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Planning Building and Development
Stormwater Ordinance
 The Stormwater Management Ordinance (Chapter 11.4 of the Code of the City of Roanoke [1979], as amended) was adopted by City Council on Monday October 1, 2007 and became effective on January 1, 2008. A Stormwater Management Design Manual is incorporated in the Ordinance by reference and includes details on design of stormwater management systems, procedures for the submittal and review of stormwater management plans, and maintenance requirements. The manual was revised on January 20, 2008 to incorporate residential drainage requirements and a revised maintenance agreement.
Download the Stormwater Management Ordinance and latest version of the Stormwater Management Design Manual:
Why did the City develop a new stormwater ordinance?
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is required by the Virginia Stormwater Management Law and Virginia Stormwater Management Regulations (VSWML&R) to regulate land development activities to prevent water pollution, stream channel erosion, depletion of groundwater resources, and more frequent localized flooding to protect property values and natural resources. These regulations allow localities (e.g., the City of Roanoke) the option to establish a local program to regulate the same in their jurisdiction.
The City has chosen to implement its own program through the proposed Stormwater Management Ordinance and Stormwater Management Design Manual (Manual). The advantage of a local program for property owners and developers are as follows:
- Review of the stormwater management practices performed by the same staff that is reviewing the overall development plan.
- Offers a single point of contact for permitting of land disturbing activities.
What activities are covered by the ordinance?
Residential, commercial, industrial or institutional land development activities that involve land-clearing or soil movement are regulated with the exception of the following:
- Permitted mining operations and projects, or oil and gas operations.
- Tilling, planting or harvesting of agricultural, horticultural, or forest crops.
- Single-family residences or modifications to existing residences not part of a subdivision.
- Land development projects that disturb less than 5,000 square feet; and
- Linear development projects, provided that (i) less than 5,000 square feet land will be disturbed per outfall or watershed, (ii) there will be insignificant increases in peak flow rates, and (iii) there are no existing or anticipated flooding or erosion problems downstream from the discharge point.
How was the ordinance developed?
The City of Roanoke and Roanoke County have worked together to develop stormwater ordinances with similar requirements to provide as much consistency as possible for property owners, developers and designers working in the area.
The draft City and County ordinances were developed using a template from DCR. This assures that the ordinances meet the minimum state requirements but the drafts have also been tailored to consider local conditions and needs. The City and County have hosted three workshops with a stakeholder group as part of the regulatory development process.
What is the Stormwater Management Design Manual?
The Manual includes detailed provisions for the design and construction of stormwater management facilities and is incorporated by reference in the Stormwater Management Ordinance. The Manual serves two primary purposes:
1. Provides a detailed description of the process and requirements for the submittal, review and approval of stormwater management plans as well as requirements for the long-term maintenance of storm water management facilities. The Manual includes plan review checklists and standard forms and language for the various agreements required by the ordinance.
2. Provides a compilation of design criteria and guidelines for common stormwater management facilities that are constructed or anticipated to be constructed in the city. These guidelines will be used by city staff to review and approve Stormwater Management Plans.
The Design Manual incorporates elements of the Virginia Stormwater Management Handbook published by DCR in 1999 which serves as its primary guidance for SWM programs. Basing the Manual on the DCR Handbook and other recognized sources helps to assure consistency between the city’s local program and state requirements.
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