Texas NOI for large construction sites in STEERS (2026)
Online in STEERS, $225, before work starts. TCEQ now reviews each NOI before authorizing.
Free. No account, no email.
Key takeaways
- The NOI is filed online in STEERS ePermits before construction starts. The fee is $225 online, $325 on paper.
- TCEQ's page says CGP applications are no longer authorized automatically and have no provisional coverage. Staff review each one first.
- Send a copy of the NOI to the storm sewer operator at least 2 days before work starts.
- ReadySWPPP does not file the NOI for you. TCEQ needs your own signature in STEERS.
A large site disturbs 5 acres or more, or is part of a larger plan that will. Each primary operator writes the SWP3, files an NOI and posts Form 20961.
Steps
- Write the SWP3 and put it in place before you obtain coverage and before you start.
- Get STEERS access. The person who signs must meet 30 TAC 305.44: a responsible corporate officer, a general partner or proprietor, or a ranking elected person or principal executive officer. A consultant can be a preparer.
- Fill in the NOI and pay the fee.
- Send a copy of the NOI to the storm sewer operator and to any secondary operator at least 2 days before you start.
- Post Form 20961 before you start and keep it up until final stabilization.
What changed in September 2026?
TCEQ's construction page says CGP applications are no longer authorized automatically, as they were in the past, and have no provisional coverage. Agency staff review each one first for links to data centers, under a Governor's directive dated Sept. 21, 2026.
The permit text still says electronic NOIs are authorized right after TCEQ confirms receipt, unless TCEQ says otherwise. We did not find how long the review takes.
Late NOIs are allowed, and TCEQ may enforce for work done before coverage.
Small sites are not affected. They file no NOI.
What does the NOI ask for?
- Operator name, address and phone; site name, address, county and latitude and longitude
- Acres disturbed by the applicant, and estimated start and end dates
- Confirmations: not Indian Country, not oil and gas, not a high-level nuclear waste facility, and an SWP3 developed and implemented before work
- Receiving water names, the classified segment number, and any impaired waters reached
Which deadlines apply?
| Event | Deadline |
|---|---|
| NOI | Online before commencing construction |
| NOI by paper (only with an electronic-reporting waiver) | At least 7 days before |
| A new primary operator takes over | NOI at least 10 days before taking control |
| Notice of Change | At least 14 days before the change, or within 14 days of discovery |
| Notice of Termination | Within 30 days after final stabilization, a transfer, or other authorization |
| Records | Kept 3 years from the NOT date |
Edwards Aquifer sites
Where the site is in the Edwards Aquifer program, TCEQ must sign off on the Edwards plan before work starts. ReadySWPPP does not cover those sites.
FAQ
What is the TCEQ NOI fee?
$225 for an electronic NOI and $325 for a paper NOI. No separate annual fee.
Does a secondary operator file an NOI?
Not if a primary operator has filed. If the primary has not filed yet, the secondary tells it in writing and keeps the record. It also posts a signed Form 20962 and sends a copy to the storm sewer operator at least 2 days before work.
Can a consultant file my NOI?
A consultant can be a preparer in STEERS who fills in and views the NOI. The signing person must meet the signature rule.
Facts and sources
- TCEQ permit TXR150000 (2023), Parts II.E, II.F, VII, IX
- TCEQ Form 20961 and Form 20962
- TCEQ construction stormwater page (https://www.tceq.texas.gov/permitting/stormwater/construction), read Nov 13 2026.
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