Construction General Permit
***ATTENTION***
The 2009 Construction Stormwater General Permit (CGP) has expired.
All construction sites meeting the criteria for a CGP must enroll for coverage under the 2022 permit. These include projects that disturb one (1) or more acres of soil or whose projects disturb less than one acre but are part of a larger common plan of development that in total disturbs one or more acres.
Construction activities cannot occur until a new Waste Discharge Identification (WDID) Number is issued by the State Waterboards
To obtain a current WDID Number, please certify and submit the required Permit Registration Documents via Stormwater Multiple Application and Report Tracking System (SMARTS).
Permit coverage begins once a WDID Number is assigned by Waterboard staff. For more information about the 2022 CGP and related changes, visit the State Waterboards Website.
General Info
The California State Water Board adopted the statewide CGP to regulate stormwater discharges associated with construction activities. The Permit is applicable to construction projects that meet certain criteria.
Generally, construction activities that disturb one or more acres of soil, or less than one acre but are part of a larger common plan of development that in total disturbs one or more acres, are required to obtain coverage under the CGP.
The CGP does not apply to disturbances of land surfaces solely related to growing crops or day to day agricultural operations such as disking, harrowing, terracing, leveling, and soil preparation.
For more information about construction activities that are not subject to the Construction General Permit, refer to Permit section II.B, or reach out to the Regional Water Quality Control Board (contact info below)
The CGP requires the development of a Storm Water Pollution
Prevention Plan (SWPPP) by a certified Qualified SWPPP Developer. A
SWPPP is a site-specific plan for achieving compliance with
stormwater regulations using Best Management Practices (BMPs). The
SWPPP must be implemented prior to beginning work.
Industry Standards
The California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA) has released their 2023 Construction BMP Handbook. The Handbook (which requires a CASQA subscription to view) has been updated to ensure consistency with the 2022 Construction General Permit.
It provides a template for projects to utilize when developing their SWPPP and industry standard specification for BMP installation.
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) released
their 2024
Construction Site Best Management Practices (BMP) Manual. It is
free and available for download. The manual contains fact sheets and
specifications for installation of construction site BMPs.
Construction General Permit (2009 – 2022)
Transition Timeline
On September 8, 2022, the State Water Board adopted the 2022
Construction Stormwater General Permit. Below are some key dates that
will determine which permit a construction project will be subject to
during the regulatory transition from the 2009 permit to the 2022
permit.
September 1, 2023
The 2022 Construction General Permit is effective as of this date. All projects that receive a State Waste Discharge Identification Number on or after this date will be required to be covered under the 2022 Construction Permit.
September 1, 2023 - August 31, 2025
Any project that adds acreage through a SWPPP Amendment or Change of Information form during this period will be required to get coverage under the 2022 Construction General Permit.
During this regulatory transition period, projects permitted under the 2009 Construction General Permit must file their Notice of Termination or transition to the 2022 permit.
September 1, 2025
All projects enrolled in 2009 CGP coverage will have their permits administratively terminated. Projects still operating under the 2009 CGP are out of compliance. Coverage under the 2022 CGP must be obtained prior to beginning work.
Coverage starts once all Permit Registration Documents have been
uploaded to SMARTS and after Waterboard staff have reviewed and
assigned a new WDID number to the project.
Contact
San Diego Regional
Water Board
375 Northside Drive, Suite 100
San Diego, CA 92108-2700
(619) 516-1990
rb9-sd-swprogram@waterboards.ca.gov
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