Stormwater Management Requirements

Development Projects shall perform the following actions to comply with the Stormwater Management Ordinance:

I. Large Development Projects (≥5,000 square feet new and/or replaced impervious surface):

Step 1: Determine if your project (or subdivision) is subject to the SMO.

SMO requirements apply to:

• Large Projects: New and redevelopment projects (or subdivisions) that create and/or replace ≥5,000 square feet of impervious surface in the separate and combined sewer areas; and
• Small Projects: New and redevelopment projects that create and/or replace 2,500-5,000 square feet of impervious surface in separate sewer areas.

Activities that create or replace impervious surface include but are not limited to the construction or alteration of any building or structure and the creation or replacement of outdoor impervious surfaces.

The SMO does not apply to certain activities such as:

• Pavement maintenance activities such as top-layer asphalt grinding and repaving within the existing footprint;
• Replacement of existing sidewalks and streets dedicated to and accepted by the City;
• Interior remodeling projects;
• Re-roofing; or
• Utility repair work requiring trenching or excavation with in-kind surface replacement.

SFPUC determination for case-by-case conditions:

If your project has unique conditions or is a subdivision, email stormwaterreview@sfwater.org to initiate a formal determination. Please provide:

• Short project description
• Applicant contact
• Address / APN No.
• Architectural and Site Layout & Material Plans (1-4+ plans)

Step 2: Identify the applicable SMO performance requirement, as indicated by the adjacent sewer system.

• Combined Sewer Areas:
  • Sites with existing imperviousness of ≤50%: stormwater runoff rate and volume shall not exceed pre-development conditions for the 1-and 2-year, 24-hour design storm
  • Sites with existing imperviousness of >50%: stormwater runoff rate and volume must be reduced by 25% relative to pre-development conditions for the 2-year, 24-hour design storm
• Separate Sewer Areas:
  • Capture and treat the rainfall from a design storm of 0.75 inches

Use this map to determine if your project is located in an area served by the combined or separate sewer system.

NOTE: More information on the performance requirements can be found in the Stormwater Management Requirements and Design Guidelines (SMR), Chapters 5 & 6.

Step 3: Schedule a pre-application meeting with the SMR Project Review Team

Schedule a pre-application meeting early during the planning and team-building process; a meeting with SFPUC is required prior to DBI Building Permit Application to minimize design challenges and streamline project approvals. Project proponents should come prepared with relevant information such as existing site conditions, site plans, overall architectural plans/elevations, soil conditions, proposed stormwater concept(s), etc.

Email stormwaterreview@sfwater.org to schedule a 60-minute pre-application meeting. Meetings can be scheduled on Tuesdays from 1 - 4 PM or Thursdays from 10 AM - 1 PM.

Step 4: Submit a Modified Compliance Application (if applicable)

To establish a fairer and more flexible standard, projects with proven site challenges and limitations are eligible to meet the SMR by adhering to Modified Compliance requirements. Modified Compliance:

• Applies only to projects in the Combined Sewer System
• Evaluates site limitations such as high groundwater, shallow depth to bedrock, poorly infiltrating soils, contamination, and zero lot-line projects
• Assesses project potential for non-potable demand
• Modifies volume and peak rate reduction requirements based on approved site-specific constraints

NOTE: To be considered for Modified Compliance, please submit a completed MC Application to stormwaterreview@sfwater.org prior to submitting the Preliminary SCP. See the SMR, Chapter 5, for more information.

Step 5: Submit a Preliminary Stormwater Control Plan (PSCP)

After Planning Entitlement is received, develop a Preliminary Stormwater Control Plan (PSCP) in accordance with the SCP Instructions and submit it for review and approval to the SFPUC with the appropriate SCP Review Fee.

A PSCP shall demonstrate an allowable stormwater management approach at a design development level to be ‘Approved with Conditions’ by the SFPUC. A PSCP must be approved prior to submittal of a Building Permit Application (BPA) to the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection.

NOTE: The SCP Instructions and tools for developing an SCP can be found in the SCP Resources and Materials section below. Refer to SCP Submittal Guidelines prior to submitting an SCP.

Step 6: Submit a Final Stormwater Control Plan (FSCP)

A Final Stormwater Control Plan (FSCP) must be submitted to the SFPUC with the appropriate SCP Review Fee in accordance with the SCP Instructions for review and approval. The FSCP must be submitted:

• Parallel to the DBI BPA for ‘Full Permit’ projects, or
• Prior to associated DBI Addenda submittal for ‘Site Permit with Addenda’ projects (typically Foundation or Architectural addenda).

The FSCP shall provide construction-level detail and design information that proves the stormwater management control(s) will comply with the SMR and function safely to receive ‘Approval with Conditions’ by SFPUC. A Final SCP must be approved by the SFPUC prior to issuance of a Certificate of Final Completion from the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection.

NOTE: Typical Conditions are outlined in Step 7 and must be completed to obtain Final Approval.

Step 7: Complete Conditions of Approval

1. Certification of Acceptable Construction (CAC): During construction, the project’s Engineer of Record and/or Landscape Architect that stamped the SCP must observe all stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) at major stages of construction and upon completion to ensure that the BMPs have been built in general accordance with the Final SCP Approved with Conditions. The licensed design professional(s) must sign and submit a Certification of Acceptable Construction (CAC) to the SFPUC to verify observation of BMP construction.
2. Post-Construction Inspection: After a CAC is submitted, the project team must schedule and complete an SFPUC Post-Construction Inspection.
3. Maintenance Agreement: Once an inspection is complete and closed, the property owner must sign and record a Maintenance Agreement to acknowledge and accept the responsibility to operate and maintain the BMPs in perpetuity.

NOTE: The Certification of Acceptable Construction Template and Maintenance Agreement Recordation Instructions and Template are available for download in the SCP Materials and Resources section of this webpage. More information on the Certification of Acceptable Construction and Maintenance Agreement can be found in the SMR, Chapter 9.

Step 8: Inspect green infrastructure annually and submit Self-Certification Checklist(s) to the SFPUC

Once the project is complete, the property owner or a designated party must perform Annual Self-Certification inspections of all green infrastructure to ensure proper maintenance and functionality. Annual Self-Certification Checklists are due to the SFPUC prior to October 15th of each year after project completion.

Annual Self-Certification Checklists and Instructions for each BMP type are available for download in the SCP Resources and Materials section below. More information on Annual Self-Certification inspection can be found in the SMR, Chapter 10.

II. Small Development Projects (2,500-5,000 square feet new and/or replaced impervious surface in Separate Sewer Areas):

Step 1. Implement at least one Site Design Measure, as outlined in Chapter 6 of the SMR.

Step 2. Submit an estimated runoff reduction volume to the SFPUC using the State Water Board Post Construction Water Balance Calculator, available for download in the SCP Resources and Materials section below.

Stormwater Management Requirements and Design Guidelines (SMR)

Appendix A: BMP Fact Sheets

Appendix B: Green Infrastructure Typical Details

• GI Typical Details (Version 3) - (PDF)
• GI Typical Details (Version 3) - AutoCAD 2013 (DWG)
• Specifications
  • Bioretention Specification - October 2024 update
         ⇒ Modified Permeability Testing Procedure
         ⇒ SFPUC Temporary Protection of Green Infrastructure Facilities
         ⇒ Bioretention Soil Mix Submittal Checklist
  • Permeable Unit Paver Specification - October 2024 update
  • Pervious Concrete Specification - October 2024 update
  • Porous Asphalt Specification - October 2024 update

Appendix C: Criteria for Infiltration-based BMPs

Appendix D: Vegetation Palette for Bioretention BMPs

• Vegetation Palette for Bioretention BMPs Worksheet

Appendix E: Illustrative Green Infrastructure Examples

SCP Submittal Resources

• SCP Review Fee Form
• Alternative Compliance Application - formerly Modified Compliance Application (September 2024)
• Project Information Form (Parcel)
• Project Information Form (Multi-Phase)
• Separate Sewer Area BMP Selection Form
• Technical Report Templates
• Maintenance Agreement Template
• Certification of Acceptable Construction Template

SCP Instructions and Preparation Guidance

• SCP Submittal Guidelines
• SCP Review Fee and Check Submittal Guidelines
• SCP Instructions (Parcel)
• SCP Instruction (Multi-Phase)
• SCP Preparation Checklists
• Example SMP with Calcs (pdf and CAD)
• Example SMP CAD drawings
• Infiltration Rate Testing Methods
• Rainwater Harvesting Guidance and Checklists - October 2024
• Rainwater Harvesting Plumbing Symbol Legend
• Rainwater Harvesting Policy Update 2022
• Aggregate Filter Criteria
• Maintenance Agreement Recordation Instructions

BMP Calculators

• *NEW* Combined Sewer Area (CSS) BMP Sizing Calculator v2.3
• Separate Sewer Area (MS4) BMP Sizing Calculators v2.0 
• Small MS4 projects: Water Board Post-Construction Water Balance Calculator

Calculation Methods

• Design Storms: 1-year and 2-year 24-hour Design Storms
• SFPUC Accepted Hydrologic Calculation Methods
• Combined Sewer System and Separate Sewer System BMP Sizing Calculator Calculation Approach using the Santa Barbara Urban Hydrograph Method

GI Construction, Maintenance, and Inspection Guidance

• GI Construction Guidebook
• GI Maintenance Guidebook

Self-Certification Checklists

Non-potable Ordinance (NPO) and SMO Synergies 

• NPO-SMO One Water Factsheet 
• Submittal Requirements for Projects Subject to the Stormwater Management Ordinance and Non-potable Ordinance

Other SMO Guidance

• 2016 Stormwater Management Ordinance (SMO)
• SMR Informational Letter
• SMR Summary Flyer
• SMR FAQs
• Pre-Application Meeting Handout
• SMR Comment Form
• SF Plant Finder (SF Planning)

The following informational materials and resources are only for projects that have submitted a Preliminary Stormwater Control plan (SCP) prior to May 27, 2016.

The San Francisco 2010 Stormwater Design Guidelines describe the requirements for stormwater management in San Francisco. The Guidelines were adopted by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission on January 12, 2010 and have since been in 2016 updated to the SMR.

• Stormwater Design Guidelines Handbook (January 2010)
• Stormwater Management Ordinance (May 2010)
• SFPUC Stormwater Management Requirements - Informational Letter (March 2013)
• Stormwater Design Guidelines Frequently Asked Questions (October 2012)
• Stormwater Best Management Practice (BMP) Fact Sheets (January 2010)
• Application of the Stormwater Design Guidelines Requirements to the Public Right-Of-Way (September 2013)

Amendments to the 2010 Stormwater Design Guidelines

• Amendment to the Applicability Date (July 2012)
• Amendment to the Stormwater Control Plan review process chart (July 2012) 

BMP Sizing Calculators

• Separate Sewer Area BMP Sizing Calculators - Water Quality (November 2011) 
• Combined Sewer System BMP Sizing Calculators v2.0 - Quantity Control (August 2015) 

Hydrologic Calculation Methods and Background Information

• SFPUC Accepted Hydrologic Calculation Methods (August 2012) 
• Combined Sewer Area BMP Sizing Calculator Approach using the Santa Barbara Urban Hydrograph Method (August 2015) 
• Design Storms: 1-year and 2-year 24-hour Design Storms

Stormwater Control Plan

• Parcel SCP Instructions (February 2014) 
• Parcel SCP Project Information Form (February 2014) 
• Multi-Phase SCP Instructions (July 2014) 
• Multi-Phase SCP Project Information Form (July 2014) 
• SCP Technical Report Templates (February 2014) 
• Maintenance Agreement Template (September 2012) 
• Maintenance Agreement Recordation Instructions (August 2013) 

For More Information Contact: stormwaterreview@sfwater.org