Springfield, OH Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

Section 961.01 states the purpose of Chapter 961 is to set technically feasible, economically reasonable stormwater standards controlling both the quality and quantity of runoff to protect property and water resources. It requires owners who develop or redevelop property in Springfield to control runoff from their property, keep stormwater facilities properly designed, constructed and maintained, reduce water-quality impacts from new development, and control the volume, rate and quality of runoff so flooding and erosion potential are not increased. The chapter applies to highway and road projects, subdivisions, industrial, commercial, institutional and residential projects, farm building activities, and redevelopment and grading, per Section 961.01(c), but exempts activities already regulated under the Ohio Agricultural Sediment Pollution Abatement Rules and most linear utility or pipeline projects that do not add impervious surface.

Section 961.06 flatly prohibits discharging or causing an illicit discharge to the stormwater system, and bars non-agricultural earth-disturbing activity on land not otherwise regulated by a state or federal agency unless a Comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan required under Section 961.05 has first been submitted to and approved by the Service Director or designee; work inconsistent with an approved plan is likewise prohibited. Section 961.07 requires the plan, meeting the content requirements of Section 961.09, to be filed with the final plat, improvement plans, or a building, parking, or demolition permit application, and approved by the City Engineer before any soil-disturbing activity begins; approvals expire after one year if disturbance has not started. Section 961.08 makes clear that City approval does not excuse compliance with other federal, state or county permitting requirements.