Virginia adopts new stormwater regulations

After more than four years of work, revisions to Virginia’s Stormwater Management Regulations became effective Sept. 13, 2011. This occurred after significant stakeholder input from the development community, conservation groups, local governments and others. These regulations become an important part of the state’s efforts to protect the quality of local waters and the Chesapeake Bay.

Local implementation key in new regulations

Local implementation of stormwater management is a key component of the new regulations. The Virginia Stormwater Management Act mandates that a number of localities – primarily those covered the by the Chesapeake Bay Act or that hold a federal municipal separate stormwater sewer system permit (known as an MS4) – develop and operate their own stormwater management program. The act also provides a number of localities, primarily in the southern and western parts of the state, the option to implement stormwater management rules through a local program. These localities can either establish and operate their own program, keeping fees to pay for the program, or have local development regulated under a DCR-operated program.

DCR staff is in the process now of meeting with local governments with the option to discuss the new regulations and what they can mean locally. The following informational tools are provided to help facilitate this discussion:

• Click here (PDF) to download a presentation on local stormwater options.
• Click here (PDF) for some local stormwater option frequently asked questions.

Virginia’s new stormwater regulations

As mentioned above, these regulations were created, revised and finalized over a period of years with considerable input for hundreds of stakeholders.

• Click here (PDF) for the final regulations (from the Virginia Legislative Services website).
• Click here (PDF) for a copy of the final regulations showing those areas modified since they were previously approved and then suspended in 2009.
  

Questions about the Virginia Stormwater Management Program?
Just write SWMESquestions@dcr.virginia.gov.