Skip to code content (skip section selection)
Compare to:
Fort Worth Overview
Fort Worth, TX Code of Ordinances
FORT WORTH, TEXAS CODE OF ORDINANCES
OFFICIALS of the CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS
PART I: THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH
PART II: CITY CODE
CHAPTER 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER 2: ADMINISTRATION
CHAPTER 2.5: RETIREMENT
CHAPTER 3: AIRPORTS AND AIRCRAFT
CHAPTER 4: ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
CHAPTER 5: AMBULANCES/EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
CHAPTER 6: ANIMALS AND FOWL
CHAPTER 7: BUILDINGS
CHAPTER 8: CABLE COMMUNICATION SERVICE
CHAPTER 9: COMMUNITY FACILITIES AGREEMENTS
CHAPTER 10: COURTS
CHAPTER 11: ELECTRICITY
CHAPTER 11.5: EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER 12: EMERGENCY REPORTING EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES
CHAPTER 12.5: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND COMPLIANCE
CHAPTER 13: FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION
CHAPTER 14: RESERVED
CHAPTER 15: GAS
CHAPTER 16: HEALTH AND SANITATION
CHAPTER 17: HUMAN RELATIONS
CHAPTER 18: LAKE WORTH
CHAPTER 19: LIBRARIES
CHAPTER 20: LICENSES AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 21: RESERVED
CHAPTER 22: MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
CHAPTER 23: OFFENSES AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
CHAPTER 24: PARK AND RECREATION
CHAPTER 25: RESERVED
CHAPTER 26: PLUMBING
CHAPTER 27: POLICE
CHAPTER 28: PUBLIC UTILITIES
CHAPTER 29: SIGNS
CHAPTER 29.5: SMOKING
CHAPTER 30: STREETS AND SIDEWALKS
CHAPTER 31: SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE
CHAPTER 32: TAXATION
CHAPTER 33: TREES, SHRUBS, ETC.
CHAPTER 34: VEHICLES FOR HIRE
CHAPTER 35: WATER AND SEWERS
CHAPTER 36: RESERVED
APPENDIX A: ZONING REGULATIONS
APPENDIX B: CODE COMPLIANCE
APPENDIX C: RESERVED
CODE COMPARATIVE TABLE
Loading...
§ 35-90 ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE.
   The city council shall adopt an ordinance prior to the collection of the water main capacity charge assessed by this division for each specific water main. Nothing contained herein requires the city council to adopt such an ordinance, such adoption being in the sole discretion of the city council.
(Ord. 17623, § 2, passed 6-19-2007)
§ 35-91 ASSUMPTIONS TO BE USED TO CALCULATE MAXIMUM DAY DEMAND.
 
Density
Average Daily Demand
Maximum Day Peak Factor
Single-family (attached or detached)
3.5 people/unit or 14 people/acre
200 gpcd
2.25
Multifamily
2.5 people/unit or 52 people/acre
180 gpcd
2.25
Commercial
1 person per 400 SF or 14 people/acre
50 gpcd
2.25
Schools
60 - 75 students per acre
Elementary-30 gpcd
2.25
Middle - 35 gpcd
High school - 40 gpcd
 
   If the domestic annual average demand of the commercial, industrial or other development is unknown during platting, the single-family density of 14 people per acre and an average daily demand of 200 gallons per capita per day (GPCD) with a maximum day peak factor of two and twenty-five hundredths shall be used.
(Ord. 17623, § 2, passed 6-19-2007; Ord. 23708-06-2019, § 6, passed 6-25-2019)
§ 35-92 CALCULATION OF THE WATER MAIN CAPACITY CHARGE.
   For approach water mains constructed under a developer-initiated or city-initiated approach water main project, the water main capacity charge shall be calculated as follows.
   (a)   Development cost shall be determined consistent with the definitions contained in § 35-88.
   (b)   For a developer-initiated approach water main, the developer is responsible for providing all information, studies and exhibits that may be reasonably requested by the city. For a city-initiated approach water main, the city’s consultant engineer shall provide any necessary exhibits as requested by the city.
   (c)   For a developer-initiated approach water main that the city has cost participated to over-size the approach water main, the city shall be responsible for providing calculated basin area, together with any necessary exhibits on water mains that have city cost participation for over-sizing the developer-initiated approach water main.
   (d)   For a developer-initiated frontage water main that the city has cost participated to oversize, the water main capacity charge calculation shall be based on the delta MGD capacity of over-sizing the developer-initiated approach water main.
   (e)   Developer maybe eligible to recoup costs associated with installation of a frontage water main under a front foot charge if applicable to language described above in the Frontage Main Eligibility definition. Refer to Chapter 35 Water and Sewers, Article III, Charges, Division 1, § 35-58 Assessment of Front Footage Charges for Service Connection, of the City Code for more information.
   (f)   The water main capacity charge is calculated by dividing the development cost by the water pipe’s net capacity. The water pipe’s net capacity is determined in accordance with the most current version if the city’s Policy and Procedure for Processing Water and Wastewater Projects for Design and Construction, using a coefficient of roughness of 120. The maximum pipe capacity will be based on a pipe friction loss of seven feet per 1,000 feet length of pipe or water velocity of seven feet per second, whichever is more conservative. The net pipe capacity is equal to the maximum pipe capacity subtract the minimum residential fire flow. Currently the minimum residential fire flow per Fort Worth fire department is 1.44 MGD, which may change with future adoption of the International Fire Code. See a table below for net capacity based on pipe size.
 
Maximum Design Capacity for Water Mains (12 in. to 54 in.)
Water Main Size (I.D.)
Pipe Velocity (ft./sec.)
Pipe Friction Loss
(ft./1,000 ft.)
Maximum Capacity (MGD)
Net Capacity
(MGD)
12 in.
3.55
7.00
2.3
0.86
16 in.
5.43
7.0
4.9
4.86
24 in.
7.00
7.00
14.2
12.76
30 in.
7.00
5.37
22.2
20.76
36 in.
7.00
4.33
32.0
30.56
 
Maximum Design Capacity for Water Mains (16 in. to 54 in.)
Water Main Size (I.D.)
Pipe Velocity (ft./sec.)
Pipe Friction Loss
(ft./1,000 ft.)
Maximum Capacity (MGD)
Net Capacity
(MGD)
42 in.
7.00
3.64
43.5
42.06
48 in.
7.00
3.14
56.8
55.36
54 in.
7.00
2.72
72.0
70.56
 
(Ord. 17623, § 2, passed 6-19-2007; Ord. 21251-05-2014, § 4, passed 5-20-2014; Ord. 23708-06-2019, § 7, passed 6-25-2019)
§ 35-93 ASSESSMENT AND PAYMENT OF THE WATER MAIN CAPACITY CHARGE; REFUND TO A DEVELOPER AND CITY; ADMINISTRATION.
   (a)   The water department shall be responsible for the collection, refund and maintenance of the water main capacity charge collected.
   (b)   A water main capacity charge shall be assessed each plat that meets the definition of "other development." A boundary area shall be determined for the purpose of assessment review. The boundary shall be used as a guideline, not as a definitive boundary for service area due to the possibility of varying lots sizes that may be proposed. If a plat meets the definition of "other development," then the plat will be assessed the per MDG charge even though the plat may be located adjacent to, within and/or outside the boundary area.
   (c)   To determine a boundary area, the assumption of one MGD serving 137 acres will be used. This assumption is based upon one acre containing four and three tenths units of houses. To calculate the boundary area, multiply the pipe capacity in MGD under § 35-92(c) by 137 acres. To convert the area to square footage, multiple the area by 43,560. Then, divide the total area in square footage by the total length of pipe extended in feet to determine the width of the boundary area in feet. To determine the distance on each side of the pipe, divide the width by two. Pressure plane boundaries, adjacent city limits, extra territorial jurisdictions, and CCN boundaries may be utilized to refine the proposed WMCC boundary area.
   (d)   The payment of the water main capacity charge assessed hereunder shall be paid prior to the filing of final plat.
   (e)   A four percent (4%) annual cost adjustment shall be added to each prescribed water main capacity charge. The annual cost adjustment increase shall be assessed on January 1st of each year.
   (f)   A water main capacity charge will be assessed for a period of 20 years, commencing on the date that the city accepts the water main.
   (g)   Collections and reimbursements of a water main capacity charge will cease when the developer has been fully reimbursed or the time period for assessment of the water main capacity charge has lapsed, whichever occurs first.
   (h)   Reimbursement shall be made solely from the water main capacity charge collected by the city during the period that the water main capacity charge is assessed for the water service line connections and point of connections to the approach water main.
   (i)   Any assignment of the water main capacity charge must be approved by the water department director prior to the execution of the assignment.
   (j)   Existing community facilities agreements with mains, or other facilities, eligible for water main capacity charge collections will continue under the policy that was in effect at the time the agreement was executed.
   (k)   The reimbursement limit, together with the project number, date construction was completed, permanent record number of the water main, limits of portion of the water main upon which a water main capacity charge is collectible, and name of the entity entitled to the refund shall be documented by the city.
   (l)   Upon written request by the developer during the month of November, reimbursements will be made annually during the last two months of the calendar year from which water main capacity charges were paid to the city.
   (m)   It is the responsibility of the developer/landowner requesting the refund to prove their eligibility to receive the reimbursement due.
   (n)   In the event the developer/single customer property owner fails to request a reimbursement on a water main capacity charge within six months after the expiration of the eligibility to receive funds, such un-reimbursed charges shall become the property of the city.
   (o)   The amount of refund due to the developer each year shall be the assessed water main capacity charge collected that year multiplied by the "developer's development cost percentage." The remaining portion of the amount collected that year shall be retained by the city as an offset against the development cost incurred by the city.
   (p)   The city will recover the city development cost for city-initiated approach water main projects or city participation in a developer-initiated approach water main. The city's collection time will cease when city development cost has been fully reimbursed.
(Ord. 17623, § 2, passed 6-19-2007; Ord. 23708-06-2019, § 8, passed 6-25-2019; Ord. 26623-12-2023, § 4, passed 12-12-2023, eff. 1-1-2024)
DIVISION 5: SEWER CAPACITY CHARGES
§ 35-94 PURPOSE.
   The purpose of this division is to allow developers and the city to recover a portion of the costs incurred that are associated with the construction of sewer infrastructure that meets the criteria in this division.
(Ord. 26324-08-2023, § 1, passed 8-8-2023)
§ 35-95 DEFINITIONS.
   The following terms, when used in this division, shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
   APPROACH SEWER MAIN. The portion of a newly constructed public sewer main or force main from where it connects to an existing sewer main to the closest outer perimeter of a proposed development.
   CITY-INITIATED SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE. Any sewer infrastructure constructed by the city, regardless of the size or length of the infrastructure constructed.
   CITY PARTICIPATION. The portion of the construction cost that the city pays for or reimburses to a developer pursuant to the Community Facilities Agreements Ordinance, including the city's cost for over-sizing developer-initiated sewer infrastructure.
   DEVELOPMENT COST.
   (a)   The costs incurred by the city related to a city-initiated sewer infrastructure project, or the city participation costs in a developer-initiated sewer infrastructure project, which costs are based upon the unit costs contained in the contracts awarded for the construction of the sewer infrastructure that are not paid for with impact fee funds, regardless of the final cost, and may include design and easement acquisition costs, including any costs and legal fees associated with condemnation of easements; or
   (b)   The cost incurred by a developer related to the construction of a developer-initiated approach sewer main based solely on the cost of the contracts awarded for the construction of such sewer main, without regard to the final cost, and may include design and reasonable easement acquisition costs, but excludes any legal and real estate agent fees and other condemnation expenses.
   DEVELOPER-INITIATED SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE. Any approach sewer main constructed by a developer, with or without cost participation, regardless of the length and size of the pipe.
   DEVELOPER'S DEVELOPMENT COST PERCENTAGE. The development cost incurred by the developer divided by the entire cost of the project excluding the developer's legal, real estate agent fees, and other condemnation expenses, expressed as a percentage.
   FRONTAGE MAIN. The portion of a public sanitary sewer main or force main located on land abutting a street, stream, drainage channel, or water body, or the portion of a public sanitary sewer main or force main located within a property boundary.
   OTHER DEVELOPMENT. A property that is developing, redeveloping, going through a change of use, or previously on a septic system or other sewer system, that connects directly or indirectly to sewer infrastructure for which a sewer capacity charge has been established.
   PEAK DISCHARGE RATE. The peak discharge rate contained in the sewer study or loading analysis approved by the city.
   PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT. A property for which sanitary sewer service is being requested that requires the construction of developer-initiated sewer infrastructure.
   SEWER CAPACITY CHARGE. A pro rata charge based on one million gallons per day (MGD) of sewer capacity.
   SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE. An approach sewer main, frontage main, public sewer main or force main crossing a property boundary, or a public lift station, constructed by the city, or a developer, that is not included in the city's most recently adopted water and wastewater impact fee study.
(Ord. 26324-08-2023, § 1, passed 8-8-2023)
Loading...