The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) began regulating stormwater discharges to surface waters in the early 1980s. Historically, stormwater permits have been issued as individual discharge permits, with a renewal required every five years. Over 2000 individual stormwater discharge permits have been issued statewide. Due to long turnaround times for individual permit reviews and a lack of resources for compliance monitoring, ANR is now issuing general permits with certifications of compliance from stormwater consultants in order to reduce project review time, lessen the burden on regulatory agencies, and increase predictability in the permit process. General permits are issued to a category of projects, rather than on an individual project basis.

State-issued general permits include coverage for: 1) Stormwater discharges from new development and redevelopment to waters that are not principally impaired by collected stormwater runoff and 2) Previously permitted stormwater discharges to waters that are not principally impaired by collected stormwater runoff.

In addition there are 3 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permits required by federal law. The VT Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is the permitting authority for the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and administers these permits. NPDES permits administered by the VTDEC include: 1) Stormwater Runoff from Construction Sites, 2) Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) for stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity, and 3) Phase II MS4 permit for municipal separate storm sewer systems.

To determine if you need to obtain a permit from the VTDEC Stormwater Section refer to the Stormwater Permitting Flowchart (pdf, 422 KB).

Updated: March 2003