How to Comply With Urban Runoff Requirements

The City of Santa Monica has passed an Ordinance (SMMC Chapter 7.10) designed to reduce the amount of urban runoff pollution that reaches our storm drain system and the Santa Monica Bay. For development types as defined in the Ordinance, mitigation of the first 0.75-inch of stormwater runoff from all impervious areas on site is required to be routed to a Low Impact Development (LID) unit including, but not limited to, infiltration, bio-retention and rain barrel devices.

New Construction and Remodels

Annual Operations and Maintenance Requirements 

Annual Maintenance - property owners or their representatives are required to maintain their rainwater runoff device (BMPs) annually. This will include an inspection. SMMC 7.10.090 (r)

Permeable Pavers 

Permeable pavers are a type of paving material used in hardscape construction that allows water to pass through the surface and infiltrate into the ground below. They are designed to promote stormwater management, reduce runoff, and improve water quality. The link below provides a list of suggested vendors and products that can be used for permeable paving. 

Continue the Process:
  1. How to submit the Urban Runoff Mitigation Worksheet

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    a.) Fill out sections 1 and 2 completely. It is important that you input the square footage of each impervious area so that your calculations can be verified.

    b.) Section 3 will be automatically generated by the fillable PDF.

    c.) Fill out section 4 completely. If you are mitigating the full amount, enter the "Installed Volume" amount for "Mitigation Measure" type by dividing the "Required Mitigation Volume" by the "Conversion" and manually inputting the value under "Installed Volume." If you are mitigating only a partial amount, calculate the partial "Installed Volume" and the "In-Lieu Fee Calculation" will calculate the remaining mitigation "One-Time Fee." If you are reducing part (or all) of the in-lieu fee (automatically calculated at the bottom right of the first page) via mitigation measures, you must fill out the "Mitigation Measure" table. If you are paying the full in-lieu fee, leave this section blank and the full in-leu "One-Time Fee" will be calculated for the entire "Required Mitigation Volume.

    d.) Fill out section 5 by listing the area of any permeable pavers used. Include the cost estimate of BMPs and total project cost. 

    e.) Fill out section 6 by including all the proposed mitigation measures or best management practices used.

    f.) Section 7 requires a maintenance plan to be provided that specifies what actions the owner will that to ensure proper drainage is met.

    g.) Fill out section 8 by including the project address, property owner, and contractor's information. Fill out the report preparation section with the Engineer or Architect's information. The property owner MUST review and sign the worksheet.

    Scan the Urban Runoff Drainage Plan onto the Civil Details of your plan sheet before uploading to ProjectDox. 


  2. How to Submit for URM Inspection

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    1. Initial Inspection Process

    a.) Submit all URM documentation for initial inspection here

    b.) Input all project data: applicant contact information, property owner, project address, and other pertinent project information including building permit             number, URM volume required and installed BMP type. 

    c.) Submit and upload approved URM plan and worksheet

    d.) Construction photos showing all drainage infrastructure and non-concealed BMP's installation on site per approved plans. Show actual site locations. 

    e.) Construction photos showing actual dimensions of BMPs including ran barrel volumes if installed. 

    2. Urban Runoff Mitigation - Final Inspection Process

    a.) Submit all URM documentation for final inspection here

    b.) Input all project data: applicant contact information, property owner, project address, and other pertinent project information including building permit             number, URM volume required and installed BMP type. 

    c.) Construction photos showing various characteristics of the BMPs to assure compliance before final earthwork and grading or backfill is complete. 

    Once the final inspection is complete, the Urban Runoff Mitigation Inspection Condition will be signed off by the plan check engineer on your Building (BLD) permit.


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