Commercial Stormwater Permit

A commercial storm permit is required for the following work:

  • 10,000 square feet or more of land disturbance (any grading, excavation, or fill activities that occur on a site).
  • 5,000 square feet or more increase in impervious surface.
  • 5,000 sq. ft. of land disturbance (any grading, excavation, or fill activities that occur on a site) subject to the Project Development Plans or Site Plan Review standards of the RIV Zoning District per 905.04.F.

Work Scopes

  • Non-Structural BMPs, Other
  • Non-Struct - Pavement Disconnection
  • Non-Struct - Rooftop Disconnection
  • Non-Struct - Tree Canopy Disconnection
  • Struct - Bioinfiltration/Bioretention
  • Struct - Cisterns
  • Struct - Dry Basins
  • Struct - Green Roof
  • Struct - Media Filters
  • Struct - Ponds and Wet Basins
  • Struct - Porous Pavement
  • Struct - Subsurface Infiltration/Detention
  • Structural BMPs, Other
  • Pretreatment Technologies
  • Outlet Controls
  • Cont. Monitoring / Adaptive Control Sys.
  • Rainwater Reuse
  • Technical Infeasibility

Fees

  • DCP Fees - Conceptual Review (stormwater review) paid at the time of application
  • PLI Fees - Application filing fee (paid at the time of application, all other paid at permit issuance), Remaining Base fee, digital record retention fee, technology fee
  • ACCD Fees - required for NPDES and erosion and sediment control review

Permit Process

The stormwater permit follows the standard PLI application process, see the following for links to standard process information and for permit specific info.

Application Submission

  • Conceptual Review Documents: for the initial application the conceptual Storm Water Management (SWM) plan and SWM plan review worksheet are required. The following documents are required as applicable: Zoning performance point system documentation, eligibility for a hardship waiver.
  • Technical Review Documents: for the 2nd cycle technical review the SWM construction documents and erosion and sediment control plans are required. The following documents are required as applicable: volume control offset and/or rate offsets strategy; volume, rate, and technology incentives strategy; rainwater points for density bonuses documentation; innovation track review request.
  • Allegheny County Conservation District (ACCD) submission:
    • Erosion and Sediment Control: All stormwater permit applicants are responsible to submit to ACCD for review of erosion and sediment control plans. ACCD’s “Adequate Letter” shall be submitted as part of the stormwater permit. The technical review shall not be accepted until this documentation is provided.
    • National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES): For sites involving 1 acre or more of disturbance require an NPDES permit from ACCD. Copy of NPDES permit shall be submitted as part of the stormwater permit. The technical review shall not be accepted until this documentation is provided.

Application Review

  • 1st Review Cycle
    • Conceptual: This review is always included and is performed by DCP staff.
    • Technical Infeasibility: This review is included when the applicant includes this work scope and is performed by PLI staff.
  • 2nd Review Cycle
    • Technical: This review is always included and is performed by PLI staff.
    • Conceptual: This review is included when a major change, per the Design Manual, occurs from the conceptual plan to the technical review and is performed by DCP staff.

Permit Issuance

  • This permit requires a valid PLI General Contractor’s license.

Permit Inspections

  • Stormwater Permit: Inspections shall temporarily be performed by a PLI registered Third Party Agency.
  • Erosion and Sediment Control (E&S): The permit holder is responsible to request E&S inspections from ACCD.

Permit Completion
The following close-out documents shall be submitted via OneStopPGH portal:

  • ACCD Inspection reports.
  • NDPES Notice of Termination
  • As-built drawings
  • Stormwater management worksheet

Resources

Stormwater questions? Email stormwaterpermits@pittsburghpa.gov

last updated: 23/04/2025

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