De Pere, WI Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

Section 42-10(a) bars any responsible party from commencing land-disturbing construction activity covered by chapter 42 without prior approval of a site-specific erosion and sediment control plan and a permit from the building inspector. The applicant submits that plan along with an application fee set by common council resolution, and by applying authorizes the inspector to enter the site to review it. Under subsection (c), the inspector has 20 business days from a complete application to approve or disapprove it, must state reasons in writing for any disapproval, and gets another 20 business days if additional information is requested; if the inspector misses that deadline, the application is deemed approved and the applicant can proceed as though a permit had issued.

The inspector may require a surety bond or irrevocable letter of credit to guarantee the plan is carried out. Once issued, a permit obligates the responsible party to notify the inspector within 48 hours of starting work, complete BMPs and notify the inspector within 14 business days of installing them, inspect BMPs within 24 hours after any half-inch rain event and at least weekly, and keep a written inspection log at the site. Permits run 180 days or the length of the building permit, whichever is longer, and the inspector can grant extensions up to 180 days cumulatively.

If work proceeds without a permit, the erosion and sediment control plan is not being followed in good faith, or permit conditions are violated, the building inspector can post a stop-work order, revoke the permit, and ultimately seek a cease-and-desist order through the city attorney.