Colonie, NY Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

Town Code § 190-78A bars approval of any land development activity, and bars issuance of a grading permit, until a stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) is accepted. Under § 190-78B every SWPPP must include, at minimum, an erosion and sediment control plan meeting the New York State Standards and Specifications for Erosion and Sediment Control and the Town's own highway and drainage standards. Section 190-79 sets the performance criteria: the smallest practical area of land must be exposed at any one time, exposure must be kept to the shortest practical period, and any area over one acre exposed for more than two weeks needs temporary vegetation, mulch, geo-textiles or emulsion, a construction fence where airborne soil is a risk, and dust control such as watering temporary roadways in dry weather.

Sediment basins, debris basins, silting basins, silt fencing or silt traps must be installed and maintained to remove sediment from runoff on any land undergoing development, and no vegetation or waste material may be buried on site. Article XIV applies to all real property in the Town under § 190-76A; projects under subdivision or site plan review submit the SWPPP with that application, while any other land development activity disturbing over one acre must submit a SWPPP to the Stormwater Management Office under § 190-76C.

Before approval, § 190-79E requires the applicant to deposit a cash escrow with the Town Comptroller to guarantee the site work; the Bureau of Engineering inspects on completion and releases the deposit only once the work matches the approved plan. Section 190-81A requires 48 hours' notice to the Town before key construction milestones, including installation of sediment and erosion control measures, so an inspector can confirm compliance.