Bristol, PA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

Part 1 of Chapter 26 is titled Delaware River South Watershed Stormwater Management and may be cited as the Bristol Borough Stormwater Management Ordinance. It was adopted as Ord. No. 1358 on 9/12/2022 and repealed the former Chapter 26 adopted by Ord. 1232 on 2/12/2007.

Section 26-104 sets the reach. All regulated activities and all activities that affect stormwater runoff are subject to the Part. Regulated activities are land development, subdivision, redevelopment, earth disturbance, construction of new or additional impervious or semi-pervious surfaces such as roads, driveways, parking lots, patios and tennis courts, new buildings or additions, diversion or piping of a stream channel, and installation of BMPs or stormwater facilities. The prohibitions on discharges apply to every discharge into the separate storm sewer system regardless of project type, impervious area or earth disturbance, for new and existing discharges alike.

Approval comes first. Under § 26-141, preliminary or final approval of subdivision and land development plans, any building or occupancy permit, and the start of any land disturbance cannot proceed until the applicant has written approval of a drainage plan from the Borough. Section 26-142 exempts small projects by parcel size: 1,200 square feet of impervious area for a parcel under 1/4 acre, 2,500 square feet from over 1/4 acre to 1 acre, and 5,000 square feet over 1 acre. Earth disturbance under 5,000 square feet is also exempt.

Day-to-day rules reach homeowners too. Section 26-181 bars discharges into the storm sewer system that are not composed entirely of stormwater, with listed exceptions such as firefighting flows, noncontaminated irrigation water and residential vehicle wash water where cleaning agents are not used. Section 26-182 says roof drains are not connected to streets, sanitary or storm sewers or roadside ditches, though the Borough can permit a connection case by case. Section 26-183 bars altering, filling or removing any existing BMP without the Borough's written approval.