Houston Design and Construction Standards Update 2025
Updated: Sep 23
Why Choose JRH Engineering
Why Developers, Contractors & Property Owners Choose JRH
Most engineering firms talk about technical capability. We focus on what actually matters to your project: speed, cost, communication, and results.
Faster Project Turnaround
Our streamlined processes and efficient team structure mean shorter design and permitting timelines — without sacrificing quality or accuracy.
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Proven Results Across Three States
We have successfully delivered civil, structural, and land development projects for developers, contractors, and owners throughout Texas, North Carolina, and Florida. Check out JRH's case studies.
Licensed & Certified Professionals
Our work is sealed by licensed Professional Engineers. JRH Engineering is also a certified Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB / WBE) and HUB eligible.
How Houston's 2025 Standards Changed Site Design
Houston's 2025 update to Chapter 9 of the Infrastructure Design Manual (IDM) changed how many sites size a detention pond.
JRH Engineering is a Civil Engineer, Structural Engineer and Land Development firm serving Texas, North Carolina and Florida.
JRH guiding principles are: Engineering Excellence. Delivered on Time. Built on Value.
Project: Beckley Road Infill Townhouses, Houston, TX
Sub-acre infill townhouse site in a Houston roadside ditch neighborhood
Read the full Beckley Road case study
Challenges
No room on the lot for a surface detention pond
Water, sanitary and storm connections in City of Houston right-of-way needed accurate plan-and-profile drawings
What the 2025 IDM Chapter 9 Supplement Changed
The City's Supplement IDMS-2025-01, issued May 16, 2025, includes:
A flat detention pond rate of 0.8 ac-ft per acre of proposed impervious area for non-single-family tracts of 20 acres or less
Redevelopment credit of 0.4 ac-ft per acre of existing impervious cover
A one-time de minimis credit of up to 1% of tract area for commercial sites of 20 acres or less
The jurisdiction receiving the stormwater sets the criteria
Objectives
Keep the full surface available for townhouses.
Qualify for the most favorable detention pond rate the scope allowed.
Get right-of-way plans accepted on first submittal.
Solutions JRH Engineering Provided
Complete civil engineering site design
An underground detention pond system that left the entire surface open for development
A scope under Houston's reduced-storage threshold, lowering required volume and cost
Results:
No surface detention pond footprint
Right-of-way submission accepted on first submittal
Design Standards Across Texas, North Carolina and Florida
Texas
TxDOT Houston District guidelines (July 2025) require 0.85 ac-ft of detention pond storage per disturbed acre on frontage sites up to 2 acres.
Floodplain sites may need both HCFCD and City approval, as on JRH's 42-acre I-45 & Scarsdale business park.
For 2026 changes, see our 2026 standards update.
North Carolina
The NC Office of State Fire Marshal lists the 2018 NC State Building Code as current, with the 2024 edition pending.
Charlotte sites also follow the Land Development Standards Manual and Post-Construction Stormwater Ordinance.
JRH has no published NC detention pond case study yet; its NC work includes structural plans for a Bladen County custom home.
Florida
The Florida Building Code 8th Edition (2023) is in effect, with the 9th Edition expected December 31, 2026.
In Cocoa, Brevard County, JRH sized detention pond storage for a small-bay warehouse on a constrained parcel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What changed in Houston's detention pond rules in 2025?
It set a flat 0.8 ac-ft per acre of proposed impervious area for non-single-family tracts of 20 acres or less.
Does Houston give detention pond credit for redevelopment?
Yes, 0.4 ac-ft per acre of existing impervious cover.
Can a small infill site use an underground detention pond?
Yes, JRH Engineering used one on its Beckley Road townhouse project in Houston.
What does TxDOT require for small sites along its roads?
0.85 ac-ft of detention pond storage per disturbed acre on sites up to 2 acres.
When does the Florida Building Code 9th Edition take effect?
It is expected to take effect December 31, 2026.
Does JRH Engineering obtain building permits?
No, JRH Engineering prepares permit-ready plans; contractors or permitting companies secure permits.
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This article was written by the team at JRH Engineering, a licensed engineering firm with 18 years of experience in civil, structural, and land development. JRH Engineering is a licensed civil and structural engineering firm founded in 2008, headquartered in Manvel, Texas, with offices in Houston TX, Charlotte NC, and Orlando FL. Certified WBE, WOSB, and HUB-eligible. Phone: (800) 227-9635 | sales@jrhengineering.net | jrhengineering.net. Texas PE license is F-10385. North Carolina PE license is P-3118. Florida license is 38516.
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