Engineering FAQ

Answers to the most frequently asked questions about engineering projects and issues in Colleyville. For GIS information, click here.

Q.  What type of maintenance bond does the city require for construction of public improvements?

Q.  How can I get city water and sewer lines located and how much does this service cost?

Q.  Is Colleyville part of the DIG TESS one call system for locating underground utilities?

Q.  How do I apply for and obtain a grading permit?  

Q.  Does the city participate in the National Flood Insurance Program?

Q. How can I tell if my house and/or property are located within the floodplain? 

Q. Can I build anything in an easement? 

Q. How do I abandon an easement?  

Q. How do I get a survey of my property?  

Q. Does the city have standard construction details?  

Q: What does the "100-year flood" mean? 

Q.  Who do I need to speak with to construct something in a floodplain? 

Q.  How do I get an elevation certificate?  

Q: How do I get information on City Benchmarks? 

Q: What is the construction schedule for a particular City project? 

Q: The new construction behind my house is causing a lot of dirt and sediment to enter my yard.  Can the City force the builder to place erosion protection on his lot?  

Q: There is new construction behind my lot and I’m having drainage problems due to the construction.  Is there anything the City can do to make the developer drain his development away from me?  

Q: My neighbor has done some work on his lot and now I’m getting more runoff.  What can I do?   

Q: My neighbor has been draining his swimming pool onto my lot.  Who can I contact to stop this?  

Q: The storm drain system on my street does not appear to be functioning as well as it used to.  What can the City do?

Q: After it rains there is a puddle in my street gutter.  Will the City repair the street to eliminate the gutter ponding?  

Q: Am I allowed to construct a fence crossing a drainage easement?  

Q: What is the difference between public and private drainage systems?  

Q: What does it mean if my drainage concern is designated as a project candidate?  

Q: What can I do to determine if I have a groundwater problem?  

Q: My driveway culvert has become clogged and no longer drains properly.  Will the City come out and clean out my culvert?  

Q: I have a drainage problem on my property and none of the above questions seem related to it.  Who can I call?   

Q: What is the difference between roadway impact fees and street escrow? 

Q: How do I abandon an easement? 

Q: Whom should I call to have my street repaired or reconstructed? 

Q.  What type of maintenance bond does the city require for construction of public improvements?
A.  The city of Colleyville requires a two (2) year, 10% maintenance bond for all public improvements constructed in the city.  Public improvements are streets, sidewalks, drainage systems, and water and sewer lines.  The city does not have a standard bond form. Must provide form before final acceptance is issued. 

Q.  How can I get city water and sewer lines located and how much does this service cost?
A.   Call the Public Works Service Center at 817.540.0609 and request water and sewer line locates.  The fee for this service is $50.  The city will locate water and sewer lines that are maintained by the city and within city rights-of-way and/or easements.  

Q.  Is Colleyville part of the DIG TESS one call system for locating underground utilities?
A.  The city is not part of the DIG TESS one call system.  To locate underground utilities other than city water and sewer lines, call 1.800.DIGTESS a minimum of 48 hours prior to digging.  

Q.  How do I apply for and obtain a grading permit?
A.  The Engineering Department will issue a grading permit for general earthwork after a grading plan showing proposed grading and erosion control measures, including a storm water pollution prevention plan if necessary, has been submitted and approved. 

Q.  Does the city participate in the National Flood Insurance Program?
A.  The city of Colleyville is a member of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program and maintains current Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM’s) and Letters of Map Revision (LOMR) issued by FEMA. 

Q. How can I tell if my house and/or property are located within the floodplain?
A. The Engineering Department maintains current FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps and Letters of Map Revision.  We also keep on file all drainage studies that may have been completed on the various creeks within Colleyville.  Contact the Engineering Department with your address and we can help you determine whether or not your house and/or property are in the floodplain.For additional information, please visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) website at fema.gov. 

Q. Can I build anything in an easement?
A. You should not construct any structures within an easement. One exception, however, is that wood or chain link fences may be placed in some easements subject to local deed restrictions. Please contact the City's Building Inspections Division at 817.503.1090 for further clarification of your specific situation. 

Q. How do I abandon an easement?
A. You should contact the City’s Engineering Department 817.503.1090 to obtain an easement abandonment form. You will need to have a surveyor prepare an exhibit and metes and bounds description of the area to be abandoned. You will also need to provide documentation that those entities that have rights to use the easement do not object to the abandonment. 

Q. How do I get a survey of my property?
A. The city does not have surveys of private property. You will need to contact a surveyor to have one prepared. 

Q. Does the city have standard construction details? A. Yes, you can get to those details by clicking on the provided link. For more information, contact the city's Engineering Department, 817.503.1090. 

Q: What does the "100-year flood" mean?
A: The term "100-year flood" is misleading. It is not the flood that will occur once every 100 years. Rather, it is the flood elevation that has a 1- percent chance of being equaled or exceeded each year. Thus, the 100-year flood could occur more than once in a relatively short period of time. The 100-year flood, which is the standard used by most Federal and state agencies, is used by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) as the standard for floodplain management and to determine the need for flood insurance. A structure located within a special flood hazard area shown on an NFIP map has a 26 percent chance of suffering flood damage during the term of a 30-year mortgage.  For additional information click here and please visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) website at www.fema.gov for more "Frequently Asked Question" which pertains to floodplain issues.

Q.  Who do I need to speak with to construct something in a floodplain?
A. Please contact the city's Engineering Department at 817.503.1090 and they will forward your inquiry to the appropriate staff person.
For additional information please visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) website at fema.gov. 

Q.  How do I get an elevation certificate?
A.  The city does not provide elevation certificates. You may contact an engineer or surveyor of your choice to obtain an elevation certificate. 

Q: How do I get information on City Benchmarks?
A: Contact Engineering at 817-503-1090 or email to scherry@colleyville.com to provide information.

Q: What is the construction schedule for a particular City project?
A: You may contact Engineering Department at 817-503-1090 to request information on specific projects under construction within the City. You will need the street name, type of project, and a daytime phone number for the return call.

Q: The new construction behind my house is causing a lot of dirt and sediment to enter my yard.  Can the City force the builder to place erosion protection on his lot? 
A: Please contact the Code Enforcement at 817-503-1268 and ask to speak with the Code Enforcement Officer for the City.  It is helpful if you know the name of the adjacent development.  The developer of a subdivision or a commercial site is required to maintain pollution control on his property until adequate vegetation is established. 

Q: There is new construction behind my lot and I’m having drainage problems due to the construction.  Is there anything the City can do to make the developer drain his development away from me?
A: There is a misconception that new development is not allowed to drain onto existing development. If the area drained onto the adjacent property prior to development, it may continue to do so after development.  New development may not worsen existing structural flooding as reported to the City. If problems are being created during construction, please contact the Engineering Department at 817-503-1090 and a City representative we will investigate to determine whether the development is being properly constructed.  

Q: My neighbor has done some work on his lot and now I’m getting more runoff.  What can I do? 
A: In the past, city staff has come out to look at situations such as this.  Currently, staffing levels and budget do not allow us to make site visits for lot-to-lot drainage problems.  These situations are civil matters between the property owners. It does not violate city code for one lot to drain onto another, and you should try to perform work on your lot to help your yard drain more efficiently.  It is against state code to divert or concentrate runoff, or block runoff from draining onto your property.  We advise that you meet with your neighbor and discuss the problem to work toward a mutually agreeable solution.  If this is not possible, consider grading swales on your property to convey the runoff around your home.  Swales are depressions similar to wide shallow ditches that will collect runoff and take it to a more desirable area, typically the street.  If swales are graded, care should be taken to ensure that grass is established so that they do not immediately fill up with silt.  Occasionally, area drains may be considered.  However, we do not generally recommend them for surface flow situations.  Area drains typically do not have the capacity to handle the volume of runoff that is threatening to flood a home, and must be frequently cleaned of leaves and debris to function properly.   

Q: My neighbor has been draining his swimming pool onto my lot.  Who can I contact to stop this?
A: If the pool is draining onto private property then it is a civil matter between property owners.   

Q: The storm drain system on my street does not appear to be functioning as well as it used to.  What can the City do?
A: Please contact the Department of Public Works at 817-450-0609.  The storm drain system may have become clogged.  If there is a problem with a public storm drain system, we can inspect for blockage and remove debris if present.  If the system is private, then it is the responsibility of the homeowners association or the individual homeowner to maintain the system. 

Q: After it rains there is a puddle in my street gutter.  Will the City repair the street to eliminate the gutter ponding?
A: Please contact the Department of Public Works at 817-450-0609 and we will determine if your street is publicly or privately maintained.  If your street is public, we will place your location on a list and it will be surveyed and given a rating based on the severity of the ponding.  If the problem is fairly minor, it will be placed on a list to be repaired by the Street Division.  If it is more significant, it may be placed on a list for a future street rebuild project.  If you live in a private subdivision, then it is the responsibility of the homeowners association or the individual homeowner to correct the problem. 

Q: Am I allowed to construct a fence crossing a drainage easement?
A: Fences are allowed in drainage easements in some situations. A fence permit must be obtained from the Building Inspections Division for any fence construction.  Proposed fences within drainage easements will be forwarded to the Department of Public Works for evaluation.  We may allow a fence to be placed across a concrete flume as long as the bottom of the fence is placed at or above the flumes curb height and does not block the flow of the flume.  Fences are never allowed across concrete channels, within natural creeks, or within the floodway.  Depending on the type of fence, it may be necessary to execute an Easement Use Agreement.   

Q: What is the difference between public and private drainage systems?
A: Public drainage systems are located within public drainage easements or street right-of-way.  We require that a system be public when it crosses a lot line.  Public drainage systems are the city’s maintenance responsibility.  Private drainage systems are located on private property and may or may not be located within private drainage easements.  Private drainage systems typically do not cross lot lines and are generally used to collect runoff on a specific lot.  Private drainage systems are required to be maintained by the property owner. 

Q: What does it mean if my drainage concern is designated as a project candidate?
A: If a drainage problem is caused by public infrastructure (or lack of necessary infrastructure) then the City may designate the problem as a project candidate.   Each year project candidates are listed and ranked based on specific criteria including number of residences that flood, frequency of flooding, and cost effectiveness of the project.  After the projects are ranked, they are placed on the Storm Water Program.  The Storm Water Program is a multi-year plan that identifies drainage projects proposed for upcoming years.  Project priorities can change from year to year as new problem areas are identified.  The number of drainage projects planned for a given year is based on the project costs as related to the revenues generated by the Storm Water Utility Fee.  If you have any questions about a project on the list, please feel free to call the Engineering Department at 817-503-1090. 

Q: What can I do to determine if I have a groundwater problem?
A: Please contact the Department of Public Works at 817-450-0609 and ask for the Drainage Department.  We can send someone out to evaluate whether the water is groundwater, tap water, or sanitary sewer water.  You will be notified of the results.  If it is groundwater, then it is the property owner’s responsibility to address the problem.  You may wish to contact a civil engineer or landscape contractor experienced in drainage problems. 

Q: My driveway culvert has become clogged and no longer drains properly.  Will the City come out and clean out my culvert?
A: City crews will clean and re-grade ditches as needed, but homeowners are responsible for cleaning out driveway culverts. 

Q: I have a drainage problem on my property and none of the above questions seem related to it.  Who can I call?
A: Please contact the Engineering Department at 817-503-1090.  When you call this number, the receptionist will ask you a few general questions to get an idea of the concern.  She will then assign the call to an engineer.  The engineer will research the location and will call you back to discuss your concerns.  Once any questions have been answered or action has been taken, the engineer will log the complaint into a database.  After the information has been logged into the database, it becomes public record and we must provide the information to anyone who asks for it. 

Q: What is the difference between roadway impact fees and street escrow?
A: Roadway impact fees are utilized to design, purchase right-of-way, and construct specifically designated area-wide street facilities. The amount of the fee is directly proportional to the demand the development places on the street system. They are paid at the time a building permit is issued. Street escrow is deposited with the City in lieu of developers constructing internal and perimeter site related streets. Escrow must be paid prior to filing a plat with the county. 

Q: How do I abandon an easement?
A: You should contact the City’s Engineering Department at 817-503-1090 to obtain an easement abandonment form. You will need to have a surveyor prepare an exhibit, with metes, and bounds description of the area to be abandoned. You will also need to provide documentation that those entities that have rights to use the easement do not object to the abandonment. 

Q: Whom should I call to have my street repaired or reconstructed?
A: You should contact the City’s Department of Public Works, Street Division, at 817-540-0609.