In March of 2004, The Rock County Board of Supervisors adopted the Rock County Construction Site Erosion Control Ordinance (Chapter 4.11 of the Rock County Code of Ordinances) and the Rock County Storm Water Management Ordinance (Chapter 4.8 of the Rock County Code of Ordinances). These two ordinances are administered by the Rock County Land Conservation Department. 

        The intent of the Rock County Construction Site Erosion Control Ordinance is to require, through the use of a permit, installation of Best Management Practices to reduce the amount of sediment and other pollutants leaving sites of land disturbing activities. View ordinance

        The intent of the Rock County Storm Water Management Ordinance is to establish long-term, post-construction runoff management requirements that require the use of Best Management Practices to reduce the amount of post-construction storm water and associated pollutants reaching waters of the state or adjacent property. View ordinance

The provisions of these ordinances apply in all unincorporated lands within the jurisdictional boundaries of Rock County where a town board has not adopted an ordinance under sec. 60.627, Wis. Stats.

To date, the following municipalities have their own Erosion Control and Storm Water Management Ordinance, therefore, the County’s ordinances do not apply in: Town of Beloit; Cities of Beloit, Edgerton, Evansville, Janesville and Milton; Villages of Clinton and Orfordville. Please contact the municipality for further information regarding their program if you are working in their jurisdiction.

The County’s Construction Site Erosion Control and Storm Water Management Ordinances also continue in effect in any area annexed by a city or village, unless the city or village enacts, maintains and enforces an ordinance that complies with minimum standards established by the DNR and meets or exceeds the standards of these ordinances, as established under sec. 59.693 (10), Wis. Stats.

Contact Rock County Land Conservation for assistance with obtaining a Construction Site Erosion Control and Storm Water Management Permits.  Please contact Paul King at 608-289-0877 or paul.king@co.rock.wi.us.

You will need a Rock County Construction Site Erosion Control Permit if your project involves any of the following:

• Grading, removal of protective cover, excavation or filling which disturbs 4,000 square feet or more of land;
• Disturbing or grading more than 1,000 square feet of land on a slope of 12 percent or greater;
• Grading, removal of protective ground cover or vegetation, excavation, or land filling exceeding 1,000 square feet or 40 cubic yards of fill near a navigable waterway, wetland or floodplain within the Shoreland Overlay District (as defined in Chapter 4.2 of the Rock County Code of Ordinances).
• Disturbing 100 feet or more of road ditch, grass waterway, or other land area where surface drainage flows in an existing water channel;
• Grading, excavating or filling more than 400 cubic yards of material;
• Constructing new public or private roads, access roads, or driveways exceeding 100 feet in length;
• Laying, repairing, replacing, or enlarging underground pipe, cable or wire for a distance of 300 feet or more (see optional General Permit for Utility Work below);
• Land disturbing construction activities relating to land division (subdivision plat, Certified Survey Map or Condominium Plats) requiring public or semi-public public improvements,
• Other activities that are likely to result in undue channel erosion, increased water pollution by scouring or the transportation of particulate matter, or endangerment of property or public safety.

Uniform Dwelling Code (UDC) Permit (regulated by the Wisconsin department of Commerce) applies to single-family and two-family residential construction.  Contact the Town, City or Village for permit requirements. You do not need to apply for Rock County Erosion Control Permit for a single-family and two-family residential construction covered under an UDC permit.

You will need a Rock County Storm Water Management Permit if your project involves:

• Land Disturbance activity of 1 acre (43,560 square feet) or more;
• Land Disturbance of less than one acre but is part of a larger “common plan of development” that in total disturbs more than one acre;
• Other activities that pose a serious risk of flooding or damage due to runoff as determined by the Technical Review Committee.

In addition to Construction Site Erosion Control and Storm Water Management Permits:

     You will need a Shoreland Conditional Use Permit if:

• A project has land disturbance more than 1,000 square feet or 40 cubic yards of fill;
• The project is within Shoreland Overlay District (as defined in Chapter 4.2 of Rock County Ordinances).

View ordinance

For assistance with obtaining a Shoreland Conditional Use Permit, please contact the Rock County Planning Department at 608-757-5587 

 Any responsible party desiring a permit or waiver shall submit an application to the Land Conservation Department (LCD) using a form provided by the LCD.

A permit application shall consist of:

• a completed application form,

• two copies of an erosion control and storm water management plan,

• a maintenance agreement (if applicable)

• a non-refundable application review and administration fee.

A waiver application shall consist of:

• a completed waiver application form,

• written justification

• a conceptual development plan.

(A) Completed applications will be evaluated for compliance with requirements of the ordinances.

(B) Additional information may be requested from the applicant to better evaluate the application.

(C) Within 15 working days from receipt of a complete permit application, or 10 working days from receipt of additional information requested in accordance with paragraph (B), the applicant shall be informed whether the application has been approved or disapproved.  LCD shall base decisions on requirements of this ordinance.

(D)Within 20 working days from receipt of a complete waiver application, or 10 working days from receipt of additional information requested in accordance with paragraph (B), the applicant shall be informed whether the application has been approved or disapproved. LCD shall base decisions in consideration of the recommendations of other governmental departments and the requirements of this ordinance.

(E) Failure to inform an applicant of a decision within the applicable time specified in paragraph (C) or (D) shall constitute approval of the application. If the application was for a permit, the applicant may then proceed in accordance with the provisions of the submitted plan.  If the application was for a waiver, the waiver shall be deemed granted.

(F) If the application is approved the LCD shall issue the permit or waiver.  The permit is valid for one year beginning the date of issuance.

(G) An application for a permit may be approved with conditions determined by the LCD to be needed to meet the requirements of this ordinance.

(H) If the application is disapproved, the LCD shall notify the applicant by certified mail and provide a written statement of the reasons for disapproval.

(I) If the application is disapproved, or if the applicant does not agree with the permit conditions, the applicant may request a review by the Land Conservation Committee (LCC). This request must be made in writing within 30 calendar days from the date of the applicant was notified of the LCD decision. The schedule and procedure for a waiver described in paragraph (D) above will be followed for this review.  The request for review should be submitted to the LCD.

Rock County Erosion Control Plan – Simplified Application       

Use for land disturbing activities consisting of:

• Disturbed area between 4,000 square feet and one acre (43,560 square feet);
• No portion of that disturbed area containing slopes of 12% or greater;
• Project is not located in the Shoreland Zoning District.

View application

Rock County Erosion Control and Storm Water Management Application 

Use for land disturbing activities consisting of:

• Disturbed area greater than one acre (43,560 square feet);
• Less than one acre but is part of “larger “common plan of development” that in total disturbs more than one acre;
• Disturbed area more than 1,000 square feet on a slope greater than 12%;
• Disturbance greater than 1,000 sq ft or 40 cu. yds of fill within Shoreland Overlay District
• Disturbing 100 feet or more of road ditch or land where surface drainage flows in channel (i.e grassed water);
• Grading, excavating or filling more than 400 cubic yards of material;
• Construction of new public or private roads or driveways exceeding 100 feet in length;
• Laying, repairing or replacing underground pipe, cable or wire for 300 feet or more;
• Land division activities, including survey maps and plats requiring improvements;
• Activities likely to result in undue channel erosion, increased water pollution by scouring or the transportation of particulate matter, or endangerment of property or public safety.

View application

General Permit Application - Notification of Land Disturbance for Private Utility Work    

General Permit:                    

• Is issued to utility companies for laying, repairing or replacing underground pipe, cable or wire for 300 feet or more because multiple projects are planned
• The application includes an erosion control plan generally describing the best management practices (BMPs) used on the installation activities

View application

Notification of Land Disturbance:             

• Is submitted each time a project under the General Permit is planned to occur.
• Includes a detailed erosion control plan describing specific BMPs used and exact locations of the installation activities.

View application

Application For Waiver Rock County Erosion Control and Storm Water Management Permit

A waiver may only be submitted if any or all of the following apply:

• Compliance with the performance standards of the Ordinance is not necessary
• Runoff from land disturbing activities has no impacts to waters, wetlands or adjacent properties
• Alternatives to Ordinance requirements are necessary due to unique site characteristics.

View application