Please note that the below application is not for single residence grading projects conducted by the property owner. To complete a single residence grading permit application, please continue to the corresponding application page.
Private developers and government agencies are required to secure a grading permit for any grading or filling activity involving more than one acre of land disturbance, land adjacent to a water body, or any alteration to a wetland or floodplain.
To submit a permit application, please review the information on this page and fill out the online form. Refer to our monthly application deadlines when planning your project schedule. If you have any questions, contact Permit Coordinator Nicole Soderholm at 651-792-7976, nicole.soderholm@rwmwd.org.
Permit requirements are detailed in our District Rules and include the following categories:
- Stormwater management (Rule C)
- Flood control (Rule D)
- Wetland management (Rule E)
- Erosion and sediment control (Rule F)
- Illicit discharge and connection (Rule G)
Please note: Revised District Rules were adopted June 5, 2019.
Wetlands
If your project impacts a wetland, it is subject to additional requirements through the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA). We process WCA requests for all areas within our boundaries except in St. Paul, where WCA is processed through the City of St. Paul. Follow this link for an interactive wetland inventory map. This map does not represent all wetlands in the District, and boundaries are considered approximate. A delineation may be required for proposed development near a wetland.
Fees and escrow surety
A $500 permit processing fee is required for non-public projects, along with escrow surety for projects involving erosion and sediment control ($2,000 per acre) or stormwater management with erosion and sediment control ($5,000 per acre). Sureties are used to cover fees resulting from any site violations and are returned after final inspection at the end of construction.
Stormwater maintenance
Best management practices for stormwater management (Rule C) require a site-specific Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Plan that includes a signed maintenance agreement between the District and property owner to ensure these practices continue to function as designed. An O&M checklist and example plan are available in the application materials below. A draft O&M plan will be required prior to issuance of the permit. A final, as-built O&M plan will be required prior to permit closure.
If the project is in Maplewood or Roseville, joint maintenance agreements with these cities are also available below.
Permit rules and application materials
- Permit Guidance and Information Handbook
- RWMWD District Rules
- Stormwater Maintenance Agreement (MS Word)
- Stormwater Maintenance Agreement (PDF)
- Maplewood Joint Maintenance Agreement
- Roseville Joint Maintenance Agreement
- Stormwater Reuse Calculator (Excel Macro-Enabled Spreadsheet)
- Permit Application Deadlines
- Permit Application Checklist
- Operations & Maintenance Checklist
- Operations & Maintenance Plan Example