Local governing bodies adopt and maintain regulations to promote public health and safety, minimize public and private losses due to flood conditions, and protect surface waters and the natural functions of floodplains. The State legislature authorizes local governments to adopt and enforce ordinances to address local needs and to meet federal and state requirements.
Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control ordinances require builders and developers to implement structural Best Management Practices (BMPs) like perimeter sediment fence, construction entrances, and sediment basins to control sedimentation and protect surface water quality.
Post-Construction Stormwater Control ordinances ensure that new developments are designed to minimize impacts to surface water quality and that structural Best Management Practices (also called stormwater control measures) are built and then maintained after development is complete.
Surface Water Improvement & Management (SWIM) ordinances require vegetated buffers along streams to protect the natural functions of the stream system. Additional buffer requirements are found in Post-Construction Stormwater Control ordinances and Water Supply Watershed ordinances.
Watershed Supply Watersheds ordinances regulate the development and land use density in certain watersheds to protect the water quality of lakes that supply drinking water.
Floodplain regulations limit development within the floodplain, minimize public and private losses due to flood conditions, and control the alteration of natural floodplains.
Stormwater Pollution Control ordinances prohibits illicit connections and discharges to the storm drainage system and outlines the steps for responding to violations and enforcement actions.