Franklin, TN Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

Erosion and sediment control on construction sites in Franklin is governed by Title 23 (Stormwater Management) of the Franklin Municipal Code plus the TDEC NPDES Construction General Permit TNR100000 administered by the City of Franklin as a Qualified Local Program (QLP) since August 1, 2017. The thresholds layer as follows: any land-disturbing activity of one acre or more, or less than one acre if it is part of a larger common plan of development or sale, requires coverage under TNR100000, a site-specific SWPPP prepared by a Tennessee Certified Stormwater Inspector or a similarly qualified designer, a Notice of Intent filed with the City, and a Notice of Coverage issued before clearing or grading begins. For Franklin sites between 5,000 square feet and one acre that do not install any permanent stormwater BMPs, the City still requires a SWPPP submitted to the Engineering Department under the local Title 23 framework. Required EPSC measures on covered sites include perimeter silt fence at down-gradient edges, inlet protection at every storm drain and curb inlet, stabilized construction entrances with rock pads to control vehicle tracking, sediment traps or basins sized per the TDEC Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook (DWR NPDES SOP G-16), concrete washout containment, dewatering controls, riparian buffer protection along Harpeth River tributaries and other regulated waterways, and prompt temporary or permanent stabilization of disturbed areas within 14 days of the last disturbance. The SWPPP must remain on site, must be updated with inspection records weekly and after every 0.5-inch or greater rainfall, and must be available to City inspectors and TDEC inspectors. NPDES construction permit questions for Franklin go to Doug Noonan at (615) 626-7702 (QLP program) or the Stormwater Coordinator at (615) 791-3218.