Columbus, IN Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

Chapter 13.26 of the Columbus Municipal Code, adopted by the Common Council of the City of Columbus, Indiana, regulates all development and redevelopment inside the city. Under § 13.26.020, no building permit is issued and no land disturbing activity starts until the plans required by the chapter have been accepted in writing by the city. Agricultural land disturbing activities, silvicultural activities associated with nonpoint discharges, and certain landfill, coal mining and municipal solid waste facility work are exempt, provided their other permits require immediate erosion and sediment control and stormwater management measures.

Section 13.26.060 sets three permit categories. A green permit covers land disturbance of 0.25 acres or more and less than 0.5 acres. A blue permit covers 0.5 acres or more. A site that disturbs one acre or more must submit everything the stormwater design manual requires and must also file a notice of intent with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management under the construction stormwater general permit, then give the city its IDEM permit number on receipt. Single and double-family homes fall under the individual residential lot permit. Blue and green permits expire one year after issuance, so a project not completed and closed out in that year needs a renewal of coverage before the permit lapses.

Fees come from § 13.26.100: the application fee is $200 for a green permit and $400 for a blue permit, due on project submittal. Amendments and annual renewals cost $50 plus the review fee. The applicant also agrees to pay the city's actual review costs, and the city can refuse to issue any permit for a project whose review fees are unpaid. Plan changes such as more disturbed area, more impervious area or different detention volumes must be filed with and accepted by the city before the changed work begins.

After construction, § 13.26.090 requires the owner to record a drainage easement before the certificate of occupancy or release of the financial guarantee, and to record an operation and maintenance manual before the permit issues. Private facilities are inspected annually by the owner, with reports due to the city by May 1. The board of public works and safety can grant a variance only for practical difficulties, and extra reasonable expense does not qualify.