# Who Maintains Ditches and Culverts in Houston? | Who Pays the Repair?

> Houston Public Works maintains storm sewers and ditches, but the abutting property owner keeps ditches free of debris and replaces damaged driveway culverts.

**Who pays:** shared

Houston maintains storm sewers and ditches, but you must keep the ditch in front of your property clear and replace a damaged driveway culvert.

**Boundary:** Houston Public Works maintains the City's storm sewer system and its roadside and major ditches. Per City Code of Ordinance, the abutting property owner must keep ditches free of debris, and replacing a new, damaged or undersized culvert under a driveway is the property owner's responsibility.

## Sources
- [Stormwater Maintenance](https://houstonpublicworks.org/stormwater-maintenance) — "The Storm Sewer Maintenance Section (closed system) handles the operation and maintenance of the City's storm sewer system" (accessed 2026-09-30)
- [Stormwater Maintenance](https://houstonpublicworks.org/stormwater-maintenance) — "The Ditch Maintenance Section (open system) handles the operation and maintenance of the City's ditches (roadside and major/off-road) and detention systems" (accessed 2026-09-30)
- [Stormwater Maintenance](https://houstonpublicworks.org/stormwater-maintenance) — "Per City Code of Ordinance, it is the abutting property owner’s responsibility to maintain ditches free of debris so water can flow with minimal obstructions" (accessed 2026-09-30)
- [Stormwater Maintenance](https://houstonpublicworks.org/stormwater-maintenance) — "new culverts, or culverts that are damaged or undersized below residential or commercial driveways, are the property owner's responsibility for replacement." (accessed 2026-09-30)

_Last verified 2026-09-30. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/houston-tx-roadside-ditch-storm-sewer-maintenance/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._