Colorado
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Water Quality Control Division
State-DelegatedVerified 2025-01
Construction Permit
- Permit Name
- Construction Dewatering and Stormwater General Permit (COR400000)
- Threshold
- ≥ 1 acre of land disturbance (or < 1 acre if part of a larger common plan of development exceeding 1 acre)
- NOI Lead Time
- Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) must be developed before construction; permit coverage active upon filing NOI
- Application Method
- Online via CDPHE's Stormwater Compliance Assistance Program (SCAP) portal
- Fee
- $340 annual fee; $170 for < 1 year of coverage
SWPPP Requirements
- SWPPP Required
- Yes
- PE Cert Required
- No
- Template Available
- Yes
Colorado refers to the SWPPP as a Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP). The SWMP must be prepared by a Stormwater Management Plan Designer — no professional engineer stamp is required by the state, but some local jurisdictions require it.
Inspection Requirements
- Frequency
- Every 14 days and within 24 hours of precipitation events producing ≥ 0.5 inches (or ≥ 0.1 inches in the semiarid zone)
- Inspector Qualification
- Stormwater Management Plan Inspector (SMPI) — must complete CDPHE-approved training course. Certification must be renewed every 3 years.
Discharge Standards
- Turbidity Limit
- Not specified as a numeric limit in the General Permit; discharges must comply with narrative water quality standards
High-altitude and semiarid conditions in Colorado create unique stormwater challenges. Projects near Outstanding Waters of Colorado (OWC) or impaired streams have additional restrictions.
Post-Construction
- Required
- Yes
Post-construction requirements are primarily handled at the local level through MS4 programs. Many Colorado municipalities (Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins) have adopted specific Low Impact Development (LID) standards.
Official Resources
State-Specific Notes
Colorado requires a state-certified SMPI for inspections, making it one of the few states with a mandatory inspector certification program. Altitude and arid conditions affect BMP effectiveness — conventional sediment controls perform differently than in humid climates.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for general reference only and may not reflect the most current regulatory requirements. Always consult the CDPHE WQCD website and applicable regulations before beginning any construction activity.