Plymouth County, MA Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger
- Grading within 100-ft buffer
- Permit
- Order of conditions required
- Standard
- MA Stormwater Standards
- Runoff
- No diversion onto neighbors
Summary
Grading, filling, or altering drainage within 100 feet of a wetland, bank, or coastal resource area triggers the Wetlands Protection Act and requires an order of conditions from the conservation commission. Runoff cannot be diverted onto neighboring property.
No person shall remove, fill, dredge or alter any bank, riverfront area, fresh water wetland, coastal wetland, beach, dune, flat, marsh, meadow or swamp bordering on the ocean or on any estuary, creek, river, stream, pond, or lake, or any land under said waters or any land subject to tidal action, coastal storm flowage, or flooding
Full Breakdown
Under MGL c.131 §40, moving earth or changing drainage within the 100-foot buffer of any bank, wetland, beach, or dune requires a filing with the town conservation commission. Across Plymouth County, commissions review grading plans to confirm that regraded lots and new drainage do not increase runoff, erosion, or sedimentation into wetlands and tidal waters. Post-construction stormwater must be recharged or treated on site under the Massachusetts Stormwater Standards. Outside the buffer, common-law drainage rules still bar diverting concentrated runoff onto an abutter, and many towns require a grading or earth-removal permit for larger projects.
Violations & Fines
Regrading or altering drainage in a wetland buffer without an order of conditions violates the Wetlands Protection Act. Diverting concentrated stormwater onto a neighbor creates civil liability for drainage damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need approval to regrade a lot near wetlands?
Can I grade my yard to drain toward my neighbor?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Plymouth County
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