SWPPP inspection software: a Texas checklist (2026)
The permit names no software. Any app must still follow its inspection schedule, 24-hour report, signature rule and 3-year records.
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Key takeaways
- On the standard schedule, inspect every 14 days and within 24 hours of a 0.5-inch storm. Several small storms that add up to 0.5 inch in 24 hours count. The 7-day schedule has no rain trigger.
- Complete the report within 24 hours of the inspection.
- The report is kept in the SWP3 and signed as 30 TAC 305.128 requires. TCEQ's 2023 response to comments says permit reports are signed in "wet ink" or submitted online in STEERS. The permit has inspection reports kept in the SWP3, not sent to TCEQ, so sign them in ink.
- Keep the SWP3, all reports and the site notice for at least 3 years from the NOT, or, where no NOT is required, from when coverage ends.
- An electronic SWP3 is allowed only if it reads like paper, is legally valid with no less evidentiary value than paper, and is immediately accessible to the inspector during an inspection.
TCEQ's permit sets the inspection schedule, the report, the signature and the records. It does not name any software. A phone app and a paper form must meet the same rules.
What should I ask before I pick an app?
| Ask the vendor | What the permit says |
|---|---|
| Can I choose 14 days plus the 0.5-inch rule, or 7 days? Does the plan show which one? | Either schedule works. On the 7-day schedule you inspect with or without rain. The SWP3 must show the current schedule |
| Does it add up small storms within 24 hours? | Several small storms that total 0.5 inch in 24 hours trigger one inspection |
| Does it handle a storm that lasts several days? | Two inspections: within 24 hours of the first day and within 24 hours after the last day with 0.5 inch or more |
| Does it handle storms that end outside working hours? | If the 24-hour window falls entirely outside normal working hours, inspect by the end of the next business day |
| Does it limit schedule changes? | At most once per calendar month, put in place in the first 5 business days of the month, with the reason in the SWP3 |
| Does it switch stabilized areas to monthly? | Only the areas that are finally or temporarily stabilized drop to at least once a month |
| Does it handle arid, semi-arid or drought-stricken areas? | Monthly and within 24 hours after a 0.5-inch storm. The SWP3 records the total rainfall measured and the approximate drought dates |
| What counts as arid, semi-arid or drought-stricken? | Arid: 0 to 10 inches of average yearly rain. Semi-arid: 10 to 20 inches. Drought-stricken: NOAA's U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook for the construction period shows drought persisting, ongoing, easing or developing |
| Does the checklist cover what the permit lists? | Disturbed areas not finally stabilized, stabilization measures, support areas, all controls, places where stormwater flows, discharge points and vehicle exits. If water is leaving the site during the inspection, also its color, odor, solids, foam or sheen |
| Does the report hold what the permit lists? | The date and major observations: where erosion or sediment left the site, which controls need maintenance, which failed or were inadequate, and where more are needed. It names any noncompliance, or carries a certification that the site complies with the SWP3 and the permit |
| Does it log what was fixed? | Actions taken after an inspection, with their dates, are written in the SWP3 |
| Can I print each report to sign in ink? | Reports are signed as 30 TAC 305.128 requires. TCEQ says permit reports are signed in wet ink unless submitted in STEERS |
| Can an inspector see the plan on site right away? | An electronic SWP3 must read like paper, be legally valid with no less evidentiary value than paper, and be immediately accessible during an inspection |
| Does it record adverse conditions? | Inspections may be suspended only for a time, when conditions are dangerous or block access. Write the date and time, the witnesses' names and a short narrative in the SWP3. Inspect as soon as access is practicable |
| Does it remind me to update the plan? | When an inspection shows the SWP3 needs a change, revise it within 7 calendar days after the inspection |
| Can I keep every record if I stop using it? | You, the permittee, keep the SWP3, all reports and the site notice for at least 3 years from the NOT, or, where no NOT is required, from when coverage ends |
What does the permit not ask for?
- Software. The words "software" and "app" do not appear in the permit.
- A set way to measure rain. The permit sets the 0.5-inch trigger but does not say how to measure it. In arid, semi-arid or drought-stricken areas, the SWP3 must record the total rainfall measured.
- A certificate for the inspector. TCEQ does not require inspectors to hold specific certifications, but cities often do.
- Signing authority for the inspector. The inspector must know the permit, the work at the site and the SWP3.
Do I need an app at all?
No. A paper form works if it holds what the permit lists and the report is done within 24 hours. Our free inspection form is in English and Spanish.
We do not rank other apps here. Check any app, ours included, against the list above. ReadySWPPP's own inspection plan is on the pricing page.
FAQ
Do I need SWPPP software in Texas?
No. The permit names no software. Paper forms and apps must meet the same report, signature and record rules.
Can I keep my SWPPP on a phone or tablet?
Yes, if the record can be read like paper, is legally valid with no less evidentiary value than paper, and is immediately accessible to the inspector during an inspection, as a paper copy kept on site would be.
Can I sign inspection reports inside an app?
The permit says inspection reports are kept in the SWP3 and signed as 30 TAC 305.128 requires. TCEQ's 2023 response to comments says permit reports are signed in "wet ink" or submitted online in STEERS. The permit has inspection reports kept in the SWP3, not sent to TCEQ, so the safe reading is to sign them in ink.
Does the permit require a rain gauge?
The permit sets the 0.5-inch trigger but does not say how to measure rain. You still need to know when 0.5 inch has fallen on your site. In arid, semi-arid or drought-stricken areas, the SWP3 records the total rainfall measured.
How long do I keep inspection reports?
At least 3 years from the date a NOT is submitted. Where no NOT is required, as on a small site, the 3 years start when coverage ends, which is when the site notice is removed.
Who can do the inspection?
Anyone who knows the permit, the work at the site and the SWP3. They need no signing authority. TCEQ requires no specific certification, but your city may.
Facts and sources
- TCEQ permit TXR150000 (2023), Parts I.B, II.F.3, III.D.1, III.F.8 and VII
- TCEQ 2023 construction general permit, Executive Director's Response to Comments, pages 11 (wet ink) and 14 (inspector certifications)
- Permit and response text read Nov 14 2026.
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