Stormwater in Bristol County follows MA Stormwater Handbook under MGL c. 131 §40 and MS4 permits. Fall River, New Bedford, and Taunton operate under EPA NPDES MS4 permits with illicit discharge bylaws.
Bristol County stormwater management is governed by the MA Stormwater Standards (administered by MassDEP under MGL c. 131 §40 and 310 CMR 10.05) and federal NPDES MS4 permits covering Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton, and most urbanized Bristol County municipalities. Cities must adopt illicit discharge detection and elimination (IDDE) bylaws, stormwater construction bylaws (1+ acre disturbance trigger), and post-construction stormwater bylaws. Low-impact development (rain gardens, permeable pavers, bioswales) is encouraged. Coastal municipalities (Fairhaven, Dartmouth, Westport, Swansea) face additional MA Coastal Zone Management review. Post-construction stormwater facilities must be maintained by property owners with annual inspection/report requirements in some cases.
Failure to implement stormwater plan: stop-work order. Illicit discharge: $500 to $10,000 per day under local IDDE bylaw. MassDEP enforcement for wetlands-connected violations. Maintenance failures: notice then fines.
Bristol County, MA
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Bristol County, MA
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See how Bristol County's stormwater management rules stack up against other locations.
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