Stormwater Management
Environmental Rules
Requirements for managing rainwater runoff on your property, including retention basins, permeable surfaces, and drainage plans.
How Stormwater Management Rules Differ by Place
Gilbert, AZ: Gilbert Stormwater Management Rules
Heavy RestrictionsGilbert enforces stormwater management through Ordinance 1590 and the Arizona Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (AZPDES). Construction sites disturbing one acre or more must…
Elk Grove, CA: Elk Grove Stormwater Discharge Prohibition
Heavy RestrictionsElk Grove bans nearly all nonstormwater discharges into its storm drains and creeks under Municipal Code Section 15.12.100, part of the City's Clean Water Act permit as a co-permittee…
Fairfield, CA: Fairfield Stormwater Discharge Ban
Heavy RestrictionsFairfield bans any non-stormwater discharge into its storm drain system under City Code Section 22B.070, and Section 22B.170(B) escalates repeat violations from an infraction to a…
Birmingham, AL: Birmingham Stormwater Protection Ordinance
Some RestrictionsBirmingham's Stormwater Protection Ordinance bans dumping anything but stormwater into the city's storm drain system (the MS4) and requires an NPDES notice of intent for industrial and…
Hoover, AL: Hoover Stormwater Discharge Standards
Some RestrictionsHoover bars visible scum, oil, unnatural color, odor, or hazardous concentrations in any stormwater discharge to the city's MS4 storm-sewer system, enforced through its…
Huntsville, AL: Huntsville Stormwater Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsHuntsville requires a grading permit and city engineer sign-off on building permits to control stormwater drainage and site grading before construction starts.
Stormwater Management Rules by State
Statewide law governs this topic in many states. Each entry links to that state's full page.
Alaska
Heavy RestrictionsThe Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation administers the Alaska Pollutant Discharge Elimination System under AS 46.03, requiring statewide stormwater permits for…
Arizona
Heavy RestrictionsArizona regulates stormwater discharges through the AZPDES program under ARS Title 49, requiring permits for construction, industrial, and municipal stormwater statewide.
Arkansas
Heavy RestrictionsArkansas regulates stormwater discharges through the Department of Energy and Environment Division of Environmental Quality under federal Clean Water Act delegation. Construction and…
California
Heavy RestrictionsCalifornia Water Code sections 13260 and 13383 implement the federal Clean Water Act through statewide MS4 NPDES permits issued by the State and Regional Water Boards, binding all…
Colorado
Heavy RestrictionsColorado administers stormwater discharge permits statewide through the Colorado Discharge Permit System, requiring construction sites and industrial activities to obtain coverage…
Connecticut
Heavy RestrictionsConnecticut DEEP issues a statewide MS4 general permit requiring municipalities to control stormwater discharges. Standards for illicit discharges, post-construction controls, and the…
District of Columbia
Some RestrictionsThe DC Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) runs stormwater management under D.C. Official Code Title 8, funding LID retrofits and property-owner grants through the RiverSmart…
Florida
Some RestrictionsFlorida law assigns the Department of Environmental Protection, the water management districts, and local governments joint responsibility for building compatible stormwater management…
Georgia
Heavy RestrictionsGeorgia delegates Clean Water Act stormwater authority to the Environmental Protection Division, which issues NPDES permits and minimum standards that all municipal separate storm…
Hawaii
Heavy RestrictionsHawaii Department of Health administers federal NPDES stormwater permits statewide. Construction sites disturbing one or more acres and certain industrial activities must comply with…
Indiana
Heavy RestrictionsIndiana's IDEM administers statewide NPDES stormwater permitting under IC 13-18-3 and 327 IAC 15, requiring MS4 communities, industrial sites, and dischargers to obtain coverage. Local…
Iowa
Heavy RestrictionsIowa Code chapter 455B authorizes the DNR to administer NPDES stormwater permits statewide. Construction sites disturbing one or more acres need state General Permit No. 2, regardless…
Kansas
Heavy RestrictionsKansas regulates stormwater discharges statewide through KDHE's NPDES program under K.S.A. 65-164 and 65-165, requiring construction, industrial, and municipal separate storm sewer…
Kentucky
Heavy RestrictionsKentucky's Energy and Environment Cabinet administers the Kentucky Pollutant Discharge Elimination System for stormwater discharges, requiring permits for construction sites disturbing…
Louisiana
Heavy RestrictionsLouisiana implements the federal NPDES stormwater program through the Department of Environmental Quality under La. R.S. 30:2074 and LAC Title 33. Construction sites disturbing one or…
Maine
Heavy RestrictionsMaine 38 MRS § 420-D requires Maine DEP approval before constructing any project with one acre or more of disturbed area. The DEP Chapter 500 Stormwater Management Rules set quantity…
Maryland
Heavy RestrictionsThe Maryland Stormwater Management Act of 2007, codified at Environment Article 4-201 through 4-215, mandates environmental site design and runoff treatment for new development…
Massachusetts
Heavy RestrictionsMassachusetts regulates stormwater discharges under the Wetlands Protection Act (MGL c.131 §40) and 310 CMR 10.00, applying uniform Stormwater Management Standards to projects…
Michigan
Heavy RestrictionsMichigan administers federal stormwater rules under Part 31 of NREPA, requiring statewide MS4 and construction permits that local rules cannot weaken.
Minnesota
Heavy RestrictionsThe Minnesota Pollution Control Agency administers the federal NPDES MS4 general permit under Minn. Stat. Ch. 115. Regulated cities and counties must adopt construction…
Mississippi
Heavy RestrictionsMississippi enforces stormwater discharge regulations through the Department of Environmental Quality under the federal Clean Water Act, requiring NPDES permits for construction…
Missouri
Some RestrictionsMissouri's Clean Water Law makes it unlawful to discharge stormwater from a point source without an operating permit from the Clean Water Commission, and sets flat statutory permit…
Montana
Some RestrictionsMontana requires a Montana Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit before stormwater reaches state waters. Under MCA 75-5-401, construction-site operators discharge under a…
Nevada
Heavy RestrictionsNevada Division of Environmental Protection administers federal NPDES stormwater permits statewide under NRS 445A.300, requiring construction sites over one acre and industrial…
New Hampshire
Heavy RestrictionsNew Hampshire RSA 485-A:17 requires state Alteration of Terrain (AoT) permits from NHDES for projects disturbing 100,000+ square feet, establishing uniform stormwater management…
New Jersey
Heavy RestrictionsNew Jersey Stormwater Management Rules at N.J.A.C. 7:8 set uniform statewide design and water-quality standards that municipalities must adopt by ordinance, preventing cities from…
New York
Heavy RestrictionsNew York Environmental Conservation Law and the SPDES program impose uniform statewide stormwater discharge permit requirements that apply to construction sites and MS4 communities…
North Carolina
Heavy RestrictionsNorth Carolina General Statute 143-214.7 establishes the state stormwater program administered by the Department of Environmental Quality, setting minimum design and runoff standards…
Ohio
Heavy RestrictionsOhio Revised Code Chapter 6111 grants the Ohio EPA exclusive authority to regulate stormwater discharges to waters of the state under the federal NPDES program, establishing universal…
Oklahoma
Heavy RestrictionsOklahoma Department of Environmental Quality issues statewide NPDES permits for stormwater discharges from construction, industrial, and municipal MS4 sites. DEQ standards apply…
Pennsylvania
Heavy RestrictionsThe Pennsylvania Storm Water Management Act (Act 167 of 1978) requires counties to prepare watershed-based stormwater plans and obligates municipalities to adopt implementing…
Rhode Island
Heavy RestrictionsRhode Island regulates stormwater under RIGL Chapter 46-12 and the RIPDES program administered by DEM, applying uniform statewide design and permitting standards that municipalities…
South Carolina
Heavy RestrictionsSouth Carolina's Stormwater Management and Sediment Reduction Act sets statewide minimum standards for land-disturbing activities. SCDES (formerly DHEC) implements the program, with…
South Dakota
Some RestrictionsSouth Dakota administers a delegated NPDES stormwater program under SDCL Chapter 34A-2 (Water Pollution Control), implemented through ARSD Articles 74:51, 74:52, and 74:54. The South…
Tennessee
Heavy RestrictionsTennessee Department of Environment and Conservation administers NPDES stormwater permits statewide, requiring construction sites disturbing one or more acres to obtain coverage…
Texas
Some RestrictionsTexas Water Code Section 26.040 lets the TCEQ issue general permits for storm water discharges. Regulated small municipal separate storm sewer systems obtain coverage under TPDES…
Vermont
Heavy RestrictionsVermont's Agency of Natural Resources administers a uniform statewide stormwater permit program covering construction, operational, and three-acre impervious surface sites, with rules…
Virginia
Heavy RestrictionsVirginia's Stormwater Management Act sets uniform technical criteria for post-construction stormwater controls that all localities operating Virginia Stormwater Management Programs…
Washington
Heavy RestrictionsWashington Department of Ecology administers federally-required NPDES stormwater permits statewide, setting minimum standards for municipal, construction, and industrial stormwater…
West Virginia
Heavy RestrictionsWest Virginia Code §22-11 and Department of Environmental Protection rules administer the federal NPDES stormwater program statewide, requiring permits for construction, industrial…
Wisconsin
Heavy RestrictionsWisconsin's NR 151 sets statewide performance standards for construction site and post-construction stormwater runoff. DNR administers WPDES permits, and local programs must meet or…
Wyoming
Heavy RestrictionsThe Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality administers the Wyoming Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, which requires state permits for construction, industrial, and municipal…
Cities & Counties with Stormwater Management Rules
629 locations
Alabama
Other Environmental Rules Topics
Erosion Control
Rules to prevent soil erosion during construction and landscaping, including required sediment barriers and ground cover standards.
Coastal Development
Building restrictions near coastlines, including setbacks from the water, dune protection rules, and coastal commission permits.
Flood Zones
Building requirements for properties in FEMA flood zones, including elevation standards, flood insurance mandates, and construction limits.
Shoreline Management
Regulations for properties along lakes, rivers, and coastlines, including buffer zones, dock permits, and vegetation requirements.
Sea Wall & Bulkhead
Requirements for maintaining sea walls, bulkheads, and retaining structures on waterfront properties, including inspection schedules and repair obligations.
Mangrove Protection
Rules protecting mangrove trees and coastal vegetation, including trimming restrictions, removal prohibitions, and required setbacks from mangrove habitat.
Boat Dock Permits
Permits required to build or modify boat docks, lifts, and davits on waterfront properties, including size limits, setbacks, and environmental reviews.
Defensible Space
Mandated vegetation clearance zones around homes in fire hazard zones, including the 100-ft Zone 0/1/2 model used by California and other wildfire-prone states.
Vehicle Idling Restrictions
Limits on how long heavy-duty vehicles, buses, and passenger cars may idle, including bans near schools and residential areas.
Climate Emergency Mobilization
Local climate-emergency declarations and mobilization plans, including building electrification mandates, gas-hookup bans in new construction, and reach codes.
Sustainable Procurement
City rules requiring sustainable, recycled, or low-emissions products in municipal purchasing, and how those rules trickle down to contractors and concessions.
Cool Pavement
Reflective-coating road treatments deployed by LA Bureau of Street Services to reduce surface temps; pilot streets and expansion plans under Cool Streets LA.
Cool Roof Requirements
Mandatory high-reflectance roofing materials for new construction and reroofs. LA Green Building Code thresholds and Title 24 Pt 6 baseline.
Heat Island Mitigation
Citywide programs to reduce urban heat, tree canopy goals, cool surfaces, shade structures at bus stops, and cooling-center requirements during heat waves.
Flood Elevation Requirements
FEMA NFIP minimum base flood elevation (BFE) construction standards for properties in mapped flood zones, including freeboard requirements above BFE.