Westfield, IN Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

Article V of the environment chapter, rewritten by Ordinance No. 06-52 in 2006, exists "to ensure perimeter sediment and erosion control, with best management practices (BMP's) being utilized to prevent and minimize sediment and erosion discharge from leaving the construction site" and to keep non-storm-water discharges out of the city's MS4 storm sewer system (§ 34-111). Responsibility runs with the Improvement Location Permit (ILP), Westfield's building permit: the permittee must keep BMPs, such as sediment fence, straw mat, seed, mulch, or fiber rolls, in place and functioning from before grading through issuance of a certificate of occupancy.

After the C of O issues, the property owner takes over responsibility for maintaining erosion control until the site reaches 70 percent mature ground cover, which the code requires within two years of the C of O. The Westfield Public Works Department (WPWD) administers, inspects, and enforces the article, including inspections after every rain event of a half-inch or more in 24 hours, and can issue a written notice of violation, a stop work order, or suspend MS4 access outright where discharges pose imminent danger (§ 34-115).

An uncorrected verbal warning escalates to a pending stop work order with a $50 re-inspection penalty after one day, and a full stop work order with an added $50 penalty after three days. Owners may appeal a notice of violation to the city council within ten days, with a hearing scheduled within 30 days.