PERMITTING

The District issues permits under approved rules that address Stormwater Management; Erosion Control; Lake, Stream, and Wetland Buffers; Watercourse and Basin Crossings; and Floodplain and Drainage Alterations. Most District permits will be issued under the rule requirements for Stormwater Management and/or Erosion Control.
Your project will require a permit if one or more of the following conditions are met:

Rule 2.0 – Stormwater Management: District rules may require onsite stormwater treatment. If required, applicants must install a best-management practice that is approved by the district, see complete rules for specific information. Stormwater management is required when a project subdivides a tract into 3 or more lots, is a non-residential or multifamily-residential development that creates at least 5,000 square feet of new or reconstructed impervious surface, is a public linear project that creates at least 5,000 square feet of new or reconstructed impervious surface, or any project on a parcel riparian to a public water requiring a variance from the current local impervious surface requirements for the property.

Rule 3.0 – Erosion Control: All sites within CLFLWD must install sediment and erosion control practices regardless of if a permit is required or not. Common examples of sediment and erosion control practices include silt fences and biologs. However, a permit must be obtained in the following situations:
(1) Grading, filling, or other land alteration activity that involves movement or stockpiling of fifty (50) cubic yards or more of earth or erodible material. Surface disturbance or removal of vegetative cover on five thousand (5,000) square feet or more of land.
(2) Any land disturbance with wetland impacts, grading within public waters, or grading within 40-feet of the bluff line.
(3) Land disturbance of greater than 100-square feet requiring a variance from the Local Governing Unit’s shoreland setback requirement for the property.

Rule 4.0 – Lake, Stream, Wetland Buffers: In order to protect the water resources of CLFLWD a buffer will be required adjacent to water features. The width of the buffer is determined by the quality and type of waterbody, they are required in the following situations
(1) If any lot within a buffer zone of a water resource is subdivided into two or more lots. □
(2) If a lot within a buffer zone is subject to land disturbance for the purpose of a new primary use that requires a rezoning; or a land use variance for lot hard surface percentage or structure setback from a water resource.

Rule 6.0- Watercourse and Basin Crossing: CLFLWD requires a permit for any use of the bed of a waterbody within the District for the placement of a roadway, utility or water control structure. The planned project must retain hydrology, navigability, and water quality of the body being crossed.

Rule 7.0 – Floodplain and Drainage Alterations: A permit must be obtained if a project proposing filling below the 100-year flood elevation of a waterbody or wetland in a municipality that does not have a state-approved floodplain ordinance or a project proposing to obstruct natural surface water flow or redirect flow across drainage boundaries. This ensures floodplains retain their water storage capacity and to prevent property damage.

Please review the District’s Permit Guide or contact permitting staff if you have any questions or would like additional information regarding permit requirements.

Complete applications require at a minimum the three following items:
1) Completed permit application (CLFLWD Permit Application Form),
2) Permit and field inspection fee deposit
3)An erosion and sediment control plan (ESCP). Please include the required notes on your plan.

Please note: Larger Projects may require additional submittals. The permitting coordinator will work with applicants to identify any additional requirements.

Please complete the Fee and Deposit section of the permit application. Payment must be made by check and made payable to the Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed District. The CLFLWD cannot accept cash or credit card payments.

The District will respond within a 60-day timeframe once a completed application is submitted with all application requirements (in accordance with Minnesota Statutes §15.99). You will be notified by District staff if your application is incomplete.
No activity that requires a permit is allowed until the District has issued its approval. This includes, but isn’t limited to, grading, concrete work, or stockpiling of soil.