New Bedford, MA Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- DIS erosion methods named
- Sediment basins, mulching, matting, temp vegetation, stockpile covering
- DIS trigger
- Phased development, at SPGA's discretion
- Broader erosion standard
- Site Plan Review, § 5471(i)
- DIS prepared by
- Registered engineer/landscape architect/surveyor team
- Approval lapse period
- 3 years without substantial use
Summary
New Bedford requires phased developments that must file a Development Impact Statement to describe exactly how construction will control erosion and sedimentation, naming methods such as sediment basins, mulching, matting, temporary vegetation, and covered soil stockpiles, and requires all site-plan-reviewed projects to minimize erosion generally.
5355. Phasing. Where development of the site will be phased over more than one year, indicate the following: (a)Describe the methods to be used during construction to control erosion and sedimentation through use of sediment basins, mulching, matting, temporary vegetation, or covering of soil stockpiles. Describe the approximate size and location of portion of the parcel to be cleared at any given time and length of time of exposure.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 19).
Full Breakdown
Under Section 5350, the special permit granting authority may, at its discretion, require a Development Impact Statement (DIS) prepared by an interdisciplinary team including a Registered Landscape Architect or Architect, a Registered Professional or Civil Engineer, and a Registered Surveyor. Section 5355, Phasing, applies where site development will be phased over more than one year and requires the applicant to describe the methods used during construction to control erosion and sedimentation, specifically citing sediment basins, mulching, matting, temporary vegetation, or covering of soil stockpiles, along with the size, location, and duration of exposure of any cleared portion of the parcel.
Beyond the DIS process, the broader Site Plan Review standard at Section 5471(i) separately directs the Site Plan Review Authority to minimize 'the extent of stormwater flow increase from the site, soil erosion, and the threat of air and water pollution' for any project meeting the Section 5420 thresholds, and Section 5470 ties new construction to the Department of Public Infrastructure's Stormwater Rules and Regulations. So most projects face erosion review through Site Plan Review even when no DIS is required.
Violations & Fines
No building permit issues without an approved site plan (Section 5450), and Section 5457 bars any deviation from an approved plan, including its erosion-control measures, without a Planning Board-approved modification. Site plan approvals, and the erosion-control commitments tied to them, lapse after three years without substantial use, forcing a new application under Section 5480.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does New Bedford require an erosion control plan for construction?
What if my New Bedford project doesn't need a Development Impact Statement?
Who has to prepare the erosion control section of a Development Impact Statement?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New Bedford
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Erosion Control in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Bristol County handle erosion control.