTURE & ENGINEERING DIVISION ARTHUR L. STOREY, JR. PE COUNTY ENGINEER JOHN R. BLOUNT, PE ARCHITECTURE & ENGINEERING DIVISION DIRECTOR PERMIT OFFICE 10,555 NORTHWEST FRWY, STE 120 HOUSTON, TEXAS 77092-8620 (713) 956-3000 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE SECTION 1 - PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS .............................. 1 Section 1.01 - Authority ................................................................. 1 Section 1.02 - Area Covered by Regulations ................................... 1 Section 1.03 - Purpose ................................................................... 1 SECTION 2 - USE OF TERMS .................................................... 2 Section 2.01 - Accredited Laboratory ............................................. 2 Section 2.02 - Base Flood ............................................................... 2 Section 2.03 - Base Flood Elevation ............................................... 2 Section 2.04 - Coastal Areas ........................................................... 2 Section 2.05 - Conduit ................................................................... 2 Section 2.06 - County Engineer ...................................................... 3 Section 2.07 - Curb and Gutter Sections ........................................ 3 Section 2.08 - Design Storm Event ................................................. 3 Section 2.09 - Drainage Area Map .................................................. 3 Section 2.10 - Elevation ................................................................. 3 Section 2.11- Extreme Event ......................................................... 4 Section 2.12 - FEMA ..................................................................... 4 Section 2.13 - Geotechnical Engineer ............................................. 4 Section 2.14 - HCFCD ................................................................... 4 Section 2.15 - Hydraulic Grade Line .............................................. 4 Section 2.16 - In-Fill Development ................................................. 4 Section 2.17 Latent Defects………………………………………………..4 Section 2.18 - Mean Sea Level ........................................................ 5 Section 2.19 - Person…. ................................................................. 5 Section 2.20 - Rainfall Frequency .................................................. 5 Section 2.21 - Redevelopment ........................................................ 6 Section 2.22 - Roadside Ditch Sections .......................................... 6 Section 2.23 - Sheet Flow ............................................................... 6 Section 2.24 - Subdivision .............................................................. 6 Section 2.25 - Unincorporated Area ............................................... 6 SECTION 3 - GENERAL PROVISIONS ...................................... 8 Section 3.01 - Administration by the County Engineer .................. 8 Section 3.02 - Responsibility of Other Officials ............................. 8 SECTION 4 - ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES FOR THE REVIEW OF PLATS .............................. 9 Section 4.01 - Approval Required ................................................... 9 Section 4.02 - Enforcement ............................................................ 9 Section 4.03 - Plat Criteria ............................................................. 9 Section 4.04 - Exceptions ............................................................. 10 Section 4.05 - Review Procedures ................................................. 12 Section 4.06 - Recordation Requirements .................................... 12 Section 4.07 - Certificates Required on Plats of Property Located in the Unincorporated Area of Harris County ....................................................... 16 SECTION 5 - ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES FOR THE ... 17 REVIEW OF CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS Section 5.01 - Submittal Procedures ............................................ 17 Section 5.02 - Construction Drawings - General .......................... 17 Section 5.03 - Drawing Layout Requirements .............................. 18 Section 5.04 - Standard Detail Sheets .......................................... 19 Section 5.05 - Standard Note Requirements ................................ 19 SECTION 6 - DRAINAGE REQUIREMENTS ........................... 21 Section 6.01 - Drainage Policy ..................................................... 21 Section 6.02 - Design Requirements ............................................. 22 Section 6.03 - Storm Water Detention ......................................... 36 Section 6.04 - Ownership and Easements ..................................... 41 Section 6.05 - Submerged Storm Sewers ...................................... 43 Section 6.06 - Low Impact Development………………………………..45 SECTION 7 - PAVING ...................................................................... 46 Section 7.01 - Paving Design Requirements ................................. 46 Section 7.02 - Design Requirements ............................................. 46 Section 7.03 - Materials Requirements ......................................... 52 Section 7.04 - Specification Requirements ................................... 54 Section 7.05 - Geometric Requirements ....................................... 56 SECTION 8 - STRUCTURES .................................................... 63 SECTION 9 - TESTING REQUIREMENTS .............................. 65 Section 9.01 - General .................................................................. 65 Section 9.02 - Bedding and Backfill ............................................. 65 Section 9.03 - Subgrade Testing ................................................... 66 Section 9.04 - Flexible Base .......................................................... 66 Section 9.05 - Surface Course ....................................................... 67 Section 9.06 - Concrete Pavement ................................................ 67 Section 9.07 - Concrete Cores ...................................................... 68 Section 9.08 - Structures .............................................................. 68 SECTION 10 - INSPECTIONS ................................................. 69 Section 10.01 - Construction Inspections ....................................... 69 Section 10.02 - Notice of Start ....................................................... 69 SECTION 11 - ACCEPTANCE OF IMPROVEMENTS .............. 70 WITHIN SUBDIVISIONS Section 11.01 - Acceptance Procedures ......................................... 70 Section 11.02 - Inspection and Re-Inspection Fees ......................... 72 SECTION 12 - TRAFFIC ........................................................... 74 Section 12.01 - Traffic Definitions ................................................. 74 Section 12.02 - Left Turn Lanes ..................................................... 75 SECTION 13 – LANDSCAPE AND MONUMENTATION ........ 77 Section 13.01 - Landscape Policy ................................................... 77 Section 13.02 - Use of Terms ......................................................... 77 Section 13.03 - Construction Activity ............................................ 77 Section 13.04 - Prohibited Activity ................................................ 78 Section 13.05 - Treescape and Screening Requirements for Commercial Establishments and Public Buildings ..................................................... 78 Section 13.06 - Tree Planting Requirements for Single Family Residential Lots ............................... 80 Section 13.07 - Preservation of Existing Trees ................................ 81 SECTION 14 – VARIANCES ..................................................... 82 SECTION 15 – SEVERABILITY ................................................ 83 APPENDICES Certificates Required on Plats of Property Located………………………………….A in the Unincorporated Area of Harris County Notary Formats……………………………………………………………………………….B Intensity Duration Curve…………………………………………………………………..C Construction Notes to be On All Projects……………………………………………...D Construction Notes Involving …………………………………………………………….E Utilities and Paving Work Located Within a Public Right-of-Way Construction Notes for Esplanade Openings ………………………………………….F and Left Turn Lanes Construction Notes for All Projects Located ………………………………………….G in the 10% (10-Year) 1% (100-Year) Flood Plain and .2% (500-Year) Flood Plain Below the Base Flood Elevation Graphic Requirements ……………………………………………………………………..H Detention Rate Chart ……………………………………………………………………….I Joint Detail For: Knuckle Configuration………………………………………………..J REGULATIONS OF HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS FOR THE APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE OF INFRASTRUCTURE SECTION 1 - PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS SECTION 1.01 - AUTHORITY These Regulations are adopted by the Commissioners' Court of Harris County, Texas, acting in its capacity as the governing body of Harris County and the Harris County Flood Control District. The authority of Harris County to adopt these Regulations and for the contents hereof is derived from the following statutes: Chapter 232 of the Texas Local Government Code, Texas Local Government Code Section 240.901, as amended; Texas Transportation Code Section 251.001 – 251.05 and Section 254.001 – 254.019, as amended; the Harris