Manchester, NH Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- before land-disturbing site work
- Threshold
- 1+ acre triggers EPA General Permit
- Enforced by
- Department of Highways
- Civil penalty
- up to $1,000/day
- Criminal penalty
- up to $1,000/day or 60 days jail
Summary
Manchester requires anyone starting land-disturbing site work, grading, or construction to file an EPA Notice of Intent and get a city-approved Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan before breaking ground.
No land owner or land operator shall begin any site work on any building(s), grading or other land development or any land disturbance activities (as outlined in § 54.06) without first submitting a Notice of Intent (NOI) to EPA Washington. Owner must also have received acknowledgment, have a Department of Highways approved Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan and meet the requirements of this chapter.
(B) General waiver requirement. Every applicant shall provide for storm water management as required by this chapter and the Department of Highways Storm Water Regulations unless a written request is filed to waive this requirement. Requests to waive the Storm Water Management Program requirements shall be submitted to the Department of Highways for approval.
(C) Application requirements. Unless specifically excluded by this chapter, any landowner or operator desiring a permit for a land disturbance activity (as described in Section 4 of the Storm Water Regulations) shall secure required approvals through the city's Planning Board and shall submit to the Department of Highways proof of NOI submission and a copy of the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan, as approved by the Department of Highways, for related project before beginning any site clearing or construction. (Ord. passed 8-1-06) Penalty, see § 54.99
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-25: current through Ord. passed 6-3-2025).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 54 of the Manchester Code makes the Department of Highways the storm water authority: no land owner or operator may begin site work, grading, or other land-disturbing activity without first filing a federal EPA Notice of Intent, receiving acknowledgment, and obtaining a Department of Highways-approved Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). Disturbances of one acre or more (or smaller sites that are part of a larger common plan, or that the city deems a unique threat) require an EPA General Permit. Illicit discharges and illegal connections to the municipal separate storm sewer system are separately prohibited.
Violations & Fines
Unremedied violations draw a civil penalty up to $1,000 per day after a Notice of Violation, or criminal prosecution with a fine up to $1,000 per day and up to 60 days imprisonment; each day is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to grade my Manchester lot?
What happens if I ignore a stormwater violation notice?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Manchester
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Stormwater Management in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle stormwater management.