Minnesota
The stormwater permit for construction in Minnesota
Minnesota runs its own NPDES programme, so a state issued construction general permit governs. Below is what our engine can say about it, and where we have not read that permit, what it will not say.
Governing permit
Construction Stormwater General Permit (NPDES/SDS General Permit MNR100001)
- Issued by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)
- Permit number
- MNR100001
- Version determined against
- as published by the state agency
- Effective
- 2023-08-01
- Expires
- 2028-07-31
Who may prepare the plan
A credentialed preparer is requiredMinnesota requires a credentialed preparer. Treat the generated document as a complete draft for that person to review, adopt and sign. It is not by itself a compliant filed plan.
Qualifying routes
- Mandatory training under Permit Part 21.2 for individuals preparing the SWPPP, from a local/state/federal agency, professional organization, or other entity with expertise in erosion prevention, sediment control, permanent stormwater treatment, and the MN NPDES/SDS Construction Stormwater permit (no single named course; not a professional license); 3-year refresher required under Part 21.3
Confirmed by direct read of the permit. Part 21.2 requires SWPPP preparers, implementers/inspectors, and BMP installers/maintainers to receive training commensurate with their duties. Part 21.3 requires training from a qualified agency/organization/entity (no single named MPCA course) and a refresher course every 3 years. No PE stamp/seal requirement found anywhere in the permit for SWPPP preparation; the only engineering-review language (16.19) is a narrow MS4-review provision for infiltration systems near drinking water supply areas, unrelated to SWPPP preparer credentials.
Does a site in Minnesota need coverage
Worked for a one acre site as a reference point. Change the acreage in the tool below and the answer, and its reasoning, change with it.
Coverage
Permit coverage required
The project disturbs 1 acres, at or above the 1 acre threshold, so it needs permit coverage.
Determined against dataset version 2026-07-19.
Read these before you act on the answer
- Requirements below are what we have read and cited directly from Construction Stormwater General Permit (NPDES/SDS General Permit MNR100001), not the federal CGP. A category we have not yet transcribed from this permit is omitted here rather than assumed to match EPA's rule.
- MN's permit imposes no fixed number of days for a standard Notice of Intent (application) before construction start -- coverage is effective immediately upon submitting a complete online application and fee, and construction simply cannot commence until coverage is effective. Only projects/common plans disturbing 50+ acres with a discharge point within 1 mile of (and flowing to) a special or impaired water have a fixed 30-day-before-construction SWPPP submission deadline. Federal concept 'inspection.reduced.aridSemiAridDrought' is not applicable to Minnesota's climate and was omitted.
- Minnesota requires a credentialed preparer. Treat the generated document as a complete draft for that person to review, adopt and sign. It is not by itself a compliant filed plan.
- Basinwise does not perform the physical site inspections the permit requires. Those must be carried out on site by a qualified person.
How this answer was reached, step by step
- 1
Coverage threshold
The project disturbs 1 acres, at or above the 1 acre threshold, so it needs permit coverage.
- 2
Permitting authority
Minnesota. The state runs its own programme under MNR100001.
- 3
Preparer credential
Minnesota requires a credentialed preparer. Treat the generated document as a complete draft for that person to review, adopt and sign. It is not by itself a compliant filed plan.
What to do next
- 1. Confirm the governing permit. Read Construction Stormwater General Permit (NPDES/SDS General Permit MNR100001) directly. It is linked above, and it is the document an inspector will hold you to. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)
- 2. Settle the preparer question before you draft. Getting this wrong costs a redraft at best. The detail is on the credential page for this state. Preparer credential in Minnesota
- 3. Screen the site. Run the real acreage and receiving water facts through the tool below. You get the inspection frequency, the stabilisation deadlines and the filing path with the permit section behind each.
- 4. Read the requirements in full. SWPPP requirements in Minnesota
Screen a Minnesota site now
Runs in your browser. Nothing about the site is transmitted.
What people ask about the Minnesota construction stormwater permit
Do I need a stormwater permit for a construction site in Minnesota?
Permit coverage is triggered at one acre of land disturbance, and below one acre if the project is part of a larger common plan of development or sale that will ultimately disturb an acre or more. The project disturbs 1 acres, at or above the 1 acre threshold, so it needs permit coverage.
Who issues the construction stormwater permit in Minnesota?
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) issues Construction Stormwater General Permit (NPDES/SDS General Permit MNR100001).
Does Minnesota require a qualified preparer for the plan?
Minnesota requires a credentialed preparer. Treat the generated document as a complete draft for that person to review, adopt and sign. It is not by itself a compliant filed plan.
Keep the record Minnesota will ask you for
The screening is free. Holding the written plan and the retained inspection log is what the permit actually demands.