Permits
PLAN AHEAD! Permits are only considered on the 4th Wed. of each month in accordance with the schedule and application deadlines as outlined below in the Permit Schedule section of this webpage - no exceptions!
When is a Permit Required?
A permit is required if any of the following apply to your proposed project. Some of these characteristics are not readily apparent or identifiable by applicants, so please submit your plans to the District for a determination as to whether or not a permit is required. Staff list.
- Your plans include a parcel greater than five acres for a single-family residential development
- Your plans include a parcel greater than 1 acre for industrial, commercial, or multi-family residential land development
- The proposed activity (of any size) is located within a 100-year floodplain
- The proposed activity (of any size) is located within 1,000 feet of a DNR protected public water or wetland
- The proposed activity (of any size) is located within 300 feet of a creek, county or judicial ditch, or a tributary to Rice Creek
- The site contains wetlands or seasonally wet areas
- The project may affect a wetland (filling, excavation, drainage)
- The proposed activity involves altering or manipulating an existing public or private drainage system (open or tiled)
- The project involves constructing or installing a new drainage system
- The project involves installing or repairing a bridge or culvert involving creeks, ditches, wetlands, or lakes
- The project involves constructing or altering land in a designated shoreland zone
- The project involves utilizing water (appropriation) from a public water basin, public wetland, or protected watercourse (see Rule J for specific thresholds).
Permit Submittal Requirements
For Small Projects (single-family home construction, pole barn/garage construction, home additions, driveway construction, minor land alterations) click here Permit Information Sheet for Small Projects(pdf)
- Checklist of Permit Submittal Requirements
- Minimum Requirements for Permit Applications to be brought to the RCWD Board (pdf)
Permit Schedule & Processing Time
Permit Fees
- See fee schedule on the Permit Application Form (Forms)
Administrative Requirements (sureties, easements, legal forms)
Permit Forms for Applicants
With the exception of the Permit Application Form and the infiltration worksheet, the following forms are not required to be completed in order to initiate a permit application. However, one or more may be required prior to issuance of a permit. The District will identify for you the appropriate forms needed based on the initial review of your application. The Permit Assignment and Certificate of Permit Completion forms are to be utilized after a permit has been issued as needed.
- Permit Application Form - Instructions
- Permit Assignment Form (pdf)
- Certificate of Permit Completion (pdf)
- Drainage and Flowage Easement Template (doc)
- Ditch Easement Template (doc)
- Infiltration Worksheet and Guidance (pdf)
- Letter of Credit Template(doc)
- Performance Bond Form Template(doc)
- Stormwater Operation & Maintenance Agreement Template(doc)
- Public Entity Maintenance Agreement (doc) This form is to be used only by public entities.
- Declaration for Maintenance of Stormwater Management Facilities, Fertilizer Application & Snow Storage Areas (doc) This form is to be used only if your project is located in the special rule areas (Rule RMP-1, Rule M) of Blaine. * WCA Deed Forms Instructions (doc)
- Rule M and Rule RMP 1 Easement Form (doc) This form is to be used only if your project is located in the special rule areas (Rule RMP-1, Rule M) of Blaine.
Many of the above-listed items are pdf documents and can be viewed using the freely available Acrobat Reader software.
Guidance & Reference Documents
- Wetland Conservation Act Processing in the RCWD(pdf)
- RCWD Wetland Replacement Requirements (pdf)
- RCWD Wetland De minimus Exemption Amounts (pdf)
- RCWD Wetland Delineation Submittal Requirements(pdf) (Please see Permit Submittal Requirements near the top of this page for a more comprehensive listing of all possible permit submittal requirements)
- Wetland Bank Listing
- Wetland Boundary Signage (doc)
- Wildlife Pond Guidance (pdf)
- FSA Wetland Mapping Conventions
- RCWD Lake Information
- RCWD Best Management Practices
