Last Updated 08/20/2026
Excerpts from the Town of Auburn, MA Bylaws
CHAPTER XIV STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
14.03: Stormwater Management and Erosion Control
(1) Applicability:
(A) No person may undertake Land Disturbing Activities regulated by this By-law without a Land Disturbance Permit from the Authorized Enforcement Agency pursuant to this By-law and regulations promulgated hereunder.
(B) Permit procedures shall be defined and included as part of any rules and regulations promulgated as permitted under this By-law.
(3) Fees
(A) The Authorized Enforcement Agency shall establish fees to cover expenses connected with application review and monitoring permit compliance. The fees shall be sufficient to cover the costs of Town administrative and professional staff time for the review, processing, and monitoring an application and permit. Any changes to the fee schedule shall require a duly noticed and advertised public hearing.
(B)The Authorized Enforcement Agency may require the Owner to pay reasonable costs to be incurred by the Authorized Enforcement Agency for the employment of outside consultants pursuant to regulations as authorized M.G.L.c. 44, § 53G.
MASSACHUSETTS STORMWATER STANDARDS
In 1996, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (the “Department” or “MassDEP”) issued the Stormwater Policy that established Stormwater Management Standards aimed at encouraging recharge and preventing stormwater discharges from causing or contributing to the pollution of the surface waters and ground waters of the Commonwealth. In 1997, MA DEP published the Massachusetts Stormwater Handbook as guidance on the Stormwater Policy. In 2008, MA DEP revised the Stormwater Management Standards and Massachusetts Stormwater Handbook to promote increased stormwater recharge, the treatment of more runoff from polluting land uses, low impact development (LID) techniques, pollution prevention, and the removal of illicit discharges to stormwater management systems, and improved operation and maintenance of stormwater best management practices (BMPs).
The Stormwater Management Standards address water quality (pollutants) and water quantity (flooding, base flow and recharge) by establishing standards that require the implementation of a wide variety of stormwater management strategies. These strategies include environmentally sensitive site design and LID techniques to minimize impervious surface and land disturbance, source control, and the long-term operation and maintenance of stormwater management systems.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What triggers a land disturbance permit in Auburn?
Any land disturbing activity regulated by the town’s stormwater bylaw requires a Land Disturbance Permit from the Authorized Enforcement Agency before work begins. Permit procedures are defined in the rules and regulations issued under the bylaw.
How are permit fees set for stormwater review in Auburn?
The Authorized Enforcement Agency sets fees to cover the town’s administrative and professional staff time for reviewing, processing, and monitoring an application and permit. Any change to the fee schedule requires a properly noticed and advertised public hearing.
Can Auburn require a property owner to pay for outside consultants during permit review?
Yes. The Authorized Enforcement Agency can require the owner to cover reasonable costs for outside consultants it employs during the permit process, under authority granted by Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44, Section 53G.
What are the Massachusetts Stormwater Management Standards that apply in Auburn?
The standards address both water quality and water quantity concerns, covering pollutants, flooding, base flow, and groundwater recharge. They call for a range of strategies, including environmentally sensitive site design, low impact development techniques that minimize impervious surface and land disturbance, source control, and long-term operation and maintenance of stormwater systems.
Who is responsible for maintaining stormwater facilities on a property in Auburn?
Property owners must maintain all on-site stormwater control facilities and any open space areas required under an approved stormwater control plan. The town has the authority to inspect these facilities and practices to confirm they’re properly maintained and functioning, and can issue a notice of violation for any deficiency found.
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.
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