Last Updated 08/25/2026
Stormwater Code: Excerpts from Woodbridge, New Jersey, Code of Ordinances and Land Development Ordinance
Chapter 150 Land Use and Development Ordinance- Stormwater Control
Design and Performance Standards for Stormwater Management Measures
- 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.
- The standards in these Stormwater Control regulations 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
- This section sets forth requirements to protect public safety through the proper design and operation of stormwater management BMPs. This section applies to any new stormwater management BMP.
- The provisions of this section are not intended to preempt more stringent municipal or county safety requirements for new or existing stormwater management BMPs. Municipal and county stormwater management plans and ordinances may, pursuant to their authority, require existing stormwater management BMPs to be retrofitted to meet one or more of the safety standards in § 150-82.1.8C(1), § 150-82.1.8C(2), and § 150-82.1.8C(3) for trash racks, overflow grates, and escape provisions at outlet structures.
- Requirements for Trash Racks, Overflow Grates and Escape Provisions.
- 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 in accordance with the following:
- The trash rack shall have parallel bars, with no greater than six-inch spacing bars
- The trash rack shall be designed so as not to adversely affect the hydraulic performance of the outlet pipe or structure;
- The average velocity of flow through a clean trash rack is not to exceed 2.5 feet per second under the full range of stage and discharge. Velocity is to be computed on the basis of the net area of opening through the rack; and
- The trash rack shall be constructed of rigid, durable, and corrosion resistant material and designed to withstand a perpendicular live loading of 300 pounds per square foot.
- An overflow grate is designed to prevent obstruction of the overflow structure. If an outlet structure has an overflow grate, such grate shall meet the following requirements:
- The overflow grate shall be secured to the outlet structure but removable for emergencies and maintenance.
- The overflow grate spacing shall be no greater than two inches across the smallest dimension.
- The overflow grate shall be constructed and installed to be rigid, durable, and corrosion resistant, and shall be designed to withstand a perpendicular live loading of 300 pounds per square foot.
- Stormwater management BMPs shall include escape provisions as follows:
- 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 § 150-82.1.8C, 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 2 1/2 feet. Safety ledges shall be comprised of two steps. Each step shall be four feet to six feet in width. One step shall be located approximately 2 1/2 feet below the permanent water surface, and the second step shall be located one to 1 1/2 feet above the permanent water surface. See § 150-82.1.8E 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.
- 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 in accordance with the following:
- Variance or Exemption from Safety Standard. A variance or exemption from the safety standards for stormwater management BMPs may be granted only upon a written finding by the municipality that the variance or exemption will not constitute a threat to public safety.
Maintenance and Repair
- 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 § 150-82.1.10B(3) above is not a public agency, the maintenance plan and any future revisions based on § 150-82.1.10B7 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.
- The party responsible for maintenance identified under § 150-82.1.10B(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 § 150-82.1.10B(6) and B(7) above.
- The requirements of §§ 150-82.1.10B(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.
- 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.
Nothing in this subsection shall preclude the municipality in which the major development is located from requiring the posting of a performance or maintenance guarantee in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:55D-53.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are my ongoing maintenance obligations for a stormwater facility in Woodbridge Township?
Property owners in Woodbridge Township must maintain all on-site stormwater control facilities and open space areas as specified in their approved stormwater control plan. This is a continuing obligation that begins once construction wraps up and lasts for the life of the facility. AQUALIS manages this ongoing maintenance responsibility for Woodbridge Township property owners, so the facility keeps performing as originally designed.
Do I need a maintenance plan for my stormwater facility in Woodbridge Township, and what does it need to include?
Yes. Design engineers in Woodbridge Township must prepare a maintenance plan specifying preventative maintenance tasks and schedules, cost estimates, and the name, address, and telephone number of the person or persons responsible for upkeep. AQUALIS prepares and manages these maintenance plans for Woodbridge Township property owners, keeping the required contact and scheduling details current.
What happens if the Township of Woodbridge finds my stormwater facility out of compliance?
Woodbridge Township has the authority to inspect properties for stormwater compliance and issue a Notice of Violation when a facility is not being properly maintained. Once notified in writing, property owners generally have 14 days to complete the needed maintenance and repair. AQUALIS helps Woodbridge Township property owners respond to a Notice of Violation quickly, completing repairs within the required window rather than risking direct municipal intervention and billing.
Do I need to upgrade my storm drain inlets if I resurface or repair my Woodbridge property?
Yes. If you resurface or repair a property in Woodbridge Township, the storm drain inlets on that property must either already meet the township’s design standards or be retrofitted or replaced to meet those standards before the project is considered complete. This requirement can catch property owners off guard if it isn’t identified early in a repaving or resurfacing project. AQUALIS reviews Woodbridge Township properties for this storm drain inlet requirement ahead of resurfacing work, so it doesn’t become a surprise at project completion.
Where can I find a single resource for managing my stormwater compliance needs in Woodbridge Township?
Between maintenance plans, storm drain inlet retrofit requirements, outlet structure standards, basin safety provisions, and a township enforcement program that can end in municipal repairs and billing, staying compliant in Woodbridge Township involves several moving pieces. AQUALIS offers Woodbridge Township property owners a single point of contact for stormwater management, covering maintenance plan development, inspections, Notice of Violation 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.
