Independent SWPPP guides and blank forms. Not a government site.
Menu

What South Carolina requires in a SWPPP (2026 Construction General Permit SCR100000)

Last checked Oct 20, 2026.

This is a plain-English summary of what the SC construction stormwater permit says a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) must contain. This is general information, not legal or engineering advice, and it does not replace the permit, your approved SWPPP, or a licensed SWPPP preparer. Your MS4 (city or county stormwater program) or SCDES may require more.

Main source: SCDES NPDES General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activities, SCR100000 (2026). Issued Feb 27, 2026; effective Mar 30, 2026; the permit cover says it expires Mar 29, 2031. PDF: https://des.sc.gov/sites/des/files/Documents/BOW/Stormwater/SCDESCGP2026.pdf. "p." below means the PDF page. The copy re-downloaded on Oct 20, 2026 matched our earlier copy byte for byte (same SHA-256), so the permit text has not changed.

1. Two versions of one plan: the C-SWPPP and the OS-SWPPP

"While under review, this document must be labeled as the Comprehensive SWPPP (C-SWPPP) as defined by Section 3.1.1.G of this permit. After C-SWPPP approval, a condensed version of the C-SWPPP labeled as the On-Site SWPPP (OS-SWPPP), as defined by Section 3.1.1.H of this permit, must be kept at the construction site until final stabilization is reached and coverage under this permit has been terminated."
Source: CGP §3.1.1.A, p.22.

The plan has to be finished before you apply:

"The Comprehensive SWPPP (C-SWPPP) must be prepared prior to submission of an NOI as required in Section 2 of this permit."
Source: CGP §3.1.1.B, p.22.

It must also be approved before any work starts:

"The C-SWPPP is required to be submitted for review and approved by SCDES, a regulated MS4, or an entity delegated under Regulation 72-300 before construction activities may commence."
Source: CGP §3.1.5.A, p.26.

2. The five things every C-SWPPP must do

"The Comprehensive Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (C-SWPPP) must: I. Be site-specific; II. Identify all potential sources of pollution which may reasonably be expected to affect the quality of stormwater discharges from the construction site; III. Describe practices to be used to reduce pollutants in stormwater discharges from the construction site, IV. Assure compliance with the terms and conditions of this permit when properly implemented;"
Source: CGP §3.1.1.D, pp.22–23.

Item V adds the preparer's signed certification when a licensed preparer is required (see section 3 below).

The plan must also meet the state stormwater regulations:

"The C-SWPPP is to be consistent, at a minimum, with the standards listed in SC Regulation 72-300"
Source: CGP §3.1.1.C, p.22.

3. Who must prepare it

For sites disturbing more than 2 acres, a licensed professional must prepare, certify, and stamp the plan:

"For construction sites that disturb more than 2 acres, each C-SWPPP must be prepared, amended when necessary, certified, and stamped as allowed by their respective act and regulations by a qualified individual who is licensed as follows as required in Regulation 72-300:"
Source: CGP §3.1.2.B, p.25.

The allowed licenses are:

Source: CGP §3.1.2.B.I–IV, p.25.

For sites subject to Reg 72-400 disturbing 5 acres or more, the plan must be sealed by a registered PE (CGP §3.1.2.C, p.25).

Unconfirmed, verify with SCDES or your MS4: how a site of exactly 2.0 acres, and LCP sites of 2 acres or less, are treated. The permit's licensed-preparer rule says "more than 2 acres" (§3.1.2.B, p.25). SCDES's "Greater than 2 Acres" web page instead says a C-SWPPP "for all sites disturbing 2 acres of land or more, as well as sites of less than 2 acres which are part of a Larger Common Plan, must be prepared by a licensed South Carolina Professional Engineer, Landscape Architect, Tier B Land Surveyor, or a Federal Government Employee." (https://des.sc.gov/programs/bureau-water/stormwater/stormwater-construction-activities/greater-2-acres-land-disturbance, checked Oct 20, 2026.)

The two sources disagree on:

  • a site of exactly 2.0 acres;
  • LCP sites under 2 acres.

Ask SCDES or your MS4.

Unconfirmed, verify with SCDES or your MS4: who must prepare a C-SWPPP for a site of 2 acres or less. The permit does not say who must prepare a C-SWPPP for a non-LCP site of 2 acres or less. SCDES's Construction Activities page says only "In most cases, South Carolina regulations require that the SWPPP be prepared by a South Carolina Licensed Professional Engineer, Tier B Land Surveyor, or Landscape Architect." (Step 3, https://des.sc.gov/programs/bureau-water/stormwater/stormwater-construction-activities). Your MS4 may have its own rule.

But the state regulation and another SCDES page point the other way for small sites:

  • SC Reg 72-305.B(1): "For land disturbing activities involving two (2) acres or less of actual land disturbance which are not part of a larger common plan of development or sale, the person responsible for the land disturbing activity shall submit a simplified stormwater management and sediment control plan meeting the requirements of R.72-307H. This plan does not require approval by the implementing agency and does not require preparation or certification by the designers specified in R.72-305H and R.72-305I." (Reg 72-305.B(1), PDF p.14, https://des.sc.gov/sites/des/files/Library/Regulations/R.72-300_72-316.pdf.)
  • SCDES "1 to 2 Acres of Land Disturbance" page: "Unless the project is in the Coastal Zone and within 0.5 miles from a coastal receiving water, the simplified SWPPP is not required to be completed by a qualified individual specified in the NPDES Construction General Permit." (https://des.sc.gov/programs/bureau-water/stormwater/stormwater-construction-activities/1-2-acres-land-disturbance, checked Oct 20, 2026.)

There is also a conflict on approval. The permit says the C-SWPPP must be "approved by SCDES, a regulated MS4, or an entity delegated under Regulation 72-300 before construction activities may commence" (§3.1.5.A, p.26). Reg 72-305.B(1) says the small-site plan "does not require approval by the implementing agency". How these fit together for small sites is not stated. Your MS4 may also have its own rule.

4. What goes in the plan (CGP §3.2, pp.29–50)

Section 3.2 is long. In short, the C-SWPPP covers:

TopicKey permit line (verbatim)Where
Waters and wetlands"The C-SWPPP must identify and delineate all Waters of the State (WoS), including wetlands, located within the disturbed area and/or the total area associated with the construction site."§3.2.4.A, pp.31–32
Buffers next to Waters of the U.S.Applies "when Waters of the U.S. are located on or immediately adjacent to the construction site" (§3.2.4.C.I, p.32). Standard: "Provide and maintain, at a minimum, a 30-foot undisturbed buffer zone during construction." Sensitive Waters: "Provide and maintain, at a minimum, a 45-foot undisturbed buffer during construction where the Waters of the U.S. are classified as Sensitive Waters as defined by this permit." The permit also allows other approaches: "the C-SWPPP must implement an applicable Buffer Zone Management practice through one of the following methods:" (Methods A–C).§3.2.4.C.I(a), p.32; §3.2.4.C.I(b), pp.32–33; §3.2.4.C.II, p.33
Pollution sources"The C-SWPPP must identify potential sources of pollution, including sediment and fertilizers, which are likely to affect the quality of stormwater discharges from the construction site."§3.2.5.A, p.35
BMPs"The C-SWPPP must include a Best Management Practices (BMPs) section that accurately and descriptively addresses the use, installation, maintenance and inspection for each of the following types of pollution control measures"§3.2.6.A, pp.35–36
Maps (larger sites)"The following information is required for sites 2 acres and greater or sites that are part of an LCP that disturb 2 acres or more collectively." Required maps: topographic, soils, floodway, and vicinity maps, plus pre- and post-development drainage maps.§3.2.7.A, p.41
Maps (small sites)"For sites that are less than 2 acres and not part of an LCP the following maps and details are required:" A site location drawing, the site boundary, a topo map if the agency requires one, and the locations of control measures.§3.2.7.B, p.42
Engineering report"the Comprehensive SWPPP must include a detailed Engineering Report" (curve numbers and other calculations)§3.2.8.A, p.42
Site plans"The Limits of Disturbed (LOD) area must be outlined on all plan sheets."§3.2.9.A.I, p.44
Phasing (over 5 acres)"For non-linear construction sites disturbing more than 5 acres, the Construction Site Plans must include a phased stormwater management plan."§3.2.9.B, p.44
Non-stormwater discharges"The C-SWPPP must identify all allowable sources of non-stormwater discharges listed in Section 1.3.2 of this permit"§3.2.11.A, p.49
Impaired waters / TMDLs"For construction sites with stormwater discharges to a receiving water that is identified as being impaired or has an EPA established or approved TMDL the following requirements must be addressed by the C-SWPPP."§3.2.12, p.49

Stabilization rule the plan has to reflect:

"Permittees must initiate stabilization measures immediately whenever any clearing, grading, excavating or other earth disturbing activities have permanently ceased on any portion of the site, or temporarily ceased on any portion of the site and will not resume for a period exceeding 14 calendar days."
Source: CGP §3.2.10.B, p.48.

Discharges the plan must prevent include:

"Wastewater from washout of concrete, unless managed by an appropriate control;"
Source: CGP §3.2.10.E.I, p.49.

Design should follow the SCDES BMP Handbook:

"at a minimum should be consistent with the requirements and recommendations contained in the current edition of the SC DES Stormwater BMP Handbook, or an acceptable MS4, or local agency, handbook."
Source: CGP §3.2.6.B, p.40.

Note on the 2.0-acre line for maps. The map rule uses "2 acres and greater" (§3.2.7.A), while the preparer rule uses "more than 2 acres" (§3.1.2.B). So a site of exactly 2.0 acres falls into different groups depending on the rule. This is part of the same open question as section 3.

5. What the On-Site SWPPP must also hold

The OS-SWPPP is the C-SWPPP without the engineering report:

"The contents of the On-Site SWPPP include all items required for the review and approval of the C-SWPPP under Section 3.2 except for the following: (a). Engineering Reports."
Source: CGP §3.1.1.H.IV, p.24.

It must add these items (CGP §3.1.1.H.V, pp.24–25):

The logs "may include, but are not limited to: (i) a pre-construction conference log, (ii) an inspection log, (iii) a stabilization log, (iv) a rain log, (v) a contractor log" (§3.1.1.H.V(h), p.25).

6. Keeping it on site

"A copy of the OS-SWPPP, including all related documents, as defined by Section 3.1.1.H, must be retained at the construction site during construction activities from the date of commencement of construction activities to the date that final stabilization is reached."
Source: CGP §3.1.6.A, p.26.

If it can't stay on site, post where it is kept. Copies must be "available within thirty (30) minutes upon request" (§3.1.6.B, p.26).

7. Changing the plan

"Revisions to each SWPPP must be completed within seven (7) calendar days following the inspection."
Source: CGP §3.1.7.B, p.27 (applies when an inspection finds problems that need new or changed BMPs).

Major modifications need review and approval before you make them (CGP §3.1.5.B, p.26; list in §3.1.7.C, pp.27–28). Examples:

Minor modifications can be made without approval but must be recorded in the OS-SWPPP:

"Minor Modifications, as referenced in Section 3.1.7.D of this permit, may be made to any SWPPP by the Permittee without approval. However, these modifications must be recorded in the On-Site SWPPP"
Source: CGP §3.1.5.C, p.26.

8. Permanent ponds: maintenance agreement and plan

If the project has permanent stormwater structures (for example a detention pond):

"The Department requires inclusion of a Permanent Stormwater Management Maintenance Agreement and a Maintenance Plan to ensure proper operation."
Source: CGP §4.3.B, p.56.

The agreement must be a "Signed notarized agreement from the responsible party(ies) or individual(s) accepting ownership and maintenance of each permanent stormwater control device/structure" (§4.3.C.I, p.56). SCDES publishes a template (§4.3.C.II, p.56): SCDES permanent stormwater maintenance agreement template (PDF).

9. Projects that already had coverage under the old permit

"All SWPPPs associated with coverage approvals under the previous CGP, where coverage has not been terminated, will have to be updated in accordance with the 2026 CGP"
Source: CGP §3.1.1.F, p.23.

10. Related state regulation

Reg 72-307.B(1) says plans must include an inspection schedule (see the weekly-inspection guide for how this compares with the permit):

"Procedures in a stormwater and sediment management plan shall provide that all sediment and erosion controls are inspected at least once every seven calendar days and after any storm event of greater than 0.5 inches of precipitation during any 24-hour period."
Source: SC Reg 72-307.B(1), PDF p.18, https://des.sc.gov/sites/des/files/Library/Regulations/R.72-300_72-316.pdf. The copy re-downloaded Oct 20, 2026 matched our earlier copy.

Sources used