Stormwater Quality Permit (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 Guidance
4. Copy of CDPS Certification
5. Control Measure Construction Details

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

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

Submit the information one of three ways:

1. 1. Email (preferred method) – ezbp@bouldercounty.org
   2. Deliver to – Community Planning & Permitting – Building Safety, 2045 13th St., Boulder, CO 80302
   3. Mail – Community Planning & Permitting – Building Safety, P.O. Box 471, Boulder, CO 80306

NOTE – No clearing, grubbing, earthwork, or construction may occur prior to an initial inspection.

After initial inspection approval, the permit will be issued and emailed to the applicant.

Fees can be paid two ways:

1. Through the online permitting system that can be found by visiting https://www.bouldercounty.gov/property-and-land/land-use/search-records/
2. By email to ezbp@bouldercounty.gov.

The SWQP fee is calculated based on the area of disturbance (see table below). The fee is waived for County Capital Improvement Program projects. A Compliance Re-inspection Fee ($125/inspection) is invoiced for each re-inspection due to non-compliance with SWQP requirements.

Post-construction controls (also known as Permanent Stormwater Control Measures or SCM’s) are required for sites within Boulder County’s urbanized area disturbing one-acre or greater or are part of a larger common plan of development disturbing an acre or greater.

View Boulder County’s urbanized area on Boulder County Stormwater Map. Enter the address in the search field and select the “Urban Area” layer. The urban area will be shown in red if it is present on the selected parcel.

There are some types of development and redevelopment sites that may qualify for an exclusion from post-construction controls. For more information, view the Guidance for Post-Construction Stormwater Management and the Post-Construction Checklist for submittal requirements.

If construction is completed and seeding and final stabilization practices have been implemented, a reduced inspection frequency may be requested by scheduling a site meeting with the designated MS4 Compliance Inspector. Contact the Public Works Department (info below) if you don’t know who is designated as your MS4 Compliance Inspector.

If construction is completed and the site meets the items listed below, a close out inspection may be scheduled with the designated MS4 Compliance Inspector:

• All areas have achieved final stabilization (70% of pre-disturbance vegetation with uniform density on areas not stabilized with other non-erosive surfaces)
• All work areas have been left free of sediment and construction debris/waste
• No evidence of damage from the contractor to public infrastructure
• Temporary control measures (BMPs) have been removed

If all of the above have been completed, contact the Stormwater Permit Team at stormwater@bouldercounty.gov.

Polluted stormwater runoff from construction sites often flows to storm drain systems and is ultimately discharged into local streams and rivers, destroying aquatic habitat. Sediment is usually the main pollutant of concern, but there are others:

• Solid and sanitary wastes
• Phosphorus and nitrogen from fertilizers
• Concrete (uncured concrete is highly alkaline)
• Construction chemicals, debris, and trash
• Oil and grease
• Pesticides

Sedimentation runoff from construction sites is typically 10 to 20 times greater than those from agricultural lands, and 1,000 to 2,000 times greater than those from forested lands.

While a SWQP may not be required, contractors must use appropriate control measures to contain pollutants at all times.

If you need to speak with a Stormwater Quality Permit team member, please contact:

• Alli Kelly
  • 720-237-2384
  • Email – stormwater@bouldercounty.gov