Chapter 54: Stormwater Management for Development and Re-development

Ordinance Summary

Ordinance

In 1999 the Minneapolis City Council amended Title 3 of the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances, relating to Air Pollution and Environmental Protection, by adding Chapter 54, entitled “Stormwater Management”. The Chapter 54 ordinance establishes requirements for projects with land disturbing activities on sites greater than one (1) acre, including phased or connected actions, and for existing stormwater devices.

Goals

The purpose of this ordinance is to minimize negative impacts of stormwater runoff rates, volumes and pollutants on Minneapolis lakes, streams, wetlands, and the Mississippi River by guiding future significant development and redevelopment activity, and by assuring long-term effectiveness of existing and future stormwater management constructed facilities. The Chapter 54 ordinance specifies that stormwater management standards be set according to the receiving water body, and the table below lists discharge requirements by receiving water. The standards include but are not limited to:

• For discharges to the Mississippi River, reductions of suspended solids
• For discharges to streams, reductions of suspended solids and controlled rate of runoff
• For discharges to lakes, reduction of suspended solids and reduction in nutrients
• In addition, for discharges to areas prone to flooding and areas with infrastructure limitations, controlled rate of runoff

Minneapolis Development Review

Stormwater Management Plans are required for all construction projects on sites greater than 1 acre in size. These plans are reviewed through the Minneapolis Development Review process. Responsibility for ongoing operation and maintenance is one component of the Stormwater Management Plan.

Registration

Stormwater devices shall be registered with the City of Minneapolis Department of Regulatory Services, with an annual permit being required for each registered stormwater device.

Stormwater ‘Buyout’ for off-site management, in lieu of on-site treatment

This option is reserved for only those sites that demonstrate that performance of on-site stormwater management is not feasible. With approval of the City Engineer, the Chapter 54 Ordinance allows developers to contribute to the construction of a regional stormwater facility in lieu of on-site treatment/management. Final plan approval is conditional on payment received.

Click on link on this page for the complete text of the Chapter 54 Ordinance requirements.

Receiving Waters	Total Discharge Requirements
All receiving waters	70% removal of total suspended solids
Brownie Lake	10% phosphorus load reduction
Cedar Lake	40% phosphorus load reduction
Lake of the Isles	20% phosphorus load reduction
Lake Calhoun	30% phosphorus load reduction
Lake Harriet	20% phosphorus load reduction
Powderhorn Lake	30% phosphorus load reduction
Lake Hiawatha	42% phosphorus load reduction
Lake Nokomis	25% phosphorus load reduction
Loring Park Pond	0% phosphorus load increase
Webber Pond	0% phosphorus load increase
Wirth Lake1	30% phosphorus load reduction
Spring Lake	30% phosphorus load reduction
Crystal Lake2	30% phosphorus load reduction
Diamond Lake	30% phosphorus load reduction
Grass Lake	30% phosphorus load reduction
Birch Pond	0% phosphorus load increase
Ryan Lake	30% phosphorus load reduction
Other wetlands	30% phosphorus load reduction
Mississippi River	70% removal of total suspended solids
Minneapolis streams	No increase in rate of runoff from site

¹ Wirth Lake is not within the limits of the City of Minneapolis

² Crystal Lake in located in Robbinsdale, but receives run-off from Minneapolis