Boulder County Building Publications
Stormwater Quality Permit - B36

Stormwater Quality Permit Requirements

A stormwater quality permit (SWQP) is required for certain construction projects to protect watercourses and adjacent properties. All construction projects with soil disturbance require the use of control measures even if they do not require a permit. Polluted stormwater runoff from construction sites often flows to storm drain systems and is ultimately discharged into local streams and rivers, destroying aquatic habitat. See the Keep It Clean Partnership website for more information about water quality. For stormwater questions, email the stormwater team at stormwater@bouldercounty.gov.

Boulder County’s MS4 Construction Program

Projects that require a SWQP:

• Disturbs one acre or more.
• Disturbs less than one acre of construction activity that is part of a larger common plan of development, even if multiple, separate, and distinct land development activities may take place at different times on different schedules, so long as the common plan will ultimately disturb one acre or more.
• Disturbs less than one acre and are within 100 horizontal feet of a watercourse.

The County Engineer may require a stormwater quality permit regardless of the size of the total disturbed area, in conjunction with approval of a final subdivision or if the construction activity is adjacent to a watercourse or wetlands. Refer to plat, special use permit, or other site specific development plan under this Code, the Boulder County Land Use Code Article 7-904 for more information.

The County Engineer may consider an exception when a project’s construction activities are deemed to be low risk, less than an acre, or outside of the urbanized area. The applicant is asked to provide a completed SWQP Exception Request Form found on the Boulder County SWQP website and a determination will be made whether to grant an exception.

Guidance on Calculating Disturbed Area Associated with Construction Activities

Construction activity refers to ground surface disturbing activities and associated activities which include, but are not limited to, clearing, vegetation removal, grading, excavation, removal or deposit of any rock, soil, or other materials, demolition, installation of new or improved haul roads and access roads, staging areas, stockpiling of soil, fill, or other materials, and the utilization of borrow areas. Construction activity does not include routine maintenance to maintain original line and grade, hydraulic capacity, or original purpose of a facility.

Submittal Requirements for Stormwater Quality Permits

Applications, checklists, and submittal requirements can be found on the Boulder County Stormwater Quality Permit (SWQP) webpage. Questions can be directed to the Public Works Stormwater Team at pwstormwater@bouldercounty.gov.

Standard SWQP

For projects disturbing one-acre or more or are part of a larger common plan for development:

1. Stormwater Quality Permit Application
2. Stormwater Quality Permit Checklist
3. Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP)
4. Copy of CDPS Certification
5. Control Measure Construction Details

Small Project SWQP

For projects disturbing less than one-acre within 100-feet of a watercourse:

1. Stormwater Quality Permit Application
2. SWQP Checklist for Small Projects
3. Stormwater Management Site Plans
4. Control Measure Construction Details

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