Troy, NY Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

Chapter 159 of the Troy City Code, adopted by the City Council as Local Law No. 1-2008, applies to any land development activity. Section 159-5 defines that as construction activity disturbing one acre or more, plus smaller disturbances that are part of a larger common plan of development or sale. Under § 159-4, no person can commence or perform that work without an approved stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP). Exempt activities include emergency work, normal lawn and landscaping maintenance, home gardening, and agricultural operations where the land disturbance is under one acre.

The design standards in § 159-11 are the operative construction rules. Cut and fill slopes cannot exceed 2:1 unless retaining walls, structural stabilization or other acceptable methods are used, and disturbed areas must be restored as natural appearing landforms. Sediment controls go in first: clearing cannot begin until all sediment control devices have been installed and stabilized. Stabilization must start within 14 days after work stops on a portion of the site, with exceptions for snow cover or frozen ground and for areas where earth-disturbing work resumes within 21 days. Seeding must become established within 14 days or the applicant can be required to reseed or switch to a nonvegetative option. Phasing is required on sites disturbing greater than 30 acres, and no more than five acres of soil can sit disturbed at one time without prior written approval from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Land-disturbing activity is not permitted on severe slopes, those exceeding 25%, and a twenty-five-foot buffer must be kept between any disturbed area and the top of those slopes.

Inspection is built into the process. Under § 159-14, the applicant notifies the City Zoning Enforcement Officer at least 48 hours before the start of construction, completion of rough grading, completion of final grading and the other listed stages. A qualified professional inspects the site at least every seven calendar days and within 24 hours of a storm event of 0.5 inch or greater, and the operator keeps the results in a site logbook.