California SWPPP inspection requirements
- Rain trigger
- Forecast-based Qualifying Precipitation Event (QPE): 50% or greater chance of 0.5″ or more in 24 hours
- Post-rain deadline
- Pre-storm inspection within 72 hours before a QPE, daily during, and post-storm within 96 hours if the site rain gauge measured 0.5″ or more
- Routine inspections
- Every 7 days
- Permit
- Construction General Permit (Order 2022-0057-DWQ)
- Agency
- State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB)
How California handles construction stormwater
Construction sites in California disturbing one acre or more need coverage under the Construction General Permit (Order 2022-0057-DWQ), administered by State Water Resources Control Board. The 2022 CGP (effective September 1, 2023) replaced the old REAP system with forecast-based QPE inspections. Requirements scale with site risk level; reporting runs through the SMARTS portal. Inspections are conducted during scheduled site operating hours.
Inspector qualifications
Inspections must be performed by a certified Qualified SWPPP Practitioner (QSP); SWPPP preparation requires a Qualified SWPPP Developer (QSD), who must also perform monthly inspections.
Official sources
Common questions
What triggers a SWPPP inspection in California?
Under the Construction General Permit (Order 2022-0057-DWQ), inspections are keyed to forecasts: forecast-based Qualifying Precipitation Event (QPE): 50% or greater chance of 0.5″ or more in 24 hours. Pre-storm inspection within 72 hours before a QPE, daily during, and post-storm within 96 hours if the site rain gauge measured 0.5″ or more. Routine inspections: every 7 days.
Who can perform SWPPP inspections in California?
Inspections must be performed by a certified Qualified SWPPP Practitioner (QSP); SWPPP preparation requires a Qualified SWPPP Developer (QSD), who must also perform monthly inspections.
Who administers the construction stormwater program in California?
State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) administers the NPDES construction stormwater program in California under the Construction General Permit (Order 2022-0057-DWQ).
What are the penalties for SWPPP violations in California?
Federal Clean Water Act civil penalties can reach $68,445 per day per violation, and SWRCB can issue administrative orders and state penalties on top. Missing rain-triggered inspections is among the most commonly cited violations in stormwater audits.
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