Stormwater Regulations

SWR Construction 2

Construction Stormwater Requirements and Regulations

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) regulates stormwater discharges from municipalities through a municipal separate storm sewer system permit (MS4 Permit). The requirement is intended to reduce the amount of pollutants entering streams, rivers, lakes, and wetlands as a result of runoff from residential, commercial and industrial areas. The MS4 Permit requires the City of Steamboat Springs to implement a construction stormwater management program regulating stormwater runoff from construction activities within the city.

As part of this program, a City of Steamboat Springs Construction Stormwater Permit, is required prior to beginning construction for any project exceeding one acre in land disturbance or is less than one acre, but is part of a larger common plan of development or sale that would disturb one acre or more.

City Construction Stormwater Resources

SWR ConstructionPost Construction - Permanent Water Quality Treatment 

The MS4 Permit requires the city to implement a post construction program for new development and redevelopment projects (See Engineering Standards Section 5.12). Unless specifically excluded, permanent stormwater treatment facilities are required for all projects that:

  • Disturb at least one acre of land, or
  • Disturb less than one acre but are part of a larger common development plan, or
  • Install parking lots that add ten or more spaces, or
  • Include any of the following land uses: Automobile Filling Station, Automobile Service, Automobile Wash, Heavy Vehicle/Equipment Service, Contractor Equipment/Materials Yard, Batching Plant, Industrial (Heavy), Transportation, Waste-Related Services, Vehicle Towing Service and Storage Yard, or storage of pesticides, herbicides, fertilizer, or other potentially hazardous materials.

Other Resources

The City of Steamboat Springs MS4 Program Description Document (PDD) is publicly available upon request.