Iowa City, IA Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

Iowa City holds a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for its municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4), issued by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and section 17-8-15 implements the City's obligation under that permit to police construction runoff. Anyone required to get an NPDES general permit #2, and anyone disturbing earth on a parcel under one acre that is part of a larger common plan of development of one acre or more, must also obtain a City construction site runoff (CSR) permit before a building permit or site plan is approved.

The applicant pays an application fee set by City Council resolution for CSR permits tied to a building permit on a platted lot, and bears the actual cost of any inspection beyond three; permits not tied to a platted-lot building permit carry no application fee but the applicant still pays for reviews and inspections. Every CSR applicant must file a storm water pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) that complies with the Iowa Statewide Urban Design and Specifications (SUDAS), covers stockpile protection, temporary and permanent erosion controls, protection of sensitive areas and waterways, and storm sewer inlet protection, and must identify an on-site person responsible for erosion control compliance.

The enforcement officer must conduct at least one unannounced inspection during construction, and the applicant must report any change in site conditions posing a discharge risk within 24 hours. 22, with penalties set in subsection 1-4-2D, and decisions may be appealed to the board of appeals under title 17, chapter 12.