Bucks County, PA Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

Erosion and sediment control in Bucks County is governed by Pennsylvania's Chapter 102 regulations (25 Pa. Code §102.1-102.54) issued under the PA Clean Streams Law (35 P.S. §691.1 et seq.). All earth disturbance requires planning and implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) regardless of size — Chapter 102 applies to all disturbances. Formal E&S plans are required for disturbances of 5,000 square feet or more, with written plan review and approval by the Bucks County Conservation District (BCCD), which operates under delegation agreement with PA DEP. Projects disturbing 1 acre or more require the NPDES Construction General Permit (PAG-02) or an individual NPDES permit, also administered through BCCD. Required BMPs typically include: silt fence around the perimeter of disturbed areas; stabilized construction entrances (rock aprons preventing track-out); temporary and permanent seeding/stabilization; rock check dams in concentrated flow paths; sediment traps/basins for larger sites; inlet protection for storm drains; tree protection fencing; straw or coconut coir erosion control blankets on slopes. Disturbed areas must be stabilized within 4 days of reaching final grade (7 days in high-quality and exceptional-value watersheds under 25 Pa. Code §93). Routine inspection during construction is required. Post-construction, permanent stabilization through vegetation or hardscape must be achieved. Bucks County has multiple streams classified as High Quality (HQ) or Exceptional Value (EV) under 25 Pa. Code §93 (including Tohickon Creek in its upper reaches), triggering enhanced requirements. Violations may result in stop-work orders from municipal code officers, BCCD, or PA DEP, with civil penalties up to $10,000 per day under Clean Streams Law.