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Stormwater Directory

Utah

Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Water Quality

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Quick Summary

For most Utah projects disturbing 1 acre or more, you need a UPDES Construction General Permit (UTRC00000) and a SWPPP with desert-appropriate erosion controls. NOIs are submitted through EPA's CDX portal ($150 fee). Inspections triggered by ≥ 0.50" rainfall within 24 hours. New state law (effective 2025) requires municipal SWPPP review within 14 business days.

State-DelegatedVerified 2026-03

Construction Permit

Permit Document ↗
Permit Name
UPDES Construction General Permit (CGP) for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Construction Activity (Permit No. UTRC00000)
Threshold
≥ 1 acre of land disturbance (or < 1 acre if part of a larger common plan of development or sale that will ultimately disturb ≥ 1 acre); Utah administers this under its own UPDES (Utah Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) program, which is the state equivalent of NPDES; the current CGP permit number is UTRC00000 (effective July 1, 2024)
NOI Lead Time
NOI must be submitted and permit coverage received before land-disturbing activity begins; under Utah Code § 19-5-108.3 (effective January 1, 2025), municipalities/MS4s must complete their first SWPPP review within 14 business days of receiving a complete application, with a 5 business day re-review period if revisions are needed; plan accordingly — construction cannot commence until SWPPP is approved and permit coverage is confirmed
Application Method
Online via EPA's CDX portal using the NeT CGP (Notice of Intent electronic submission system); applicants must create a CDX account at cdx.epa.gov and register with Login.gov for two-factor authentication; the UDEQ website (deq.utah.gov) provides guidance and links to the CDX portal; permit fee of $150 is paid at the time of NOI submission through the portal
Fee
$150 NOI application fee per submission (as of 2025 fee schedule); permits are active for 1 year and must be renewed annually until termination; renewal can be submitted up to 30 days prior to expiration with a 60-day grace period; verify current fee schedule with UDEQ as fees are subject to legislative revision
Permit Expires
November 30, 2027
Apply for Permit ↗

SWPPP Requirements

Permit Document ↗
SWPPP Required
Yes
PE Cert Required
No
Template Available
Yes
A Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) is required for all sites covered under UTRC00000. The SWPPP must be prepared and submitted for review before land disturbance begins. Under Utah Code § 19-5-108.3 (effective January 1, 2025, via HB 507), SWPPP reviewers (municipalities/MS4s) must complete the first review within 14 business days of receiving a complete SWPPP and application; if revisions are needed, the re-review must be completed within 5 business days. No Professional Engineer stamp is required for standard SWPPP preparation. UDEQ provides SWPPP templates and technical guidance on its website. The SWPPP must be kept on-site, available to UDEQ inspectors, and updated as site conditions change. Utah's permit requires that the SWPPP identify specific BMPs for each phase of construction and include a site map with drainage patterns, BMP locations, and discharge points.

Inspection Requirements

Permit Document ↗
Frequency
Multiple options under UTRC00000: (1) once every 7 calendar days; (2) once every 14 calendar days AND within 24 hours of a storm event producing ≥ 0.50 inches of precipitation; (3) in arid areas, once a month AND within 24 hours of a ≥ 0.50 inch storm event; (4) in semi-arid areas, once a month AND within 24 hours of a ≥ 0.50 inch storm event during the dry season; inspection frequency may be reduced during frozen conditions (document dates in SWPPP)
Rain Trigger
Within 24 hours of a storm event producing ≥ 0.50 inches of precipitation within a 24-hour period; for multi-day storms producing ≥ 0.50 inches each day, inspect within 24 hours of the first day and within 24 hours after the end of the storm
Inspector Qualification
UTRC00000 requires inspections by a 'qualified person' with knowledge of stormwater BMPs and permit requirements; a Utah Registered Storm Water Inspector (RSI) credential has been established as one of the acceptable trainings/certifications under the permit; CPESC, CESSWI, and state-sponsored stormwater training are also accepted
Accepted Certifications
Utah Registered Storm Water Inspector (RSI), CPESC, CESSWI accepted; UDEQ-sponsored stormwater training recommended; inspector must be a 'qualified person'

Discharge Standards

Permit Document ↗
Turbidity Limit
No universal numeric NTU turbidity limit in UTRC00000; narrative water quality standards apply; discharges to some sensitive receiving waters may trigger numeric criteria
Utah's water quality standards (Utah Admin. Code R317-2) include narrative turbidity standards requiring that discharges not cause or contribute to violations of applicable water quality criteria. For waters classified as Tier 3 (Outstanding National Resource Waters) or waters with specific turbidity criteria, numeric limits may apply. Utah's arid environment means many construction sites discharge to ephemeral streams; BMP requirements still apply when such drainages connect to jurisdictional waters of the U.S. Visual monitoring of all stormwater discharges is required at each inspection event. Discharge sampling for turbidity may be required for sites near impaired or sensitive waters.

Post-Construction

UDEQ ↗
Required
Yes
Post-construction stormwater management is required under UTRC00000 and through Utah's Phase II MS4 permit program for regulated municipalities. Final stabilization (defined as ≥ 70% uniform vegetative cover or equivalent permanent non-vegetative stabilization) must be achieved site-wide before a Notice of Termination (NOT) is submitted. Permanent post-construction BMPs must be identified in the SWPPP and maintained long-term by the property owner. UDEQ's Phase II MS4 program requires regulated MS4 communities to adopt post-construction stormwater ordinances and design standards. Utah's dry climate presents unique challenges for vegetative cover establishment, and UDEQ provides guidance on arid-region stabilization alternatives.

Impaired Waterbody / TMDL Requirements

Standard Provisions

Utah UPDES construction stormwater permit has standard provisions. No specific heightened conditions are triggered by proximity to impaired waters in the general permit; standard erosion and sediment controls apply. Projects near the Jordan River, Great Salt Lake tributaries, or Utah Lake — which have active TMDLs — should consult DEQ for any applicable special conditions.

Program Contact

Contact Page ↗
Phone
(801) 538-6146

State-Specific Notes

Utah operates its own state UPDES (Utah Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) program, which is the state equivalent of the federal NPDES program. The current general permit is UTRC00000 (effective July 1, 2024), replacing the former UTR300000. NOI submission now goes through EPA's CDX/NeT CGP portal rather than a state-specific system, though UDEQ's website provides guidance and links. The permit fee is $150 per annual NOI submission. Utah Code § 19-5-108.3 (enacted via HB 507, effective January 1, 2025) standardized SWPPP review timelines across all MS4s: 14 business days for initial review, 5 business days for re-review after revisions. Utah's arid climate creates unique challenges: vegetative stabilization may be difficult to achieve, and UDEQ provides guidance on non-vegetative final stabilization alternatives appropriate for the Great Basin and desert regions. Many construction projects in Utah encounter issues with dust control that intersect with stormwater SWPPP requirements. Projects near Great Salt Lake, Utah Lake, or sensitive wetlands may face heightened scrutiny. Utah's MS4 program is administered primarily through Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, and other urbanized areas along the Wasatch Front.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for general reference only and may not reflect the most current regulatory requirements. Always consult the UDEQ website and applicable regulations before beginning any construction activity.