The County of Baldwin has enacted a Stormwater Ordinance in order to establish minimum stormwater management requirements and controls to protect and safeguard the general health, safety, and welfare of the public residing in watersheds within this jurisdiction. The County of Baldwin is the permitting authority for all land disturbing activities and requires the land owner to maintain all on-site stormwater control facilities and all open space areas (e.g. parks or “green” areas) required by the approved stormwater control plan. The County of Baldwin will only provide construction permits to projects that establish a plan to manage stormwater runoff occurring during the construction process. The County of Baldwin, under the NPDES program, also has the authority to inspect properties for noncompliance and can issue a notice of violation (NOV) for any deficiency or infraction onsite. Property owners are responsible for the maintenance of any stormwater facilities or practices located on the property. The County of Baldwin has the authority to inspect stormwater facilities and practices in order to ascertain that they are properly maintained and functioning.
The County of Baldwin regulations are compliant with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) through municipal regulation Baldwin County Zoning Ordinances and Subdivision Regulations. The county’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) requires Baldwin to administer and enforce compliance with stormwater discharge permits in an effort to decrease stormwater pollutants and increase overall water quality.
Baldwin County’s NPDES Permit covers all Urbanized Areas within its jurisdiction as a small MS4. Within the county, three municipalities have independent MS4 authority:
12.1.7 Stormwater management. No development may precede except in conformity with the stormwater management provisions of these ordinances.
A stormwater management plan is required for all major projects. Such plan shall be prepared by a licensed engineer and shall be submitted in conjunction with an application for a land use certificate as herein provided. No development may proceed until a land use certificate has been approved. The Zoning Administrator shall, in consultation with the Building Official and County Engineer or his/her designee, determine that reasonable provisions for properly handling surface drainage have been made in the applicant’s design.
The NPDES permit requires the County to develop, implement and enforce a program to address storm water discharges from new development and redevelopment projects that disturb greater than one acre, and projects less than one acre that are part of a larger common plan of development.
8.2.5 Operation and Maintenance
For post developed BMPs to be effective, routine maintenance of the BMP will be required. The County shall evaluate mechanisms that can be utilized to ensure proper maintenance of the BMPs.
Alabama Handbook for Erosion Control (Volume 1)