Last Updated 08/04/2026
Stormwater Management Manual Regulations
3.7 Enforcement
3.7.1 Right of Entry
The Director of MWS, the Director of Codes Administration, or any of their duly authorized representatives may enter upon the premises of any land within Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County for the purposes of inspecting the site before, during, and after construction to determine compliance with these regulations.
The Director of MWS or any of his or her duly authorized representatives may enter upon the premises of any land and enter facilities within Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County for the purposes of inspecting potential impacts to stormwater quality or any activities that may violate the NPDES MS4 permit.
6.8 Stormwater Quantity & Quality Best Management Practice (BMP) Maintenance
Care must be taken to ensure that any required detention facilities do not become nuisances or health hazards. Stormwater quality management practices generally require more maintenance than stormwater quantity management practices. Detention facilities should be designed to require minimal maintenance, and maintenance responsibility must be clearly stated on the plans. Detention facilities may be designed to serve multiple purposes whereby runoff may be detained under wet-weather conditions, but also serve as common or recreational areas during dry-weather conditions. Where multi-purpose facilities are provided, or where flat grades or poorly draining soils are encountered, provisions for adequate low flow stormwater management system may be required. Where the retention/ detention facility is planned to be used as a lake, pond or stormwater quality management practice with a permanent pool, water budget calculations shall be performed and submitted to demonstrate that an adequate pool is expected during dry summer months. More detailed specifications on detention structures can be found in Volume 4 Section 6.
All stormwater quantity and/or quality control SCMs must be maintained by the landowner or the homeowner’s association in perpetuity.
6.8.1 BMP Maintenance Document
A Maintenance Document must be submitted with the Grading Permit application and must include the following:
- Either an Inspection and Maintenance (I&M) Agreement, which includes an easement requirement, or a Declaration of Restrictions and Covenants, whichever is appropriate as determined by MWS staff, signed by the current owner. All SCMs shall be located within a public utility and drainage easement if the SCM receives public water or if required by MWS staff. Copies of the two alternative forms may be found in Appendix F.
- A long-term maintenance plan prepared by the design engineer. The maintenance plan must include a description of the stormwater system and its components, inspection priorities and inspection schedule for each component, and SCM schematics for each SCM.
- A system location map to enable MWS to locate SCMs, which include water quality buffers, as needed. The map shall not include grading or EPSC but, shall show how the SCMs will be accessed for maintenance. The sheet shall also contain all details for the SCMs including cross sections and landscape plans if applicable.
The Maintenance Document must be recorded prior to final Grading Permit approval. If the final configuration of the stormwater system components or BMP differs from the original configuration proposed with the Grading Permit application, the Maintenance Document must be revised, finalized, and rerecorded. Failure to follow the Maintenance Document could result in enforcement action. Nothing in these regulations alters, amends, or negates requirements under existing detention pond agreements between the Metropolitan Government and property owners.
6.8.2 Inspection and Maintenance Responsibilities
The long-term maintenance plan within the Maintenance Document contains the inspection priorities and schedule for the stormwater system components and SCMs. The SCM owner is responsible for inspecting the stormwater system, including SCMs, according to the schedule and annually submitting a completed report summarizing inspections and maintenance performed on
Chapter 7: POST-CONSTRUCTION WATER QUALITY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
7.7 Stormwater Control Measure (SCM) Long Term Maintenance
Each water quality SCM installed on a site requires maintenance so that it functions properly, ensuring that it helps fulfill the water quality goal for the site. Therefore, a SCM-specific Maintenance Document for each development site is required. Please see Section 6.7.1 or Appendix F for additional information.
Stormwater Ordinance
15.64.220 Violations–Penalties.
A. Any violation of this chapter shall be punishable by a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed five hundred dollars; provided, however, that any violation of Section 15.64.205 shall be punishable by a civil penalty of not less than fifty dollars nor more than five thousand dollars.
For purposes of assessing civil penalties under this chapter, each day of violation shall constitute a separate violation.
B. In assessing a civil penalty, the following factors may be considered:
- The harm done to the public health or the environment;
- Whether the civil penalty imposed will be substantial economic deterrent to the illegal activity;
- The economic benefit gained by the violator;
- The amount of effort put forth by the violator to remedy this violation;
- Any unusual or extraordinary enforcement costs incurred by the municipality;
- The amount of penalty established by ordinance or resolution for specific categories of violations; and
- Any equities of the situation which outweigh the benefit of imposing any penalty or damage assessment.
C. The department may also assess damages proximately caused by the violator to the municipality which may include any reasonable expenses incurred in investigating and/or enforcing violations of this part, or any other actual damages caused by the violation.
D. In addition to all other remedies provided by law, the metropolitan government shall have the right to injunctive relief for any violation of this chapter
Nashville Stormwater Fee
Monthly charges for stormwater are based on the amount of impervious square footage. Impervious surfaces are those disturbed or hardened surface areas that either prevent or limit the natural entry of water into the soil. Roof tops, buildings, streets, parking lots, sidewalks, asphalt, concrete, other paving, driveways, compacted gravel, patios, and artificial turf are all examples of impervious surfaces. This type of hard-surface improvement reduces natural infiltration and increases the amount of stormwater that flows off your property and into the drainage systems, creeks and rivers of our city.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can Metro Nashville inspect my property for stormwater compliance?
Yes. The Director of Metro Water Services (MWS), the Director of Codes Administration, or their authorized representatives can enter any property in Davidson County to inspect before, during, and after construction for compliance with stormwater regulations. MWS can also enter facilities specifically to inspect for potential impacts to stormwater quality or activities that might violate the city’s NPDES MS4 permit.
Who maintains stormwater control measures on my Nashville property long term?
The landowner or homeowners association must maintain all stormwater quantity and quality control measures (SCMs) in perpetuity. Detention facilities should be designed to require minimal maintenance, and maintenance responsibility must be clearly stated on the project plans. AQUALIS can help property owners understand exactly what long term maintenance their specific SCMs will require.
Do I need a formal maintenance document for my stormwater system in Nashville?
Yes. A Maintenance Document must be submitted with your Grading Permit application, and recorded before final Grading Permit approval. It needs to include either an Inspection and Maintenance Agreement or a Declaration of Restrictions and Covenants, a long-term maintenance plan describing your system and its inspection schedule, and a system location map showing how each SCM will be accessed for maintenance. If your final stormwater system differs from what was originally proposed, the Maintenance Document has to be revised and rerecorded to match.
What happens if I don't follow my Maintenance Document in Nashville?
Failure to follow the recorded Maintenance Document can result in enforcement action. Staying current with the inspection and maintenance schedule laid out in your document is the most direct way to avoid this.
Do I need to report on my stormwater system's maintenance every year in Nashville?
Yes. The SCM owner is responsible for inspecting the stormwater system according to the schedule in the Maintenance Document and submitting an Annual Inspection and Maintenance Summary Report. This report covers the previous calendar year’s inspection and maintenance activity, and is due after January 1st but no later than July 1st each year.
What is Nashville's post construction stormwater quality standard?
Metro Nashville applies a consistent pollutant reduction standard to all development types. Site designs must manage, at minimum, the runoff generated by the first inch of rainfall in any storm event preceded by 72 hours without measurable precipitation. A site that meets the 80% runoff reduction goal in Metro’s Low Impact Development Manual is presumed to meet this standard. AQUALIS can help property owners design to this standard from the outset.
Is there a stormwater fee for properties in Nashville?
Yes. Monthly stormwater charges are based on the amount of impervious surface area on a property, including roofs, driveways, parking lots, sidewalks, and other hardened surfaces that limit natural water infiltration. More impervious area generally means a higher monthly charge, since it increases the volume of runoff flowing into the city’s drainage systems.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Regulations change frequently — AQUALIS makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of this content, and any reliance on it is at your own risk. Consult a qualified professional or your local regulatory authority to confirm requirements applicable to your specific property.
