Stormwater Ordinances

Municipal level stormwater ordinances provide the mechanism for meeting the Commonwealth’s regulatory requirements. They should be based on DEP approved Act 167 Plans, work in unison with subdivision and land development ordinances and zoning, and include provisions to address peak rate, volume, and water quality. The intent of any such ordinances should be to protect the economic, environmental, and public health of municipalities.

Municipalities are literally all over the map when it comes to stormwater management ordinances. In some counties where ACT 167 plans have been completed, municipalities have already adopted forward thinking ordinances; in other cases, little zoning exists and stormwater ordinances are far in the future. DEP has developed a Model Ordinance to act as a guide in the development of local ordinances. Under the NDPES MS4 programs, the model ordinance or a more stringent ordinance adapted to local conditions must be adopted by MS4s.

RESOURCES

Protecting Your Water Resources: A Comprehensive Guide to a Model Municipal Ordinance, developed through a partnership between Clean Water Action, the Delaware Riverkeeper Netwpork, and the Green Valleys Association. (PDF)

Examples of Ordinances in place in Southeastern Pennsylvania