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Regulations & Permits > Permits & Certifications > Stormwater general permits > Municipal stormwater general permits

Municipal stormwater general permits

Municipal stormwater general permits regulate discharges from municipal stormwater systems. These drainage systems are separated from sanitary sewer systems and are owned or operated by cities, counties, and other public entities.

Stormwater is rain and snow melt that runs off surfaces such as rooftops, paved streets, highways, and parking lots. As water runs off these surfaces, it can pick up pollutants that contaminate local water bodies.

There are four municipal stormwater general permits in Washington:

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Phase I Municipal Stormwater Permit

The Phase I Municipal Stormwater Permit regulates discharges from municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) owned or operated by the state's largest cities and counties.

These include:

  • Incorporated cities with a population of over 100,000* people.
  • Unincorporated counties with populations of more than 250,000* people.
*Populations are based on the 1990 U.S. census.

Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permits for Eastern and Western Washington

The Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permits regulate discharges from certain "small" MS4s in Washington State.

We issue two Phase II permits:

Secondary permittees

The permit also applies to public separate storm sewer systems operated by other types of public entities located in a Phase I or II city or county. Examples include ports, prison complexes, park districts, universities, or diking and drainage districts.

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Municipal Stormwater Permit

The WSDOT municipal stormwater permit regulates discharges from state highways, rest areas, park-and-ride lots, ferry terminals, and maintenance facilities within the urbanized areas of the state.

Who's covered under the municipal stormwater permits?

View a map of Phase I and Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit area boundaries.

Apply for permit coverage

Apply through SecureAccess Washington and use the WQWebPortal to submit your NOI (Notice of Intent).

Guidance

For guidance about applying, changing, or implementing and complying with your municipal stormwater permit see the municipal stormwater guidance page. Stormwater manuals provide stormwater permit implementation and management guidance. For more general stormwater permit guidance, see the stormwater guidance page.

Frequently asked questions

Have a question? Check out our frequently asked questions page.

Stormwater monitoring

Are our permits successful at preventing or reducing pollution from stormwater runoff? Check out the Stormwater Action Monitoring program and our other results on the stormwater monitoring page.

Keep in touch with us

Join our municipal stormwater permit listserv to receive updates about our permits.

Related links

Contact information

Abbey Stockwell
Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit Writer
abbey.stockwell@ecy.wa.gov
360-407-7221

Emma Trewhitt
Phase I Municipal Stormwater Permit Writer
emma.trewhitt@ecy.wa.gov
360-407-7468

Christina Maginnis
Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom counties, and the cities of: Anacortes, Arlington, Bellingham, Burlington, Everett, Ferndale, Granite Falls, Lake Stevens, Lynden, Marysville, Mill Creek, Monroe, Mount Vernon, Mukilteo, Oak Harbor, Sedro-Woolley, and Snohomish
christina.maginnis@ecy.wa.gov
360-255-4397

Colleen Crotty
The cities of: Bellevue, Bothell, Brier, Clyde Hill, Duvall, Edmonds, Issaquah, Kenmore, Kirkland, Lake Forest Park, Lynnwood, Medina, Mercer Island, Mountlake Terrace, Redmond, Sammamish, Seattle, Shoreline, Snoqualmie, and Woodinville
colleen.crotty@ecy.wa.gov
425-649-7041

Danielle DeVoe
Kitsap and King County, and the cities of: Algona, Auburn, Bainbridge Island, Black Diamond, Bremerton, Burien, Covington, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, Maple Valley, Newcastle, Normandy Park, Pacific, Port Orchard, Poulsbo, Renton, SeaTac, and Tukwila
danielle.devoe@ecy.wa.gov
425-649-7036

Angela Vincent
Clallam and Pierce counties, and the cities of: Bonney Lake, Buckley, Dupont, Edgewood, Enumclaw, Fife, Fircrest, Gig Harbor, Lakewood, Milton, Orting, Port Angeles, Puyallup, Steilacoom, Sumner, Tacoma, and University Place
angela.vincent@ecy.wa.gov
360-407-6276

Rian Sallee
Clark, Cowlitz, and Thurston Counties, and the cities of: Aberdeen, Battle Ground, Camas, Centralia, Kelso, Lacey, Longview, Olympia, Tumwater, Vancouver, and Washougal
rian.sallee@ecy.wa.gov
360-690-7120

Ray Latham
Chelan, Douglas, and Yakima counties, and the cities of: East Wenatchee, Ellensburg, Kennewick, Richland, Selah, Sunnyside, Union Gap, Wenatchee, West Richland, and Yakima
ray.latham@ecy.wa.gov
509-575-2807

Amanda Mars
Asotin, Spokane, and Walla Walla counties,  and the cities of: Asotin, Clarkston, Moses Lake, Pasco, Pullman, Spokane, Spokane Valley, and Walla Walla
amanda.mars@ecy.wa.gov
509-329-3554

Foroozan Labib
WSDOT Statewide Permit Writer
foroozan.labib@ecy.wa.gov
360-407-6439