Frequently Asked Questions

Publication Number: 06-10-005 1 02/06; rev. 07/14

Water Quality Program Revised July 2014

MORE INFORMATION

www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/s

tormwater/municipal/index.html

Phase I

www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/s

tormwater/municipal/phaseIper

mit/phipermit.html

Western Washington Phase II

www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/s

tormwater/municipal/phaseIIww/

wwphiipermit.html

Eastern Washington Phase II

www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/s

tormwater/municipal/phaseiiEw

a/ewph2permit.html

Contact information

Nat Kale

Phase I Permit Writer

360-407-7656

nathaniel.kale@ecy.wa.gov

Abbey Stockwell

Phase II Permit Writer

360-407-7221

abbey.stockwell@ecy.wa.gov

Special accommodations

To request ADA 

accommodation for disabilities 

or printed materials in a format 

for the visually impaired, call 

the Water Quality Program at 

360-407-6600.

Persons with impaired hearing

may call Washington Relay 

Service at 711 for. Persons 

with speech disability, call 

877-833-6341.

Municipal Stormwater Permits

Q: What is stormwater and why is it a problem?

A: Stormwater is rain water that runs off surfaces such as 

rooftops, paved streets, highways, and parking lots. As stormwater 

runs off these surfaces, it picks up pollution such as oil, fertilizers, 

pesticides, pet waste, and trash and carries this pollution into our 

lakes, streams, rivers, and bays. Polluted runoff that goes into a 

storm drain is usually not treated and winds up in our downstream 

waters.

Q: Why is the Department of Ecology regulating 

municipal stormwater?

A: In 1987, Congress changed the Clean Water Act to include 

stormwater discharges in the National Pollutant Discharge 

Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The Environmental 

Protection Agency (EPA) developed rules to implement the new 

stormwater requirements in two phases called Phase I and Phase 

II. Ecology implements these stormwater rules through municipal 

stormwater permits. The Phase I permit, which went into effect in 

1990, covers jurisdictions such as cities and counties serving more 

than 100,000 people. Ecology reissued the Phase I permit in 2007 

and 2012.

In 1999, EPA issued the Phase II stormwater permit regulations to 

cover stormwater discharges in urbanized areas that serve smaller 

populations. Ecology first issued the Phase II permits in 2007, and 

reissued them in 2012. There are separate Phase II permits for 

eastern and western Washington.

Q: What is a municipal separate storm sewer system 

(MS4)?

A: This is the term used for a conveyance or system of 

conveyances (includes roads with drainage systems, municipal 

streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, human-made 

channels, or storm drains) that is:

 Owned or operated by a public entity such as a city, town,

county, or special district established by the state.

 Designed or used for collecting and conveying stormwater.

 NOT a combined sewer.

 NOT part of a Publicly Owned Treatment Works.
Publication Number: 06-10-005 2 Please reuse and recycle

Water Quality Program Revised July 2014

Q: Who needs a municipal stormwater permit?

A: The Phase I permit covers the cities of Seattle and Tacoma; unincorporated King, Pierce, 

Snohomish, and Clark counties; and the ports of Seattle and Tacoma.

Phase II requires permits for cities and counties located within census-defined urbanized areas and 

cities with populations more than 10,000 outside of these areas. The areas covered by the permit 

include the entire incorporated area of a city. For Phase II counties, the permit covers the censusdefined urbanized areas and Urban Growth Areas (as defined by the Growth Management Act, 

36.70A RCW) that extend outside of a city.

EPA rules also require permits for public districts that own or operate a separate storm sewer system 

in Phase I and Phase II areas. Examples of these districts are ports, diking and drainage districts, 

public universities, flood control districts, prison complexes, and parks and recreation districts. These 

districts are also called secondary permittees.

A separate general permit covers the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Q: How do I apply for coverage?

A: To apply for permit coverage, please submit a completed Notice of Intent (NOI) form, found on 

Ecology’s Web site at: https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/summarypages/ecy070207.html

Q: What do the municipal stormwater permits require?

A: For both Phase I and Phase II jurisdictions, the EPA rules require operators of municipal separate 

storm sewer systems (MS4s) to develop and implement a stormwater management program that:

 Reduces the discharge of pollutants to the “maximum extent practicable.”

 Protects water quality.

A stormwater management program involves planning, public education and involvement, illicit 

discharge detection programs, and passing appropriate ordinances to reduce stormwater pollution.

Q: Is there a fee associated with these permits?

A: Yes, by state law, Ecology is required to collect permit fees to support the NPDES permit 

program. The permit fees for cities and counties covered under the permits are based on the number 

of housing units in the covered area. The permit fees for Fiscal Year 2015 (July 1, 2014 through 

June 30, 2015) for cities and counties range from $385 to more than $50,026 per year. The permit 

fees for secondary permittees such as ports, public universities, and diking and drainage districts are 

based on annual operating budgets. Secondary permit fees range from $145 to more than $3,659. The 

fee rule is amended every two years so these fee amounts are subject to change. For more information 

on permit fees, contact Bev Poston at bev.poston@ecy.wa.gov, or 360-407-6425.
Publication Number: 06-10-005 3 Please reuse and recycle

Water Quality Program Revised July 2014

Q: What resources are available for implementing or developing a stormwater 

management program?

A: Ecology often holds workshops to help Phase I and Phase II communities understand and 

implement the permit requirements. Ecology is developing training and workshops related to the 

permit requirements for Low Impact Development for 2014. Ecology will post the information related 

to these workshops at: www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/stormwater/municipal/workshops.html.

Ecology also has links to training programs, tool boxes, model programs, guidance documents, and 

other resources on its Web site at: 

www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/stormwater/municipal/resources_training_guidance.html.

For more information, please contact the Ecology employee who manages the permit in the county or 

counties where your facility or district is located: 

www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/stormwater/municipal/municontacts.html.