Permitting Rule Revisions
Streamlining Our Regulations
During our permitting process, MCWD engages with cities, developers, businesses, and others who implement changes on the landscape. Recognizing that what happens on the land impacts our water resources, we believe the permitting process is an opportunity to provide service and grow relationships to help applicants meet their goals in a way that is protective of water resources.
To facilitate these partnerships and provide better customer service, we have updated our permitting rules to align with other regulatory agencies, simplify language, and streamline processes. The majority of rule revisions are focused on the Erosion Control and Stormwater Management rules, which must be updated to align with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)‘s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) standards.
Rule Revisions Contact
For questions and concerns regarding the rule revisions process, please reach out to:
Becky Christopher,
Policy Planning Director
View the Revised Rules
The MCWD Board of Managers adopted the revised rules on April 11, 2024, and they will go into effect on April 29, 2024. Any permit application submitted prior to the effective date will be subject to the current rules.
View the adopted rule revisions at the document below.
A Collaborative Process
MCWD engaged representatives from the watershed’s 29 communities as part of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) process for the Land & Water Partnership Initiative, an initiative focused on integrating land and water planning and strengthening relationships with our communities. A summary of TAC feedback is provided within the Land & Water Partnership Capstone Publication. MCWD also conducted meetings with our Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) and Board of Managers to review and refine the proposed improvements to the permitting program and the rule revisions.
To gather additional input on the proposed rule revisions, we distributed the rules for a 45-day public comment period and held a public hearing on January 11, 2024. Written responses to all comments, and associated changes to the rules, can be viewed at the document below
Partnering Through Regulation
Partnership is integral to MCWD’s approach. Over the years, we’ve helped our partners navigate complicated permitting processes, so they can achieve their goals and deliver benefits to their communities.
Our new rules help facilitate effective partnership, so we can continue applying our technical expertise, relationships, and planning capabilities to find innovative solutions.
