Compliance · By State
State Stormwater Permit Requirements
Nearly every U.S. state runs its own construction stormwater permitting program, each with its own permit language and its own training or inspector expectations. Here's a reference summary of permitting authorities and links, organized by state.
Why Requirements Vary by State
Roughly 47 states are authorized by EPA to run their own NPDES construction stormwater permitting programs in place of the federal Construction General Permit. Each state agency writes its own permit, which can include its own terminology, its own inspector or "qualified person" standard, and in some cases a state-specific credential. The table below summarizes several commonly asked-about states. See Stormwater Regulations & Standards for the federal framework these state programs build on.
State-by-State Summary
Permitting Authorities & Training Requirement Summaries
| State | Permitting Authority | Construction Stormwater Permit Link | Training / Inspector Requirement Summary | QSP/QSD or Equivalent Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | State Water Resources Control Board / CASQA | CASQA QSD/QSP Overview | State-issued QSP/QSD credential required for SWPPP practitioners and developers | QSP (Practitioner) / QSD (Developer) | Separate system from EPA's federal "qualified person" standard, see Federal vs. California QSP/QSD |
| Texas | Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) | TCEQ Construction Stormwater | General "qualified" inspector; no state-specific credential program | None (general qualified inspector) | Verify current TPDES general permit language directly with TCEQ |
| Florida | Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) | FDEP Construction Generic Permit | General qualified inspector under the NPDES generic permit | None (general qualified inspector) | Confirm current generic permit requirements with FDEP |
| New York | NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) | NYSDEC Construction Activity Permitting | Qualified Inspector must complete a 4-hour NYSDEC-approved training | Qualified Inspector (NYSDEC-approved training) | Training must be NYSDEC-approved specifically, verify course approval status with NYSDEC |
| Illinois | Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) | IEPA Construction Stormwater | General qualified personnel under the state NPDES general permit | None (general qualified personnel) | Confirm current permit language directly with IEPA |
| Georgia | Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) | Georgia EPD Stormwater Construction | Certified Level II inspector training is required for site inspections | Certified Level II Inspector | Confirm current Level II certification course requirements with Georgia EPD |
| Arizona | Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) | ADEQ Construction General Permit | General qualified inspector under the state CGP | None (general qualified inspector) | Confirm current CGP requirements with ADEQ |
| Washington | Washington State Department of Ecology | Ecology Construction Stormwater General Permit | Certified Erosion and Sediment Control Lead (CESCL) is required on active sites | CESCL | CESCL is a specific state credential, not automatically satisfied by general training |
| Colorado | Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) | CDPHE Stormwater Construction | General qualified personnel under the state general permit | None (general qualified personnel) | Confirm current permit language directly with CDPHE |
| Oregon | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) | Oregon DEQ Stormwater Construction | CESCL required, same standard as Washington | CESCL | CESCL is a specific state credential, not automatically satisfied by general training |
| All Other States | EPA is the direct permitting authority in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Washington DC, and most territories/tribal lands | EPA Construction General Permit | Varies, check with EPA (where EPA is the authority) or the relevant state agency | Varies by jurisdiction | States not listed above should be checked individually with their state environmental permitting authority |
This course is designed for general stormwater compliance training and may not satisfy every state-specific credential, license, or certification requirement. Always verify current requirements with your state's environmental permitting authority before relying on this table , permit programs, links, and requirements change.
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