Upcoming Revisions to Post-Development Stormwater Management Ordinance

The City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management (“DWM”) is currently revising its Post-Development Stormwater Management Ordinance (City Code Chapter 74, Article X). This ordinance applies to nearly every type of development, including commercial and single-family residential property, and requires all new development and redevelopment to manage the quantity and quality of stormwater runoff coming from its site.

This website provides a great overview of the ordinance and has a number of very useful links, including an ordinance update memo, a summary of the key revisions, and much more.

DWM is proposing two categories of updates: 1) regulatory updates to address requirements in the City’s new MS4 Permit – this is what authorizes the City to release stormwater collected by its storm sewer system into certain waterways – and in the Metro Water District’s new Model Ordinance, and 2) housekeeping updates, such as defining new terms and clarifying how to handle conflicts with other rules and regulations. There are changes to what types of projects and developments fall within the ordinance’s purview. For example, linear transportation projects must now comply with the ordinance and apply post-development stormwater management controls. This applies to projects that construct or redevelop roads, sidewalks, and multi-use paths and trails.

DWM is accepting feedback from the public on its proposed updates through Friday, May 1, 2020. You can provide any feedback you have about the proposed updates or other suggestions by completing this survey or by sending an email to Spencer Peck at speck@atlantaga.gov. All feedback received will be published to this webpage.