Vancouver requires stormwater management plans for projects disturbing 7,000 sq ft or more of land, or creating 2,000 sq ft or more of new impervious surface. Natural drainage patterns must be preserved and discharges maintained at their natural locations.
VMC Chapter 14.25 (Stormwater Control) implements Vancouver's NPDES Phase II municipal stormwater permit. A Construction Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) is required when new plus replaced hard surface totals 2,000 sq ft or more, or land-disturbing activity totals 7,000 sq ft or more. Natural drainage patterns must be maintained and site discharges must occur at their natural location to the maximum extent practicable (VMC 14.25.204). Projects adding 5,000 sq ft or more of impervious surface, or disturbing one acre or more, may require performance bonding. Grading permits are administered by Community Development; drainage design must comply with the City's Surface Water General Requirements Manual. VMC 14.25.120 governs enforcement.
Violations subject to civil penalties under VMC 14.25.120; stop-work orders may be issued; corrective action and restoration required at owner's expense.
Vancouver, WA
Vancouver prohibits leaving any vehicle parked on a public street for more than 24 consecutive hours. Officers attach a notification sticker; if the vehicle ...
Vancouver, WA
Vancouver's Municipal Code Chapter 20.912 governs all fences, walls, and retaining walls citywide. Residential fences have tiered height limits by yard locat...
Vancouver, WA
Vancouver has no dedicated local ordinance banning wildlife feeding. Washington state law prohibits feeding large wild carnivores and, since May 2025, feedin...
Vancouver, WA
Vancouver allows hens, ducks, geese, rabbits, and similar domestic animals in all zoning districts for hobby use with no minimum lot size. Roosters, turkeys,...
Vancouver, WA
Vancouver's Land Use and Development Code (VMC Chapter 20.925) encourages but does not universally mandate native plants. For development projects, native an...
Vancouver, WA
Vancouver allows residential lawn ornaments and yard art without permits provided they do not exceed the 8-foot residential accessory-structure height standa...
See how Vancouver's grading & drainage rules stack up against other locations.
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