Chicopee, MA Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

Construction-site erosion and sediment control in Chicopee comes from Chapter 231, Stormwater Management, adopted by the City Council on 10-1-2024 as Ord. No. 24-78. It applies to projects covered by § 231-3: multifamily developments of three or more units, projects adding 4,000 sq ft or more of impervious surface, and land disturbance of one acre or more. The stormwater management plan under § 231-4 must include an erosion and sediment control plan showing the location and details of control measures, with notes on construction sequence and phasing, temporary stabilization, and procedures to store and control discharge of construction and waste materials. The applicant also arranges an erosion control inspection with the Superintendent to confirm the practices match the plan.

Section 231-5(C) sets the field rules. Before land disturbance begins, permitted disturbance limits are marked with high-visibility flagging, fencing or signage, and tree protection goes around the dripline of every tree to be preserved. Clearing and grading happen only in areas needed to build the project, and construction is phased to minimize the area of disturbed soil at any one time. Soil stabilization is the timing rule: exposed areas are vegetated, hydromulched, protected with erosion control blankets or otherwise stabilized within 14 days after work has permanently ceased or will be inactive for 14 or more days, and vegetative cover is prepared by November 1.

Other requirements in the same subsection include perimeter sediment controls such as silt fencing and filter tubes, which stay until the drainage areas are permanently stabilized. Stockpiles cannot sit near a storm drain, a preserved tree or a wetland resource area, and stockpiles unused for 14 or more days are covered. Each construction entrance needs track-out controls such as a gravel apron, and tracked sediment on paved surfaces is swept or vacuumed at the end of the workday. Inlet protection, sediment traps and basins, stone aprons at pipe outlets, dust control during grading, and dewatering through tanks or filter bags round out the list. Dumpsters are covered at the end of every workday and before rain events.

Inspection duty is written into § 231-5(C)(15): controls are inspected as needed and at a minimum before and after rain events, with accumulated sediment removed and controls repaired or replaced.