Regional Stormwater Protection Team Ordinances here
Model Ordinances
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The underlying principle
for minimizing stormwater impacts is to maintain or restore the area's original hydrologic connections.
Ordinances regulate the range of land uses, including a variety of
residential, commercial, and water dependent uses that may or may
not be consistent with the community's water quality needs or goals.
This section provides examples of stormwater ordinances and related tools to help
citizens and municipal officials address their stormwater issues.
No single, ideal set of rules can be applied to all communities.
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Legal Basis for Land Use Regulation
Cities and Townships – Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 462
Counties – Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 394
Counties, cities, and townships, through MN statute,
have the right and responsibility to plan, put ordinances in place, and enforce them.
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Although these techniques are most effective in terms of pollution and cost
if implemented at the site planning and design stage, they are
also effective at any stage of construction or home improvement and repair.
They are applicable to older communities facing future planning or new development
issues, and young, rapidly urbanizing communities – all trying to cost
effectively manage stormwater and potential water pollution and other natural
resource impacts. With careful adaptation of these models and the underlying
principles, and diligent enforcement, growing cities and townships should
be able to prevent serious stormwater runoff issues.
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Northland NEMO Model Ordinances
prepared for MPCA using the City of Plymouth, MN
in the west metro area of Minneapolis - 2004
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Implementing the
MODEL STORMWATER ORDINANCE
To meet your community’s water quality goals
2004 Produced for
Northland Nonpoint Education for
Municipal Officials (NEMO) Program
Download Here
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Incorporating
MODEL SUBDIVISION LANGUAGE
To meet your community' water quality goals
2004 Produced for
Northland Non-point Education for
Municipal Officials (NEMO) Program
Ordinance Language addressing:
Street design and impervious surface
Lot layout
Green infrastructure
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A community's subdivision ordinance
includes provisions outlining when and how the subdividing of
lots is allowed. The subdivision
ordinance identifies the threshold size where the subdivision regulations
are applicable, the information required to be compiled by the applicant
for review by the local government, site plan review procedures,
and other requirements. |
Download Here |
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Implementing the DNR SAMPLE
SHORELAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE
To meet your community’s water quality goals
2004 Produced for
Northland Non-point Education for
Municipal Officials (NEMO) Program |
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How communities regulate shorelands has a
tremendous effect on water quality of lakes, rivers, streams,
and wetlands.
In Minnesota land use regulation of all shorelands (with the exception
of the North Shore of Lake Superior) must meet the minimum standards
of Department of Natural Resources rules (“Management of Shoreland
Areas,” Minnesota Regulations Parts 6120.2500 - 6120.3900).
The DNR created a model ordinance that meets those rules, and is
the basis for nearly all local governmental shoreland regulation
in the State.
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Download Here
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Implementing the
MODEL EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL ORDINANCE
To meet your community’s water quality goals
Produced for
Northland Nonpoint Education for
Municipal Officials (NEMO) Program |
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Download Here
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Other Model Ordinance Websites:
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The Stormwater Manager's Resource Center is designed for stormwater practitioners,
local government officials and others needing technical assistance on stormwater management issues.
Created and maintained by the Center for Watershed Protection.
Contains many innovative types of ordinances covering for many situations for protecting water quality and habitat.
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Midway Township Model Illicit Discharge and Connection Ordinance (2012, 9.4 MB PDF)
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Rice Creek Watershed District, Anoka County, MN
The entire watershed district's rules can be found here.
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Dane County, WI
Erosion Control and Stormwater Management Ordinance became effective in 2002. The website lists tools to help meet ordinance requirements.
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