New Bedford, MA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

Article VIII of Chapter 16, adopted by ordinance on November 4, 2015, requires a stormwater management permit before any land alteration in New Bedford under § 16-134(a), covering industrial, commercial, institutional, office, residential, roadway and transportation projects, including site preparation, construction and additions or expansions, as well as linear projects as narrow as footpaths and bike paths. The commissioner of the Department of Public Infrastructure serves as the 'stormwater authority' under § 16-132(a) and administers rules and regulations covering fees, procedures and enforcement, following the design and sizing criteria in the Massachusetts Stormwater Management Handbook.

Section 16-134(b) exempts several routine activities from the permit requirement: normal agricultural maintenance, upkeep of existing landscaping and lawns, projects already permitted before the ordinance took effect, roof repairs of 4,000 square feet or less, fences and walls that won't alter drainage, garages or accessory structures of 500 square feet or less on parcels with up to six dwelling units, non-drainage utility work, declared emergency repairs reported within 24 hours, work performed by the city itself, and new or repaved residential driveways using porous asphalt, permeable pavers or pervious concrete.

Purpose language in § 16-131(a) ties the whole article to the city's obligation to meet its federal NPDES General Permit for stormwater discharges from its small municipal separate storm sewer system, and to prohibit illicit connections and discharges into the municipal storm drain system.