District of Columbia Administrative Code

501 FEES 501.1 Each year, the fees in this section shall increase by the percentage, if any, by which the Urban Consumer Price Index for June of the calendar year exceeds the Urban Consumer Price Index for June of the previous year. Each inflation adjustment shall be posted to th…

502 DUTY TO COMPLY 502.1 A person who engages in an activity that this chapter regulates shall comply with the provisions of this chapter. 502.2 A person shall conduct all work in accordance with each submittal approved by the Department, including each plan and approved change. …

503 INSPECTIONS, NOTICES OF WORK, AND APPROVALS OF CHANGES 503.1 The Department may conduct an inspection of an activity regulated under this chapter, including emergency work that may otherwise be exempt, to ensure compliance with this chapter. 503.2 The Department may require a…

504 STOP WORK ORDERS 504.1 Upon notice from the Department that it has determined that one (1) or more of the following conditions exists, a person shall stop identified work immediately until the situation is corrected: Noncompliance with a notice that requires corrective action…

505 VIOLATIONS AND ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES TC \l1 " 505.1 Each instance or day of a violation of each provision of this chapter shall be a separate violation. 505.2 Each separate violation of each provision may be subject to: A criminal fine and penalty, including imprisonment, an…

506 ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS AND JUDICIAL REVIEW 506.1 With respect to a matter governed by this chapter, a person adversely affected or aggrieved by an action of the Department shall exhaust administrative remedies by timely filing an administrative appeal with, and requesting a h…

507 PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARDS 507.1 The Mayor may post notice on the shores of a District waterbody of a related hazard to public health or safety. 507.2 Upon determination that a direct or indirect contact with a waterbody of the District, including immersion, fishing, or boating, p…

508 PREVENTION OF POLLUTION BY WATERCRAFT 508.1 The discharge into the Potomac River or its tributaries of any waste, whether liquid or solid, treated or untreated, from any vessel berthed at a marina, dock, or basin, is prohibited. 508.2 Each marina, dock, or basin where a vesse…

509 CORRECTION OF CURRENT EROSION PROBLEMS 509.1 In instances where erosion is occurring as the result of natural forces or past land-disturbing activities, but in the absence of current land-disturbing activities, the Department shall have the authority to inspect the site and t…

510 [RESERVED] SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 60 DCR 10640 (July 19, 2013). AUTHORITY: DC-DCMR District Department of the Environment Establishment Act of 2005, effective February 15, 2006 (D.C. Law 16-51; D.C. Official Code 8-151.01 et seq.); the Water Pollution Control A…

511 [RESERVED] SOURCE: Section 2 of Water Quality Standard Approval Act of 1977, D.C. Law 2.68, 24 DCR 6809 (February 17 1978); 8 DCRR §8-2.811, Health Regulations (1965 Edition); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 60 DCR 10640 (July 19, 2013). AUTHORITY: DC-DCMR Distric…

512 [RESERVED] SOURCE: Section 2 of Water Quality Standard Approval Act of 1977, D.C. Law 2.68, 24 DCR 6809 (February 17 1978); 8 DCRR §8-2.811, Health Regulations (1965 Edition); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 60 DCR 10640 (July 19, 2013). AUTHORITY: DC-DCMR Distric…

513 [RESERVED] SOURCE: Section 2 of Water Quality Standard Approval Act of 1977, D.C. Law 2.68, 24 DCR 6809 (February 17 1978); 8 DCRR §8-2.811, Health Regulations (1965 Edition); as amended by the Water Pollution Control Act of 1984 (D.C. Law 5-188, §8-2:813, 32 DCR 919 (Februar…

514 [RESERVED] SOURCE: : § 2 of the Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Act of 1977 (D.C. Law 2-23; § 8.2:808, 24 DCR 792 (July 22, 1977)); as amended by § 9 of the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs Civil Infractions Act of 1985 Technical and Clarifying Amendments …

515 [RESERVED] SOURCE: : § 2 of the Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Act of 1977 (D.C. Law 2-23; § 8.2:808, 24 DCR 792 (July 22, 1977)); as amended by § 9 of the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs Civil Infractions Act of 1985 Technical and Clarifying Amendments …

516 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT: APPLICABILITY 516.1 No person shall engage in a major regulated project unless the Department has issued an approved stormwater management plan (SWMP) for the project. Application for Department approval of a SWMP for a major regulated project shall be …

517 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT: EXEMPTIONS 517.1 If a major substantial improvement activity demonstrates that it is not part of a common plan of development with a major land-disturbing activity, then it is exempt from § 520 (Stormwater Management: Performance Requirements For Major …

518 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT: PLAN REVIEW PROCESS 518.1 In order for the Department to approve a person’s proposed stormwater management plan (SWMP), the person and the Department shall undertake the process described in this section. 518.2 The Department shall notify an applicant o…

519 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT: PLAN 519.1 A Department-approved stormwater management plan (SWMP) shall: Govern all construction for which stormwater management is required; Govern all applicable maintenance activities; and Demonstrate compliance with this chapter. 519.2 A submitted …

520 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT: PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR MAJOR LAND-DISTURBING ACTIVITY 520.1 A site that undergoes a major land-disturbing activity shall employ each Best Management Practice (BMP) and land cover necessary to meet the requirements of this section until site redeve…

521 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT: PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR MAJOR LAND-DISTURBING ACTIVITY CONSISTING OF BRIDGE, ROADWAY, AND STREETSCAPE PROJECTS IN THE EXISTING PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY 521.1 This section applies only to the portion of a major regulated project that consists entirely of…

522 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT: PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR MAJOR SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT ACTIVITY 522.1 If land disturbance associated with a major substantial improvement activity constitutes a major land-disturbing activity or is part of a common plan of development with a major l…

523 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT: RESTRICTIONS 523.1 The Department may restrict use of an infiltration Best Management Practice (BMP) to prevent contamination of soil or groundwater and require submittal of and compliance with a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan if: An applicant pro…

524 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT: PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR MAJOR REGULATED PROJECTS IN THE ANACOSTIA WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT ZONE 524.1 An Anacostia Waterfront Development Zone site (AWDZ site) is a site within the Anacostia Waterfront Development Zone (AWDZ) that undergoes a major r…

525 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT: SHARED BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE 525.1 A Shared Best Management Practice (S-BMP) may, upon approval by the Department: (a) Provide stormwater management for a major regulated project in satisfaction of an on-site stormwater management requirement of that…

526 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT: RELIEF FROM EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT SITE CONDITIONS 526.1 The applicant may apply for relief from extraordinarily difficult site conditions if it is technically infeasible or environmentally harmful: For a site to comply with the minimum on-site reten…

527 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT: USE OF OFF-SITE RETENTION THROUGH THE IN-LIEU FEE OR STORMWATER RETENTION CREDITS 527.1 For a site that undergoes a major regulated project and has an Off-Site Retention Volume (Offv) requirement, a person shall use off-site retention to comply with eac…

528 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT: MAINTENANCE 528.1 Each owner or designee of each lot and parcel that is part of a site that undertook a major regulated project shall be responsible for maintenance required by the Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) approved by the Department and shall r…

529 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT: COVENANTS AND EASEMENTS 529.1 The owner of each lot and parcel that is part of a site that undertook a major regulated project shall record with the Recorder of Deeds: A declaration of covenants that includes the on-site and off-site responsibilities in…

530 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT: IN-LIEU FEE 530.1 The base in-lieu fee established by the Department for a purpose of this chapter shall represent the full life-cycle cost for the Department to retain one gallon (1 gal.) of stormwater for one (1) year, including the following costs: P…

531 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT: CERTIFICATION OF STORMWATER RETENTION CREDITS 531.1 Only the Department shall certify a Stormwater Retention Credit (SRC), and no SRC shall be valid and usable for the purposes of this chapter unless the Department certifies it. 531.2 The Department sha…

532 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT: LIFESPAN OF STORMWATER RETENTION CREDITS 532.1 The current SRC owner or their agent may: Bank an SRC indefinitely until the lifespan of the SRC terminates; Transfer an SRC to a new owner; or Terminate the lifespan of an SRC by submitting a form in the D…

533 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT: OWNERSHIP OF STORMWATER RETENTION CREDITS 533.1 A Stormwater Retention Credit (SRC) may be bought and sold. 533.2 No person may sell a SRC that: Has already been used to achieve an Off-Site Retention Volume (Offv); or (b) The person does not own. 533.3 …

534 [RESERVED] SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 35 DCR 21 (January 1, 1988); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 60 DCR 10640 (July 19, 2013); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 67 DCR 818 (January 31, 2020); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 72 DC…

535 [RESERVED] SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 35 DCR 21 (January 1, 1988); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 60 DCR 10640 (July 19, 2013). AUTHORITY: DC-DCMR District Department of the Environment Establishment Act of 2005, effective February 15, 2006 (D.C. Law 1…

536 [RESERVED] SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 60 DCR 10640 (July 19, 2013). AUTHORITY: DC-DCMR District Department of the Environment Establishment Act of 2005, effective February 15, 2006 (D.C. Law 16-51; D.C. Official Code 8-151.01 et seq.); the Water Pollution Control A…

537 [RESERVED] SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 60 DCR 10640 (July 19, 2013). AUTHORITY: DC-DCMR District Department of the Environment Establishment Act of 2005, effective February 15, 2006 (D.C. Law 16-51; D.C. Official Code 8-151.01 et seq.); the Water Pollution Control A…

538 [RESERVED] SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 25 DCR 1033 (July 28, 1978), incorporating text of Proposed Rulemaking published at 24 DCR 10522 (June 9, 1978), 8 DCRR, Health Regulations (1965 Edition); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 60 DCR 10640 (July 19, 2013…

539 [RESERVED] SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 25 DCR 1033 (July 28, 1978), incorporating text of Proposed Rulemaking published at 24 DCR 10522 (June 9, 1978), 8 DCRR, Health Regulations (1965 Edition); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 60 DCR 10640 (July 19, 2013…

540 SOIL EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL: APPLICABILITY 540.1 No person shall engage in razing or land-disturbing activity, including stripping, clearing, grading, grubbing, excavating, and filling of land, without obtaining the Department’s approval of a soil erosion and sediment c…

541 SOIL EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL: EXEMPTIONS 541.1 The following land-disturbing activities are exempt from the requirement to comply with the soil erosion and sediment control provisions of this chapter: For a single- or two (2) family house, townhouse, or rowhouse: Gardeni…

542 SOIL EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL: PLAN 542.1 The soil erosion and sediment control plan shall not be approved without the date and signature of the Director or the Director’s designee stamped on the plan. 542.2 The approved soil erosion and sediment control plan for a projec…

543 SOIL EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL: REQUIREMENTS 543.1 Erosion and sediment control measures shall be those the Department approves. 543.2 The Department shall maintain a copy of its Standards and Specifications for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control on its website and make a h…

544 SOIL EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL: ROADWAY PROJECTS 544.1 Rough graded rights-of-way awaiting installation of utilities or pavement shall be protected by the installation of: Interceptor dikes across rights-of-way so located as to limit roadway grade to a length between dikes…

545 SOIL EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL: BUILDINGS, DEMOLITION, RAZING, AND SITE DEVELOPMENT 545.1 Erosion shall be controlled by the installation of gutters and downspouts as soon as practicable. 545.2 Measures shall be taken to achieve a non-eroding velocity for stormwater exitin…

546 SOIL EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL: UNDERGROUND UTILITIES 546.1 If the land-disturbing activity involves work on an underground utility, the site shall comply with the following requirements: (a) No more than five hundred linear feet (500 ft) of trench shall be open at any one…

547 SOIL EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL: RESPONSIBLE PERSONNEL 547.1 If a site involves a land disturbance of five thousand square feet (5,000 ft2) or more, the owner of the site and the site manager shall ensure that a responsible person is present or available as this section req…

552 [RESERVED] SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 60 DCR 10640 (July 19, 2013); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 67 DCR 818 (January 31, 2020); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 72 DCR 012101 (October 31, 2025). District of Columbia Municipal Regulations W…

553 NOTICE OF PROPOSED STORMWATER FEE RATE CHANGE AND PUBLIC HEARING 553.1 Except as provided in § 6(c) of the District of Columbia Administrative Procedure Act, approved October 21, 1968, D.C. Official Code § 2-505(c), before establishing or changing fees used to fund the Distri…

554 PUBLIC HEARING 554.1 The hearing shall be conducted not earlier than thirty (30) days after publication of the notice specified in § 553.1 of this chapter. 554.2 The Director, or his or her designee, shall conduct the public hearing. 554.3 Any member of the public who wants t…