Springfield, MA Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

Permit or waiver required. Prior to the commencement of construction for any proposed development listed below, a stormwater management permit, or a waiver of the requirement for a stormwater management permit, must be issued by the Stormwater Authority. No person shall, on or after the effective date of this chapter, initiate any land clearing and grubbing, land grading, earth moving or development activities without first complying with this chapter.

(1) Multifamily residential developments involving four or more units;

(2) Any new commercial, industrial, institutional structures under the same ownership, with at least 5,000 square feet of gross floor area, 10,000 square feet of impervious surface, or that require 10 or more parking spaces;

(3) Redevelopment or additions to existing commercial, industrial, and institutional uses which result in an additional impervious surface area or gross floor area of greater than 5,000 square feet, or which results in an increase of 10 or more parking spaces;

(4) Construction activities and subdivisions disturbing greater than or equal to one acre;

(5) Development or redevelopment involving multiple separate activities in discontinuous locations or on different schedules if the activities are part of a larger common plan of development or redevelopment that together disturbs one or more acres.

B. Exemptions. The following uses and activities are exempt from the requirements for a stormwater management permit:

(1)