Grading and drainage work in Rockland County requires permits from local building or engineering departments. Significant grading triggers SWPPP requirements. Rockland County Drainage Agency oversees drainage district works including the Mahwah, Pascack, Sparkill, and other creek systems. Steep slope ordinances restrict grading on slopes over 15-25%.
Each Rockland town requires permits for significant grading. Clarkstown Town Code §177 (Soil Erosion and Sediment Control) requires a permit for disturbance exceeding 5,000 sq ft or fill/excavation over 100 cubic yards. Ramapo Town Code §195 regulates grading and §376-127.1 (Steep Slope and Ridge Protection) prohibits or limits grading on slopes greater than 15%. Orangetown Town Code §28 regulates grading; §3A (Steep Slope Protection) covers slopes >15%. Plans require spot elevations, proposed contours, erosion controls, drainage calculations for 10-year/100-year storms, and review by town engineer. Drainage work within Rockland County Drainage Agency districts (designated watersheds of the Mahwah, Pascack, Sparkill, Hackensack, Minisceongo, Demarest Kill) requires RCDA review and permit. NY DEC permits required for wetland/stream work under ECL Article 24 (freshwater wetlands) or Article 15 (protection of waters). Work within 100 feet of a regulated freshwater wetland may require DEC permit.
Grading without permit: stop-work order, daily fines $250-$1,000 (Clarkstown §177), restoration required. DEC wetland violations: up to $11,000 per day per ECL §71-2303. Steep-slope violations in Ramapo can require expensive geotechnical remediation.
Rockland County, NY
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Rockland County, NY
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Rockland County, NY
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Rockland County, NY
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Rockland County, NY
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Rockland County, NY
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See how Rockland County's grading & drainage rules stack up against other locations.
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