Sports fields will usually require a permit before starting an artificial turf installation. However, this is due to the size of the field, not necessarily the composition.
If an artificial turf playing field is under 2500 square feet, and does not raise the elevation by more than 24″, in most cases it will not require a permit.
All other projects will be avoided because fields of that size can adversely affect nearby drainage, heat absorption, and plant life. However, as long as the field is appropriately selected for the project, things like proper drainage, heat dissipation, and location will have already been considered.
Permit Fees and Code Compliance
As with other large cities, the permit fees paid to Houston pay for the inspectors and such, and help keep the fields standard in quality. The manufacturer of the playing surface will have expertly designed and tested every one, so inspections are largely ceremonial.
Location Restrictions
Artificial turf sports fields in Houston, Texas, are typically permitted without much hassle, but as mentioned earlier, the location may affect the approval. For example, a baseball, football, or soccer field installed in Houston must not adversely affect plant life, absorb too much heat, or cause nearby flooding.
Aesthetics and Maintenance
Artificial turf must be designed to look like natural turf in color and appearance, and owners are responsible for keeping the field in good condition, both functionally and aesthetically.
Limited Impervious Surface Size
Artificial turf playing fields include a drainage system to channel water away from the surface, but where the water drains to is important. As such, Houston regulates how many impervious surfaces can occupy a space, and carefully controls where the discharge water from the field eventually goes.
Artificial turf sports fields can have any number of substrates beneath them, which helps control the stability of the turf, and how the field will absorb, reflect, and dissipate UV energy from the sun..
Drainage
Artificial turf sports fields in Houston must have the ability to manage rainwater, either by absorption/or drainage. This is known in the industry as the surface’s permeability. This minimum permeability also applies to concrete pads and asphalt paving.
Institutional and Public Uses
The city of Houston enforces public safety and environmental impact regulations, but will allow artificial turf in most public spaces. These regulations are easy to follow when working with a qualified artificial turf installer, since they will follow the manufacturer’s directions to the letter.