Last Updated 08/25/2026
Stormwater Code: Excerpts from Union, New Jersey, Code of Ordinances and Land Development Ordinance
Chapter 520 Stormwater Management
Scope and purpose
- Policy statement. Flood control, groundwater recharge and pollutant reduction through nonstructural or low-impact techniques shall be explored before relying on structural best management practices (BMPs). Structural BMPs should be integrated with nonstructural stormwater management measures and proper maintenance plans. Nonstructural measures include both environmentally sensitive site design and source controls that prevent pollutants from being placed on the site. Source control plans should be developed based upon physical site conditions and the origin, nature and the anticipated loading of potential pollutants. Multiple stormwater management BMPs may be necessary to achieve the established performance standards for water quality, quantity and groundwater recharge.
- Purpose. It is the purpose of this article to establish minimum stormwater management requirements and controls for major development as defined in § 170-242, Definitions.
- Applicability.
- This article shall be applicable to all site plans and subdivisions for the following major developments that require preliminary or final site plan or subdivision review:
- Nonresidential major developments; and
- Aspects of residential major developments that are not preempted by the Residential Site Improvement Standards at N.J.A.C. 5:21.
- This article shall also be applicable to all major developments undertaken by the Township of Union.
- This article shall be applicable to all site plans and subdivisions for the following major developments that require preliminary or final site plan or subdivision review:
- Compatibility with other permit and ordinance requirements. Development approvals issued pursuant to this article are to be considered an integral part of development approvals under the development permit, subdivision and site plan review process and do not relieve the applicant of the responsibility to secure required permits or approvals for activities regulated by any other applicable code, rule, act or ordinance. In their interpretation and application, the provisions of this article shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public health, safety and general welfare. This article is not intended to interfere with, abrogate or annul any other ordinances, rule or regulation, statute or other provision of law except that, where any provision of this article imposes restrictions different from those imposed by any other ordinance, rule or regulation or other provision of law, the more restrictive provisions or higher standards shall control.
Maintenance and Repair
- Applicability. Projects subject to review as in § 170-244C of this article shall comply with the requirements of Sections § 170-250B and C.
- 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 § 170-1811B(3) above is not a public agency, the maintenance plan and any future revisions based on § 170-1811B(7) 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 nonvegetated linings.
- The party responsible for maintenance identified under § 170-1811B(3) above shall perform all of the following requirements:
- Maintain a detailed log of all preventative and corrective maintenance for the structural stormwater management measures incorporated into the design of the development, including a record of all inspections and copies of all maintenance-related work orders;
- Evaluate the effectiveness of the maintenance plan at least once per year and adjust the plan and the deed as needed; and
- Retain and make available, upon request by any public entity with administrative, health, environmental, or safety authority over the site, the maintenance plan and the documentation required by § 170-1811B(6) and (7) above.
- The requirements of § 170-1811B(3) and B(4) do not apply to stormwater management facilities that are dedicated to and accepted by the municipality or another governmental agency, subject to all applicable municipal stormwater general permit conditions, as issued by the Department.
- The applicant shall be responsible for posting a two-year maintenance guarantee for the stormwater management facility in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:55D:53.
- In the event that the stormwater management facility becomes a danger to public safety or public health, or if it is in need of maintenance or repair, the municipality shall so notify the responsible person in writing. Upon receipt of that notice, the responsible person shall have 14 days to effect maintenance and repair of the facility in a manner that is approved by the municipal engineer or his designee. The municipality, in its discretion, may extend the time allowed for effecting maintenance and repair for good cause. If the responsible person fails or refuses to perform such maintenance and repair, the municipality or county may immediately proceed to do so and shall bill the cost thereof to the responsible person. Nonpayment of such bill may result in a lien on the property.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are my ongoing maintenance obligations for a stormwater facility in Union Township?
Property owners connected to a major development in Union Township are subject to a maintenance plan that governs how their stormwater facility is kept in working order after construction, covering preventative tasks, schedules, and cost estimates for upkeep. This obligation continues for the life of the facility, not just during the initial permitting period. AQUALIS manages this ongoing maintenance responsibility for Union Township property owners, so the facility keeps performing to the standards the township expects.
Do I need to keep maintenance logs for my stormwater facility in Union Township?
Yes. Union Township requires the responsible party to maintain detailed logs of inspections and maintenance work, evaluate the plan’s effectiveness annually, and make those records available to public agencies upon request. AQUALIS maintains these inspection and maintenance logs for Union Township property owners and conducts the required annual effectiveness evaluations.
What happens if my stormwater facility in Union Township is not properly maintained?
Union Township can enforce required maintenance within 14 days of written notice if a responsible party fails to keep a stormwater facility in compliance. Given that a two-year maintenance guarantee must also be posted for stormwater management facilities in Union Township, staying on top of maintenance protects that financial guarantee as well as the facility itself. AQUALIS helps Union Township property owners respond to a maintenance notice quickly, so the required corrective work happens well within the township’s 14-day window.
Does Union Township require a maintenance guarantee for my stormwater facility?
Yes. Union Township’s ordinance prioritizes exploring flood control, groundwater recharge, and pollutant reduction through nonstructural or low-impact techniques before turning to structural best management practices, and multiple BMPs may be necessary to meet the township’s water quality, quantity, and groundwater recharge standards. Each approach carries its own maintenance considerations once construction is complete. AQUALIS manages the specific post-construction maintenance needs tied to whichever BMP approach was used on a Union Township property.
Where can I find a single resource for managing my stormwater compliance needs in Union Township?
Between maintenance plans built around the NJ BMP Manual, deed-recorded responsibility agreements, annual evaluations, logged inspections, and a posted maintenance guarantee, staying compliant in Union Township involves more moving pieces than most property owners want to track alone. AQUALIS offers Union Township property owners a single point of contact for stormwater management, covering maintenance plan development, inspections, annual evaluations, and enforcement response, 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.
