Rules & Permitting

The Comfort Lake – Forest Lake Watershed District (CLFLWD) Board of Managers adopted new Rules on Thursday, December 18, 2008 at the monthly Board meeting.  The adoption of the new rules follows a year-and-a-half of planning and rulemaking that included seven joint meetings with the District’s Technical Advisory Committee (with representatives from State agencies, Chisago and Washington counties, Metropolitan Council, and the Cities of Chisago City, Forest Lake, Scandia, Wyoming and the recently annexed Wyoming Township) and Citizen Advisory Committee.

The District will implement its rules in part through a permitting program for new and re-development.  The new rules clarify the requirements of the District's permit program regarding stormwater management, erosion control, buffers, shoreline and streambank alteration, stream and lake crossings, and floodplain alterations.  The rules also include procedural requirement and include regulations on exceptions and variance.

Also included in the District’s new regulatory and permitting program is the establishment of a permit fee and field inspection fee deposit schedule.  The intent of the fee requirement is to reimburse the District’s administrative, inspection, and enforcement expenses as provided for by Minnesota Statutes (Minn. Stat. 103D.345, subd. 2). 

Pursuant to the Board's action, the rules are effective as of February 1, 2009, and apply to any activity subject to the rules occurring on or after February 1, 2009, unless before that date the activity received:

1. final written comments from the District in its development review capacity as exercised before adoption of these rules;
2. preliminary plat approval from the local land use authority; or
3. if not subject to plat approval, all local grading, building and other land alteration permits required for the activity

RULES & REGULATORY MATERIAL

• District Rules
• Resolution Adopting Rules
• District Bylaws
• Permit Guidance and Information Handbook is meant to assist those who will require a CLFLWD permit, the District has developed a Permit Guidance and Information Handbook.  The handbook describes the District's permitting requirements and procedures, and includes forms, checklists, and a copy of the permit application.
• When is a CLFLWD Permit Needed? Cheatsheet

PERMITTING MATERIAL

• Permit Application
• Notice of Site Inspection Agreement Form
• Request for Variance and Statement of Hardship Form
• Stormwater Volume Management Standard Checklist
• Stormwater Volume Reduction Credit Banking Application Form
• Stormwater Maintenance Agreement Template
• Stormwater Maintenance Declaration Template
• Field Inspection, and Financial Assurance Fee Schedules
• Resolution Adopting Permit, Field Inspection, and Financial Assurance Fee Schedule
• Stormwater Impact Fund Fee Schedule
• Resolution Adopting Stormwater Facilities Fund Policy
• Financial Assurance Documents
  • Letter of Credit Form
  • Performance Bond Form

OTHER MATERIALS OF ASSISTANCE

• Minnesota Stormwater Manual
• Minnesota Urban Small Sites BMP Manual
• BMP Assessment Manual
• Hydrologic Bioretention Performance and Design Criteria for Cold Climates
• Methods for Restoring Soil Permeability

If you have questions or need further information please contact CLFLWD Administrator Randy Anhorn at randy.anhorn@clflwd.org or 651.209.9753.