Last Updated 08/25/2026
Stormwater Code: Excerpts from Edison, New Jersey, Code of Ordinance
Chapter 34 Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan
Prohibited Conduct
The spilling, dumping, or disposal of materials other than stormwater to the municipal separate storm sewer system operated by the Township of Edison is prohibited. The spilling, dumping, or disposal of materials other than stormwater in such a manner as to cause the discharge of pollutants to the municipal separate storm sewer system is also prohibited.
Exceptions to Prohibition
- Water line flushing and discharges from potable water sources
- Uncontaminated ground water (e.g., infiltration, crawl space or basement sump pumps, foundation or footing drains, rising ground waters)
- Air conditioning condensate (excluding contact and non-contact cooling water)
- Irrigation water (including landscape and lawn watering runoff)
- Flows from springs, riparian habitats and wetlands, water reservoir discharges and diverted stream flows
- Residential car washing water, and residential swimming pool discharges
- Sidewalk, driveway and street wash water
- Flows from firefighting activities
- Flows from rinsing of the following equipment with clean water:
- Beach maintenance equipment immediately following their use for their intended purposes; and
- Equipment used in the application of salt and de-icing materials immediately following salt and de-icing material applications. Prior to rinsing with clean water, all residual salt and de-icing materials must be removed from equipment and vehicles to the maximum extent practicable using dry cleaning methods (e.g., shoveling and sweeping). Recovered materials are to be returned to storage for reuse or properly discarded. Rinsing of equipment, as noted in the above situation is limited to exterior, undercarriage, and exposed parts and does not apply to engines or other enclosed machinery.
Enforcement
This ordinance shall be enforced by the Edison Township Police Department, Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Works of the Township of Edison.
Penalties
Any person(s) who continues to be in violation of the provisions of this ordinance, after being duly notified, shall be subject to a fine not to exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000.00).
Design and Performance Standards for Structural Stormwater Management Measures
- The minimum standards for erosion control are those established under the Soil and Sediment Control Act, N.J.S.A. 4:24-39 et seq., and implementing rules at N.J.A.C. 2:90.
- Seepage pits or other infiltration measures shall be provided with a capacity of three (3) inches of runoff for each square foot of new impervious area. Stone used in the infiltration/recharge devices shall be two and one-half (2 1/2) inches clean stone and a design void ratio of thirty-three (33%) percent shall be used. The infiltration measures shall be designed with an overflow to the surface which shall be stabilized and directed to nab existing stormwater conveyance system or in a manner to keep the overflow on the developed property to the greatest extent feasible. If the new impervious surface is not roof area, an equivalent area of existing roof may be directed to the recharge/infiltration system. This shall be permitted where existing roof is not already directed to a recharge/infiltration system.
C. Stormwater management measures for major development shall be designed to provide erosion control, groundwater recharge, stormwater runoff quantity control, and stormwater runoff quality treatment as follows:
- The minimum standards for erosion control are those established under the Soil and Sediment Control Act, N.J.S.A. 4:24-39 et seq., and implementing rules at N.J.A.C. 2:90.
- The minimum standards for groundwater recharge, stormwater quality, and stormwater runoff quantity shall be met by incorporating green infrastructure.
D. The standards in this section apply only to new major development and are intended to minimize the impact of stormwater runoff on water quality and water quantity in receiving water bodies and maintain groundwater recharge. The standards do not apply to new major development to the extent that alternative design and performance standards are applicable under a regional stormwater management plan or Water Quality Management Plan adopted in accordance with Department rules.
Safety Standards for Stormwater Management Basins
A. This section sets forth requirements to protect public safety through the proper design and operation of stormwater management BMP. This section applies to any new stormwater management BMP.
C. Requirements for Trash Racks, Overflow Grates and Escape Provisions.
1. A trash rack is a device designed to catch trash and debris and prevent the clogging of outlet structures. Trash racks shall be installed at the intake to the outlet from the stormwater management BMP to ensure proper functioning of the BMP outlets
2. An overflow grate is designed to prevent obstruction of the overflow structure.
- If a stormwater management BMP has an outlet structure, escape provisions shall be incorporated in or on the structure. Escape provisions include the installation of permanent ladders, steps, rungs, or other features that provide easily accessible means of egress from stormwater management BMPs. With the prior approval of the municipality pursuant to § 34-8.8c, a free-standing outlet structure may be exempted from this requirement;
- Safety ledges shall be constructed on the slopes of all new stormwater management BMPs having a permanent pool of water deeper than two and one-half feet. Safety ledges shall be comprised of two steps. Each step shall be four to six feet in width. One step shall be located approximately two and one-half feet below the permanent water surface, and the second step shall be located one to one and one-half feet above the permanent water surface. See 34-8.8e for an illustration of safety ledges in a stormwater management BMP; and
- In new stormwater management BMPs, the maximum interior slope for an earthen dam, embankment, or berm shall not be steeper than three horizontal to one vertical.
Maintenance and Repair
B. General Maintenance.
- The design engineer shall prepare a maintenance plan for the stormwater management measures incorporated into the design of a major development.
- The maintenance plan shall contain specific preventative maintenance tasks and schedules; cost estimates, including estimated cost of sediment, debris, or trash removal; and the name, address, and telephone number of the person or persons responsible for preventative and corrective maintenance (including replacement). The plan shall contain information on BMP location, design, ownership, maintenance tasks and frequencies, and other details as specified in Chapter 8 of the NJ BMP Manual, as well as the tasks specific to the type of BMP, as described in the applicable chapter containing design specifics.
- If the maintenance plan identifies a person other than the property owner (for example, a developer, a public agency or homeowners’ association) as having the responsibility for maintenance, the plan shall include documentation of such person’s or entity’s agreement to assume this responsibility, or of the owner’s obligation to dedicate a stormwater management facility to such person under an applicable ordinance or regulation.
- Responsibility for maintenance shall not be assigned or transferred to the owner or tenant of an individual property in a residential development or project, unless such owner or tenant owns or leases the entire residential development or project. The individual property owner may be assigned incidental tasks, such as weeding of a green infrastructure BMP, provided the individual agrees to assume these tasks; however, the individual cannot be legally responsible for all of the maintenance required.
- If the party responsible for maintenance identified under § 34-8.10b3 above is not a public agency, the maintenance plan and any future revisions based on § 34-8.10b7 below shall be recorded upon the deed of record for each property on which the maintenance described in the maintenance plan must be undertaken.
- Preventative and corrective maintenance shall be performed to maintain the functional parameters (storage volume, infiltration rates, inflow/outflow capacity, etc.) of the stormwater management measure, including, but not limited to, repairs or replacement to the structure; removal of sediment, debris, or trash; restoration of eroded areas; snow and ice removal; fence repair or replacement; restoration of vegetation; and repair or replacement of non-vegetated linings.
View State Page
Frequently Asked Questions
What are my ongoing responsibilities for a stormwater facility on my Edison property?
Property owners in Edison Township are required to maintain all on-site stormwater control facilities and open space areas in accordance with the plan approved for their development. That means keeping detention basins, seepage pits, or green infrastructure components functioning as originally designed well after construction wraps up. AQUALIS manages this ongoing maintenance obligation for Edison property owners, so the facility keeps performing the way the township expects.
Do I need a maintenance plan for my stormwater facility in Edison, and who prepares it?
Yes. In Edison Township, the design engineer must prepare a maintenance plan that specifies preventative maintenance tasks, cost estimates, and the party responsible for carrying out the work. Edison’s ordinance also prevents full maintenance responsibility from being assigned to individual residential property owners unless that owner owns the entire development. AQUALIS prepares and manages these maintenance plans for Edison property owners, keeping the required documentation accurate and current.
What enforcement agencies handle stormwater violations in Edison Township, and what are the penalties?
Edison Township stormwater enforcement is carried out by the Edison Township Police, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Public Works. Violations that continue after notification can result in fines of up to $2,000.00. AQUALIS helps Edison property owners resolve maintenance deficiencies before they escalate into violations reviewed by these enforcement agencies.
What is prohibited from entering the storm sewer system on my Edison property?
Edison Township prohibits dumping or disposing of non-stormwater materials into the municipal separate storm sewer system, including spills that cause a pollutant discharge. Limited exceptions exist for things like water line flushing, uncontaminated groundwater, air conditioning condensate, irrigation runoff, residential car washing, and firefighting flows. AQUALIS helps Edison property owners understand and manage these illicit discharge rules as part of a broader compliance program.
Where can I find help managing all of my stormwater compliance needs in Edison Township?
Between engineer-prepared maintenance plans, green infrastructure requirements, basin safety standards, and an enforcement structure spanning three different township departments, keeping an Edison property compliant involves tracking a lot of moving pieces. AQUALIS offers Edison Township property owners a single point of contact for stormwater management, covering maintenance plan development, inspections, enforcement response, and general compliance consulting, so property owners can meet the township’s requirements without managing every detail themselves.
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.
