5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Oakland County, Michigan.
Verified from official government sources
The Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner (WRC) adopted new countywide Stormwater Engineering Design Standards effective May 31, 2021. They apply to any development of 1 acre or more that connects directly to an Oakland County drain, stream, underground pipe, or retention pond under WRC jurisdiction, and to projects in communities that have adopted the regional standard to meet their MS4 permit obligations.
Any earth change of 1 acre or more, or any earth change within 500 feet of a lake, stream, wetland, or county drain in Oakland County, requires a Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control (SESC) permit from the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner. The program is administered under Part 91 of Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA), Act 451 of 1994 (MCL 324.9101 et seq.).
MCL 324.9101 (NREPA Part 91 – Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control)
"Earth change" means a human-made change in the natural cover or topography of land, including cut and fill activities, which may result in or contribute to soil erosion or sedimentation of the waters of the state. Earth change does not include the practice of plowing and tilling soil for the purpose of crop production.
Oakland County communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and enforce local floodplain ordinances mapped against FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). In addition, Michigan EGLE requires a state Floodplain Use Permit under Part 31 of NREPA for any fill, grading, or construction in the 100-year floodplain of a stream or drain with a drainage area of 2 square miles or more.
Grading and on-site drainage in Oakland County are governed under three overlapping authorities: (1) Part 91 SESC for earth changes; (2) the Oakland County Stormwater Engineering Design Standards for runoff control; and (3) the Michigan Drain Code of 1956 (Public Act 40 of 1956) for any work that connects to, crosses, or alters a county-established drain. A Drain Use Permit from the Water Resources Commissioner is required before discharging stormwater into, or crossing, any county drain.
Oakland County contains hundreds of inland lakes (Cass Lake, Orchard Lake, Lake Orion, Union Lake, Walled Lake, and others). Seasonal single-family docks placed by a riparian property owner generally do NOT require a permit. However, permanent docks, multi-family or commercial docks, large boat hoists, marinas, and dredging require a state permit from Michigan EGLE under Part 301 of NREPA (Inland Lakes and Streams Act), MCL 324.30101 et seq.
1 cities in Oakland County have their own environmental rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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