Stormwater Management Permit

Development projects that are disturbing >10,000 square feet of soil or 
modifications to sites that have existing stormwater management 
requirements will require stormwater management in accordance with Chapter 37 of the Madison General Ordinances. Separate permits for erosion control and stormwater management are required for projects permitted by City Engineering.

Standard Forms

Stormwater Management Annual Inspection and Certification

Properties that have a stormwater management permit as a condition of their site plan approval require an annual inspection and certification to be 
submitted to City Engineering. Inspections are required to be done every calendar year, with a summary report of the inspection and all maintenance performed that year being submitted by June 1 of the following year. Submissions shall be emailed to specific City Stormwater Management staff or the general Stormwater Team.

Standard Forms:

In accordance with MGO 37.09(7) Annual Stormwater Management Report, each applicant who is granted a stormwater management permit, shall submit to the City Engineer an annual report on the condition of the site's stormwater management devices.

The annual report shall include the following:

  1. Documentation of the completion of the required annual maintenance, including copies of receipts (actual prices paid need not be reported) from agents hired to perform the work and the date the work was completed;
  2. Photos of the management device at the time of inspection. This shall include photos of existing conditions and photos after the completion of any required maintenance.

The annual report shall be completed and sealed by a Professional Engineer currently licensed in the State of Wisconsin, on forms provided by the City Engineer. The requirement that the annual report be sealed by a Professional Engineer may be omitted in the case of a stormwater management plan consisting solely of storm sewer inlet filters, catchbasin sumps, or underground detention/infiltration tanks, provided that the applicant can provide the appropriate documentation that maintenance has been performed and dated photos as outlined in Secs. 37.09(7)(a) and (b). For sites with more extensive stormwater management systems, the Administrative Authority may allow other appropriately credentialed professionals to complete this work at their discretion.

For sites that have a stormwater management device (or devices) that require a topographic survey every three years, this survey requirement may be satisfied through the submittal of adequate photographic documentation. The acceptance of date stamped photographs in lieu of a topographic survey is at the discretion of the Administrative Authority. The topographic survey requirement waiver may only be applied to qualifying detention or infiltration basins.

For sites that have a stormwater management device (or devices) that infiltrate stormwater, the inspection shall be completed between 24-72 hours after a rainfall event > ½ inch to ensure it is draining down appropriately. Copy of a weather report with rainfall amount shall be included in the inspection report.

Properties that state maintenance is required shall include details in the report for when needed maintenance will be performed.  Properties shall either provide an updated report after maintenance is performed or include records of the maintenance being performed in the following year's report.  Failure to perform known required maintenance within the next calendar year will be subject to enforcement action by the Engineering Division.

Typical Stormwater Maintenance Requirements

  • Bioretention Basin
  • Catch Basin with Sump
  • Dry Detention Basin
  • Green Roof
  • Infiltration Basin
  • Inlet Filter
  • Permeable Pavement
  • Proprietary Device
  • Rain Garden
  • Rock Trench (oil and grease control)
  • Underground Detention System
  • Underground Infiltration System
  • Up-Flo Filter
  • Wet Detention Basin
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