Municipal stormwater permit reissuance
The Phase I and Phase II Municipal Stormwater General Permits were last issued by Ecology July 1, 2024, and expire July 31, 2029. Our municipal stormwater permit team is starting the permit reissuance process to identify issues and necessary improvements for the 2029 permits.
2029 Permit reissuance
We have heard that interested parties would like additional time to organize themselves and collectively provide early input before we start writing the next version of the permits. We welcome early input to help develop the next version of the permits expected in 2029. Please submit your input by Feb. 19, 2027, to help inform the scope of significant issues to be addressed in the next cycle. We recommend referencing existing permit language where appropriate. This early input is informal, and we will not provide written responses.
If there are suggestions for minor changes or improvements that would not create significant revisions or changes in policy, these may be submitted later. We will host additional opportunities for public review and input throughout the reissuance process, including listening sessions, draft language reviews, and a formal comment period with hearings in late 2028.
Collaborate and join the ad-hoc groups
Some Phase I and Phase II permittees are engaging in a collaborative process to discuss and recommend permit changes. Permittees are engaging with one another, as well as environmental groups and other interested parties. This is not an agency-led effort so please contact the Stormwater Center below for more information.
Contact for ad-hoc groups:
- Laurie Larson-Pugh, Washington Stormwater Center
More information regarding the ad-hoc groups is on the Washington Stormwater Center website.
Share your thoughts with us
We are opening our comments website for early input from July 24, 2026, through 11:59 p.m. Feb. 19, 2027.
Submit your early input online (preferred) or, by mail, to:
Abbey Stockwell
Municipal Stormwater Services Unit
Washington State Department of Ecology
P.O. Box 47696
Olympia, WA 98504-7696
Next steps
After gathering early input, we plan to host public listening sessions, where we will share information about the permit reissuance process and our ideas on potential changes. Additional information about the reissuance and public participation in the process, including the listening sessions, will be posted here and announced through our email lists.
Ecology will draft revised permits that reflect updated science, technology, regulatory requirements, and early input. Depending on the scope of the proposed changes, Ecology may share preliminary draft permit language for informal comment in late 2027.
Anticipated late 2028, we will share the official draft permits and ask for formal comments. During the comment period, we will host public meetings and hearings. Those official comments can be written or spoken during a public hearing. After the public comment period, we consider and respond to comments. We use your comments to inform needed revisions to the permit before reissuance.
Anticipated timeline
- February 2027 — Early input for informal input on recommended updates to the permits
- Spring 2027 — Listening sessions to share our early thinking on proposed changes and gather additional input
- Fall 2027 / early 2028 — Potential release of preliminary drafts of permit sections for informal comment
- Late summer/ fall 2028 — Official draft release and formal public comment period, including public meetings and hearings on the draft permits
- Winter 2028–June 2029 — Review and consider all public comments received, prepare written responses to the comments, and develop revisions to the final versions of the permits
- July 1, 2029 — Reissue Phase I and Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permits
Related links
Contact information
Morgan Maupin
Phase I Municipal Stormwater Permit Writer
morgan.maupin@ecy.wa.gov
360-798-2906
Abbey Stockwell
Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit Writer
abbey.stockwell@ecy.wa.gov
360-407-7221