Quick answer: Any private or public construction site in Colorado Springs that disturbs one acre or more of land, or is part of a larger common plan of development disturbing one acre or more, generally requires a City Grading and Erosion Control (GEC) Permit before construction starts. The requirement comes from the city’s own stormwater regulations, not just general good practice.
Why Colorado Springs Regulates Grading and Erosion Control
The City’s MS4 Permit
Colorado Springs operates under a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit, numbered COS000004. That permit requires the city to control pollutants, including sediment, entering its storm drainage system from construction sites.
A 2016 Stormwater Consent Decree
The city’s current stormwater criteria also exist to fulfill a stormwater consent decree tied to federal litigation, USA et al v. City of Colorado Springs (Case 1:16-cv-02745-JLK), along with a 2016 intergovernmental agreement with Pueblo County covering downstream water quality. In practical terms, this means Colorado Springs’ grading and erosion control requirements aren’t just local policy. They’re tied to legal obligations the city has to meet, which is part of why enforcement here tends to be consistent.
When a GEC Permit Is Required
A City GEC Permit is generally required when:
- A private or public construction site disturbs one acre or more of land
- A project is part of a larger common plan of development or sale that disturbs one acre or more, even if an individual lot within it is smaller
- Grading or construction occurs within an open drainage channel, as determined by the city’s review engineer
- A Permanent Control Measure (a stormwater BMP) is constructed or substantially modified
- The city’s Stormwater Enterprise Manager determines it’s necessary on a specific site
What the Permit Process Involves
1. Grading and Erosion Control Plan
Before a GEC Permit can be issued, a project needs approved GEC plans, prepared according to the city’s Stormwater Construction Manual.
2. Construction Stormwater Management Plan (CSWMP)
Alongside the GEC plan, a project needs an approved CSWMP, which documents how sediment and erosion will be controlled throughout construction, not just at the start.
3. Permit Application Through the ACA Portal
Once plans and the CSWMP are approved, the permit application itself is handled through the city’s ACA Portal.
The Drainage Criteria Manual and Stormwater Construction Manual
Colorado Springs splits its stormwater criteria across two core documents:
| Document | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Drainage Criteria Manual (DCM) | Public and private stormwater infrastructure: open channels, underground conveyance, and Permanent Control Measures |
| Stormwater Construction Manual (SCM) | Grading, sediment control, and erosion control specifically during construction, including all GEC permitting criteria |
The city has also required green infrastructure elements as part of new stormwater design since May 1, 2022 for new Final Drainage Report submissions, and since November 1, 2022 for Final Drainage Report approvals. If a project’s drainage planning started before those dates, it’s worth confirming which version of the criteria actually applies.
What Happens When Ownership Changes Mid-Project
If a property changes ownership while a GEC Permit is still active, for example, an individual lot within a larger commercial or residential development, the new owner has to accept responsibility for that parcel’s compliance. This is handled through an Associate GEC Permit, submitted to the Stormwater Enterprise for approval before any construction activity begins on that parcel.
This matters most on multi-lot commercial or residential developments, where the original developer holds the master GEC Permit and individual lots change hands before construction on each one is complete.
Key Takeaways
- The one-acre disturbance threshold is the main trigger for needing a GEC Permit in Colorado Springs, whether the project is public or private.
- Colorado Springs’ stormwater rules exist to satisfy a real MS4 permit and a federal consent decree, not just local preference, so enforcement is consistent.
- A GEC Permit requires both an approved GEC plan and a CSWMP before it can be issued.
- Green infrastructure requirements have applied to new drainage submissions since May 2022.
- Ownership changes mid-project require an Associate GEC Permit, not a fresh application from scratch.
FAQ
No. The main trigger is one acre or more of land disturbance, either on a single site or as part of a larger common plan of development. Smaller, standalone projects may not require one, though the city can require a permit on other grounds too.
Total land disturbance connected to the project, including projects broken into smaller lots that are part of the same overall development plan.
The DCM covers long-term stormwater infrastructure. The SCM covers grading, sediment, and erosion control specifically during construction, and it’s the document that governs GEC permitting.
The new owner has to obtain an Associate GEC Permit and accept responsibility for their parcel’s compliance with the original approved plan.
The city’s Stormwater Enterprise, working under the city’s MS4 permit (COS000004) and the terms of the 2016 stormwater consent decree.
Plan Your Site’s Stormwater Compliance Early
Stormwater permitting affects site sequencing more than most project teams expect going in. Let us help plan your site’s stormwater compliance, or read more about our excavation and grading services and how sites become build-ready.
