Westminster, CO Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

makes anyone who disturbs the surface of land responsible for controlling soil erosion, sedimentation and changed runoff so pollution of receiving waters stays minimized, and compliance with the chapter's minimum standards does not excuse a person from taking whatever extra steps are needed to protect water quality. Temporary BMPs, such as silt fence, wattles, vehicle tracking pads and sediment ponds, must be installed before any land disturbance operations begin, and sediment must be removed from runoff before it leaves the site. Under Section 8-11-5, a land disturbance permit is required whenever a project covers one acre or more, whenever a smaller site is part of a larger planned development, whenever the City Manager determines the area is environmentally sensitive, or whenever the City Manager otherwise deems a permit necessary.

Permit applications go through the Engineering Division in the Department of Community Services, and the fee set under Section 11-1-6 is non-refundable. Projects at or above the one-acre threshold must also prepare a Stormwater Management Plan under Section 8-11-6, describing the temporary BMPs and stormwater treatment facilities that will control pollutant loading before the City will accept the plan. Once a project is stabilized, Section 8-11-7 gives the permittee 14 calendar days to pull out the temporary BMPs, and responsibility for permanent stormwater treatment facilities continues in perpetuity, including disclosure to any buyer of an individual lot before closing. A permit cannot be closed out until final stabilization is achieved and the separate state stormwater construction permit is closed as well.