Erosion and Sediment Control Rules and Permits

The District’s Urban Programs focus on protecting the County’s natural resources through education, technical assistance, and administration of county and municipal erosion and sediment control ordinances. Advising landowners, developers, realtors, engineers and community administrations about the limitations of the County’s natural resources allows for economically and environmentally sound choices for the good of the community. The District strives to assist landowners, developers, non-profit organizations, and local governments in the collaboration to protect and enhance Lake County’s natural resource heritage.

Balancing natural resource protection with urbanization is an ever increasing challenge Lake County faces in its goal to protect the 436 miles of streams and rivers in the County in addition to 31 miles of Lake Erie shoreline, countless wetlands, locally unique soils and other important natural resources

ESC Plan review fee is $50 for residential sites.

Erosion and Sediment Control rules for city and village construction projects — check with the community.

Lake County Erosion and Sediment Control Regulations

Lake SWCD provides administrative assistance in the form of plan reviews, site inspections, and reporting requirements for the erosion and sediment control (ESC) ordinances that satisfy the mandates of the U.S. EPA.   Currently, the Lake SWCD administers ESC ordinances for several communities in Lake County. The goal of the ordinances is to ensure that the earth disturbing activities that accompany every new development site do not in any way negatively impact water resources off-site, and help to minimize the impacts of resources on-site.  Sedimentation damages our community by filling in Lake Erie harbors, transporting pollutants and heavy metals, reducing fish spawning habitat, impairing the gills of fish and aquatic organisms, creating stream bank erosion, and limiting recreational fishing opportunities.  These ordinances are designed to ensure that exposed soils remain intact to the greatest extent practical and that sediment-laden water created by construction activities is controlled, filtered, and treated before being released downstream.  These ordinances are essential for protecting our waters from economic and ecologic impacts caused by sedimentation. 

Attention!

Mechanized land clearing (tree and shrub removal) requires a permit. Contact the SWCD PRIOR to starting to ensure a qualified plan (Full Improvement Plan or Abbreviated Clearing Plan) has been submitted and approved.

For more information please contact Chad at [email protected] or 440-350-2032.

Lake SWCD provides ESC Services to:

Municipalities:

Townships: