Queens County, NY Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

Erosion control in Queens is regulated through multiple overlapping layers. Under the NYS SPDES General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activity (GP-0-20-001), any site disturbing one acre or more (or part of a larger common plan of development) must file a Notice of Intent and maintain a site-specific Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan with erosion and sediment controls. The NYC Department of Environmental Protection enforces MS4 requirements under 15 RCNY Chapter 19.1, and the NYC Department of Buildings requires a Technical Report TR1 for soil and sediment controls on most excavation projects. Typical required Best Management Practices include silt fences, inlet protection, stabilized construction entrances, sediment traps or basins, and temporary seeding. Queens construction along the waterfront, including Long Island City, Hunters Point South, Arverne-by-the-Sea, and Rockaway shoreline projects, requires additional NYS DEC Article 25 tidal wetlands permits and Coastal Erosion Hazard Area compliance. Properties within FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas face supplemental drainage and stabilization review. Final stabilization with permanent groundcover is required before a project can close out its SWPPP. Inspections are required at a minimum of every seven days and within 24 hours after any storm event of 0.5 inch or greater.