Blaine, MN Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

Blaine's soil erosion and sedimentation control ordinance, Sec. 129-24, requires a grading, erosion and sediment control plan for any land disturbance activity or project that disturbs more than 20,000 square feet. The plan has to minimize exposed soil, disturbance to natural cover, and off-site sediment tracking, and it must protect receiving waters, wetlands, and storm sewer inlets from sediment. Projects also have to comply with the city's municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permit and, where applicable, a federal NPDES construction stormwater permit, and every applicant must submit a stormwater pollution prevention plan, or SWPPP, alongside the grading plan.

Once work begins, the SWPPP's designated trained contact must inspect the site at least once every seven days during active construction and again within 24 hours of any rainfall of a half inch or more in 24 hours. City engineering staff also conduct their own inspections before work starts, at project completion, and before releasing any financial security posted for the project. If the city finds a site is not meeting its SWPPP, it can issue a stop-work order, withhold inspections or a certificate of occupancy, correct the deficiency itself or hire a contractor to do it, and bill the property owner or draw against the posted financial security for the cost. Costs not paid within 30 days of the city incurring them come out of that financial security.