Greene County, MO Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- New non-agricultural construction, unincorporated county
- Standard
- Greene County Design Standards for Public Improvements
- Reviewer
- Resource Management Dept / County Stormwater Engineer
- Scope
- Unincorporated area only, not Springfield or cities
Summary
Unincorporated Greene County requires stormwater detention facilities for new non-agricultural construction under the county's zoning regulations, with limited engineering-based exceptions; Springfield and other cities enforce their own separate stormwater rules.
These modifications may create harmful effects on properties downstream. Therefore, to minimize these effects, stormwater detention requirements have been established as set forth in the Greene County Design Standards for Public Improvements. All new non-agricultural construction is required to provide stormwater detention facilities except where:
a. It can be demonstrated by engineering computations that such a facility would, due to timing of outflows, have an adverse effect on downstream properties by increasing peak rates of runoff, as demonstrated by engineering computations approved by the County;
b. The developer agrees with the County and affected property owners to provide storm drainage improvements downstream of the development in lieu of constructing on-site detention facilities; or
c. Due to the small size of the development, it can be demonstrated that the detention facility would result in no beneficial effect on downstream properties, and where there are no existing flooding problems downstream.
3. Operation and maintenance of all stormwater control measures shall be ensured through the creation of an operation and maintenance plan and agreement, which shall provide for periodic inspections by representatives of the Greene County Environmental Division and shall be approved prior to construction. All stormwater control measures and drainage systems shall be operated and maintained by the responsible party so as to
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Greene County's zoning regulations require any new non-agricultural construction in the unincorporated county to install stormwater detention facilities meeting the county's Design Standards for Public Improvements. Exceptions apply only where engineering computations show a detention facility would worsen downstream flooding, where the developer instead funds downstream drainage improvements, or where the development is small enough that detention would give no benefit and no existing flooding problem exists. Operation and maintenance plans for detention structures must be approved by the Resource Management Department before construction begins. Springfield, Republic, Willard, Strafford and Ash Grove enforce their own separate stormwater codes.
Violations & Fines
Watercourse obstruction violations are abated under Article XXV, Section 6 (Violations - Remedies); illicit stormwater discharges and illegal connections to the county's storm sewer system are unlawful and enforced by the Resource Management Department and County Stormwater Engineer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply inside Springfield?
Can a project skip on-site detention?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Greene County
Compare Greene County to another location·View the Missouri environmental rules overview
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