Ramapo, NY Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Disturbance cap
- 5 acres disturbed at one time
- Plan required
- SWPPP with erosion/sediment controls
- Advance notice for inspections
- 48 hours before key phases
- Inspection frequency
- Every 7 days, or after 0.5-inch storms
- First-offense fine
- Up to $1,000
- Civil penalty
- Up to $3,000 per day
Summary
Ramapo caps active soil disturbance on a construction site at five acres at a time and forces every regulated project to file a stormwater pollution prevention plan naming its erosion and sediment control practices. The Stormwater Management Officer inspects each construction phase, and 48-hour notice is required before erosion controls go in.
Construction phasing plan describing the intended sequence of construction activities, including clearing and grubbing, excavation and grading, utility and infrastructure installation and any other activity at the site that results in soil disturbance. Consistent with the New York Standards and Specifications for Erosion and Sediment Control (Erosion Control Manual), not more than five acres shall be disturbed at any one time unless pursuant to an approved SWPPP;
Full Breakdown
Ramapo Code Chapter 237, Article II, governs the erosion and sediment control measures required on every regulated construction site. Under Section 237-8A, a stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) must include a site map showing the location, size and length of each erosion and sediment control practice, dimensions and installation details for those practices, an implementation schedule for staging temporary controls, and a maintenance schedule to keep them working. Construction phasing must follow the New York Standards and Specifications for Erosion and Sediment Control, called the Erosion Control Manual, and Section 237-8A(4) caps disturbance at five acres at any one time unless a broader SWPPP has been approved.
Once work starts, Section 237-17 requires the applicant to notify the Town's enforcement official at least 48 hours before installing sediment and erosion control measures, completing site clearing, rough grading, final grading, closing the construction season, and finishing landscaping, so the Stormwater Management Officer can inspect each phase. A qualified professional must document the effectiveness of every erosion and sediment control practice at least every seven days and within 24 hours of any storm producing half an inch of rain or more, recorded in a site log book (Section 237-13).
If an inspection finds a violation, Section 237-17A(2) bars further work, other than site stabilization, until the Stormwater Management Officer signs off that it has been corrected.
Violations & Fines
Violating the erosion and sediment control standards in Chapter 237 is punishable under Section 237-19D by a fine of up to $1,000 for a first offense, $1,000 to $2,500 or 15 days in jail for a second offense within five years, and $2,500 to $5,000 or 15 days for a third offense, with each week of continued violation counted as a separate offense. The Town may also impose a civil penalty of up to $3,000 per day and issue a stop-work order until the Stormwater Management Officer confirms compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much land can a Ramapo construction site disturb at once?
How far ahead must a Ramapo builder notify the Town before installing erosion controls?
What happens if an erosion control inspection finds a violation in Ramapo?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ramapo
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