Sedgwick County, KS Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

Sedgwick County Code Sec. 23-270 sets the baseline: adequate erosion prevention and sediment control BMPs are required for all land-disturbing activities of any size, and any resulting discharge of sediment to the county's MS4, to surface waters directly, or onto adjacent properties is itself a violation. Sec. 23-271 triggers the fuller SWPPP track for construction activities that need an NPDES permit from KDHE, and for smaller sites under one acre if the director decides the water-quality impact warrants it; farm-property construction is exempt unless it needs a county building permit and disturbs less than one acre.

Under Sec. 23-272, no construction may start until the director approves the SWPPP, KDHE has approved the Notice of Intent, and any required floodplain development permit is issued. Sec. 23-273 requires BMPs installed under the Kansas Construction General Permit and the county stormwater manual to be maintained and repaired at the owner's or operator's own expense throughout every stage of the work, covering streets, utilities, drainage facilities, and both temporary and permanent improvements. Separately, Sec. 23-251 addresses land that is already eroding: once the director gives written notice, the property owner has 30 calendar days (extendable if conditions warrant) to stabilize and revegetate exposed soil, though farming activity and minor disturbances under an acre, like gardening or septic installation, are exempt.

This article applies only to unincorporated Sedgwick County per Sec. 23-205; Wichita enforces its own stormwater and erosion-control provisions under city code, so a construction site inside Wichita city limits is not governed by this chapter.