Cass County, MO Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Cass County Code § 400.510, Zoning Order Art. VIII
- Federal basis
- Clean Water Act NPDES Phase II
- Permitted townships
- Big Creek, Mount Pleasant, Raymore
- Permit requirement
- SWPPP for land disturbance permit
- Violation class
- Misdemeanor under the Zoning Order
Summary
Unincorporated Cass County runs a storm water management program under the federal Clean Water Act's NPDES Phase II rules. The Big Creek, Mount Pleasant, and Raymore townships require a land disturbance permit and a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan before soil-disturbing work begins.
Under the Federal Clean Water Act of 1972 and additions, storm water management regulations must be implemented for Cass County, in particular to demonstrate compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II section of that law. The County is required to implement a storm water management program for the management of the impact and potential for pollution of the waters of the County and the State resulting from rainfall. The Big Creek, Mount Pleasant, and Raymore townships are specifically designated as requiring permitting for any new use which leads to disturbance of the existing soil surfaces or which may contribute polluting materials to existing drainage systems. ... The Missouri Clean Water Law and the Missouri Code of State Regulations also require specific permitting in order to regulate activities that cause land disturbance. A land disturbance permit requires the development and implementation of a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) that includes controls to protect against soil erosion and to limit waste and pollutants on sites, through inspection, monitoring, reporting and record keeping.
Full Breakdown
510 states that storm water regulation exists to keep the county in compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II program under the federal Clean Water Act of 1972. The County Commission's Zoning Order specifically names Big Creek, Mount Pleasant, and Raymore townships as areas where any new use that disturbs existing soil surfaces, or that could add polluting material to drainage systems, must be permitted before work starts. Beyond the county's own rule, the Missouri Clean Water Law and the Missouri Code of State Regulations layer on their own permitting for land-disturbing activity.
A land disturbance permit is not just paperwork: the applicant must develop and carry out a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) covering erosion controls and pollutant limits on site, backed by ongoing inspection, monitoring, reporting, and record keeping obligations. The Planning and Zoning Department administers this permitting inside the three named townships; landowners planning grading, land clearing, or new construction in those areas should confirm permit status before breaking ground. 520) spell out the specific best management practices the County expects, from erosion controls to buffer protection, and are enforced as part of the same Zoning Order framework.
Violations & Fines
Storm water land uses that damage, alter, or remove natural vegetation causing soil erosion, or that introduce pollutants without adequate best management practices, are violations of the Zoning Order and are charged as a misdemeanor under Section 400.510(D). Enforcement and administration follow the procedures in the Zoning Order's Administration Article, run through the Planning and Zoning Department.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does unincorporated Cass County require a stormwater permit?
What is a SWPPP and when do I need one?
What happens if I disturb soil without a permit in unincorporated Cass County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cass County
Compare Cass County to another location·View the Missouri environmental rules overview
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