Frederick County, VA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

Frederick County Code § 143-105(C) designates the County's Public Works Department as the Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP) authority for the unincorporated county and for the Towns of Middletown and Stephens City, operating under the Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Act. Section 143-125(B) requires anyone conducting a VSMP land-disturbing activity to hold both a County land-disturbing permit and a VESMP authority permit from the Administrator before starting; no permit issues without a stormwater management plan the County has approved.

Section 143-165 spells out what that plan must contain: a general description of the proposed stormwater facilities, the type and location of discharges, pre- and post-development drainage areas, owner contact information and the parcel's tax map number, hydrologic and hydraulic computations, and maps showing drainage areas, streams, soils, floodplains and existing structures. The plan also has to describe how the facilities will be operated and maintained after construction finishes.

Once a project is underway, § 143-225(B) gives the Administrator enforcement tools if a permittee falls out of compliance, including failing to install BMPs or stormwater controls properly, or discharging without authorization. The Administrator first serves a written notice to comply, by certified mail, email or hand delivery at the site, spelling out the needed corrective measures and a deadline. If the permittee misses that deadline, § 143-225(B)(3)(a) lets the Administrator order all land-disturbing activity to stop until the violation is corrected.