City of Fort Smith

The City of Fort Smith 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 City of Fort Smith 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 City of Fort Smith will only provide construction permits to projects that establish a plan to manage stormwater runoff occurring during the construction process. The City of Fort Smith, 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 City of Fort Smith has the authority to inspect stormwater facilities and practices in order to ascertain that they are properly maintained and functioning.

Excerpt from Municipal Code

Sec. 27-506. – Stormwater Management.

Purpose: The purpose of this section is to establish stormwater management level of service standards and criteria for conventional and engineered stormwater management systems.

27-506-1 Applicability. No storm drainage facility, whether an enclosed structure, pipe, or an open channel, ditch or stream, shall be constructed, altered, or reconstructed within a subdivision, planned development, or a developed area, within a public right-of-way or easement, or discharge into, upon, or under a public right-of-way or easement, or a subdivision or planned development or developed area within the planning jurisdiction of the City of Fort Smith, without first obtaining written approval from the department of engineering.

27-506-2 General design requirements. Stormwater management systems shall comply with the City of Fort Smith Storm Drainage Standards.

(Ord. No. 70-11, § 2, 9-6-11)

27-506-3 Erosion control. Erosion control measures shall be provided which are consistent with the requirements of the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ).

Supplemental Documents:

City of Fort Smith Municipal Code

State of Arkansas Documents:

ADEQ Stormwater Website

ARR150000 Construction Stormwater Permit Fact Sheet