Prince George's County, MD Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

Section 32-173 sets the ordinance's core rule: 'No person shall develop or redevelop any land without having met the provisions of this Division by providing appropriate stormwater management measures that control or manage runoff,' except for the narrow exemptions listed in Section 32-174, such as agricultural practices, additions that disturb less than 5,000 square feet, and work inside the City of Bowie's own approved stormwater system.

Section 32-170(b) explains the goal behind the requirement: using environmental site design (ESD) 'to the maximum extent practicable (MEP)' so that, after development, runoff behaves as close as possible to predevelopment conditions, reducing stream erosion, pollution, siltation and local flooding, and complying with the County's federal Clean Water Act NPDES municipal stormwater permit.

Section 32-178(a)(1) requires that planning techniques, nonstructural practices and design methods from the Maryland and County Design Manuals be used to implement ESD to the MEP, and specifies that 'the use of ESD planning techniques and treatment practices must be exhausted before any structural BMP is implemented.' A concept plan and a stormwater management design plan must be submitted to the Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement for approval under Section 32-177 before a grading or building permit issues under Section 32-184, and a nonrefundable plan-review fee applies under Section 32-185.

The Department may suspend or revoke a stormwater, grading or building permit under Section 32-186 for noncompliance with an approved plan, and appeals of any violation notice go to the County Board of Appeals within 10 days under Section 32-198.