Springfield, IL Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

City Code Chapter 154 requires an erosion control permit for building or construction on any land area, land disturbance affecting 4,000 square feet or more, excavation or filling of 200 cubic yards or more, work on slopes greater than 12 percent grade, and underground utility work extending 300 feet or more, among other listed activities (Sec. 06(a)). Agricultural use, gardening, ordinary landscaping, tree harvesting, and disturbances below those thresholds are exempt (Sec. 06(b)). For sites under one acre, the applicant submits a permit application and erosion control plan to the Office of Public Works, Department of Building and Zoning, which must issue or deny the permit within two weeks, with one-week review cycles for resubmittals (Sec.

07(a)). Sites of one acre or more route through the city engineer and must include the Illinois EPA Notice of Intent and Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan, with a two-week review cycle (Sec. 07(b)). Permit fees run $100 for one acre or less, $80 per acre from one to five acres, and $20 per acre thereafter, with no transfer fee (Sec. 08). 5 inches or more in 24 hours, and repair damaged controls immediately (Sec. 11). Soil left inactive more than 14 calendar days must be stabilized by mulching, seeding, sodding, or covering, and storage piles over ten cubic yards must sit at least 25 feet from a roadway ditch or drainage channel if left 14 or more days (Sec. 15(c)(9)-(10)).