Environmental Rules in New Bedford, MA (2026)
5 verified environmental rules for New Bedford, Massachusetts, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
New Bedford bars anyone from altering land within the city without first obtaining a stormwater management permit (SMP) under Code of Ordinances § 16-134(a). The commissioner of the Department of Public Infrastructure serves as the city's stormwater authority, reviewing applications for new development, redevelopment, and linear projects like footpaths under the city's stormwater rules and regulations.
New Bedford Stormwater Management Permit Rule
Significant RestrictionsNew Bedford Code of Ordinances § 16-134(a)
(a)No person shall alter land within the City of New Bedford without having obtained a stormwater management permit (SMP). The storm water authority may seek input from city departments during the review of a storm water permit application. City departments shall provide input to the storm water authority, upon request.(1)New development.a.Except as expressly provided herein, stormwater runoff ...
Erosion Control
New Bedford requires phased developments that must file a Development Impact Statement to describe exactly how construction will control erosion and sedimentation, naming methods such as sediment basins, mulching, matting, temporary vegetation, and covered soil stockpiles, and requires all site-plan-reviewed projects to minimize erosion generally.
New Bedford Construction Erosion Control Standard
Light RestrictionsZoning Ordinance § 5355(a)
5355. Phasing. Where development of the site will be phased over more than one year, indicate the following: (a)Describe the methods to be used during construction to control erosion and sedimentation through use of sediment basins, mulching, matting, temporary vegetation, or covering of soil stockpiles. Describe the approximate size and location of portion of the parcel to be cleared at any gi...
Flood Zones
New Bedford's Floodplain Overlay District covers every FEMA-mapped special flood hazard area in the city and requires a permit for any development within it, from new buildings to fences, sheds and grading. Development must also comply with the state building code and DEP wetlands regulations.
New Bedford Floodplain Overlay District Development Rules
Significant RestrictionsNew Bedford Zoning Ordinance §§ 4430, 4478 (Flood Hazard Overlay District)
Permits are required for all proposed development in the Floodplain Overlay District. The City of New Bedford requires a permit for all proposed construction or other development in the floodplain overlay district, including new construction or changes to existing buildings, placement of manufactured homes, placement of agricultural facilities, fences, sheds, storage facilities or drilling, min...
Vehicle Idling Restrictions
New Bedford outlaws letting any parked motor vehicle idle for more than ten consecutive minutes. Emergency vehicles responding to calls, utility crews working on utility facilities, traffic jams beyond a driver's control, and refrigeration units on delivery trucks are the only exceptions, and the registered owner is presumed responsible whenever a parked vehicle is caught idling.
New Bedford's Ten-Minute Vehicle Idling Limit
Some RestrictionsNew Bedford, MA Code of Ordinances § 23-27
(a)Ten-minute limitation. No person may cause or allow a motor vehicle to idle for more than ten consecutive minutes while that vehicle is parked.(b)Exceptions. The limitation set forth in the preceding subsection shall not apply to:(1)Fire trucks, police cars, ambulances, and other emergency vehicles while responding to an emergency call.(2)Utility vehicles, including contractor's equipment, w...
Flood Elevation Requirements
In New Bedford's unnumbered A flood zones, subdivisions or developments larger than 50 lots or 5 acres, whichever is less, must supply base flood elevation data. Along undesignated floodways, the best available federal, state or local data is used to bar any encroachment that would raise flood levels.
New Bedford Base Flood Elevation Data Requirements
Some RestrictionsNew Bedford Zoning Ordinance § 4440 (Base Flood Elevation and Floodway Data)
1. Floodway Data. In Zones A, and AE, along watercourses that have not had a regulatory floodway designated, the best available federal, state, local, or other floodway data shall be used to prohibit encroachments in floodways which would result in any increase in flood levels within the community during the occurrence of the base flood discharge. 2. Base Flood Elevation Data. Base flood elevat...
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