Streamlining Stormwater Permitting

We are working to create an easy-to-use guide and instructional videos for stormwater permits, using funding from the Chesapeake Bay Trust. We would like to hear your experiences and ideas to help shape the materials and improve the stormwater permitting process!

A stormwater management permit is required if any amount of impervious surface is added, reconstructed, or if any amount of earth disturbance occurs. The purpose is to protect our community's water by minimizing pollution.

There are three kinds of stormwater permit applications:

Very Small Project | less than 100 square feet of new or reconstructed impervious surface

Small Project | between 100 and 1,000 square feet of new or reconstructed impervious surface

Large Project | 1,000 square feet or more of new or reconstructed impervious surface

An impervious surface is defined as “any surface which prevents or limits the infiltration of water into the ground. Any structure, building, parking area, driveway, road, street, sidewalk, patio, deck, and any area of concrete, asphalt, pavement, compacted gravel, packed stone, stone, brick, tile, swimming pool, or artificial turf, and highly compacted soil shall be considered “impervious surface” if they prevent or limit infiltration.”

Permit applications and the Green Infrastructure Design Manual can be found on the City's stormwater website.

You can also visit the Save it! Clean It! Green It! website to learn more about the City of Lancaster's sustainability initiatives and how you can help, including by participating in the Adopt It! program.