Wayne County, MI Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- Stormwater construction approval + C-Permit
- First-offense fine
- $1,000 civil infraction
- Repeat-offense fine
- $2,500–$5,000 within 12 months
- Administered by
- Dept. of Public Services
- Local exemption
- Stricter city/township programs control instead
Summary
Wayne County requires a stormwater construction approval and construction permit before any regulated construction activity affecting county roads, county drains, county property, or county storm sewer systems, enforced with civil-infraction fines starting at $1,000.
It shall be a violation of this Ordinance to engage in regulated construction activity except in accordance with this Ordinance and rules promulgated pursuant to this Ordinance, and pursuant to a valid stormwater construction approval and construction permit issued by the County. A stormwater construction approval shall be issued in a form and manner approved by the County and may be incorporated into a construction permit or other approval issued under or required by another ordinance, statute or regulation.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 31).
Full Breakdown
Under the Wayne County Stormwater Control Ordinance, administered by the Department of Public Services, construction activity that may affect stormwater runoff into county road rights-of-way, county drains, county-owned property, or county storm sewers needs a stormwater construction approval and construction permit before work starts, plus a long-term maintenance permit recorded against the property once the system is built. The county steps back where a local city or township within Wayne County already runs its own stormwater program that is equal to or stricter than the county's minimum requirements (§ 95-32).
Violations & Fines
Civil infraction: $1,000 per violation, rising to $2,500 for a first repeat and $5,000 for later repeats within 12 months; unpaid fines double after 28 days. Knowing false statements to the county are a misdemeanor: up to $500 per day plus 90 days in jail (§§ 95-96, 95-98).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this county ordinance apply inside cities like Dearborn or Livonia?
What happens if I build without the county stormwater permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wayne County
Compare Wayne County to another location·View the Michigan environmental rules overview
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