Permits

Permits & Rules

The PLSLWD is developing rapidly. While this development brings many positive benefits and opportunities to the area, if not handled carefully it can create problems with water resources. Development and other land-altering activities can affect the amount of runoff in the District (both rate and volume) and degrade the quality of that runoff. If left unmanaged, runoff stresses our streams, ages our lakes, and degrades and eliminates our wetlands.

PLSLWD Rules

To address these concerns, the District developed rules to protect public health, welfare and natural resources by regulating the improvement or alteration of land and waters within the District. The rules are designed to accomplish the following goals:

reduce the severity and frequency of high water,
preserve floodplain and wetland storage capacity,
improve the chemical and physical quality of surface waters,
reduce sedimentation,
preserve the hydrologic and navigational capacities of water bodies,
promote and preserve natural infiltration areas, and
preserve natural shoreline features.

All land disturbing activities, whether or not they require a permit, are to be undertaken in compliance with the standards and criteria of these rules and with best management practices.

PLSLWD Buffer Sign

Permitting Program

The District implements its rules in part through a permitting program for new and re-development. A permit is required for all land-disturbing activities within the District that will disturb more than 10,000 square feet of land in shoreland protection zones (i.e. near a lake, wetland or the outlet channel of Prior Lake), or one acre of land elsewhere. PLSLWD has agreements in place with the Cities of Prior Lake and Savage to carry out permitting issuance and inspection activities. If you live within one of these cities please contact their engineering or water resources departments for more information on permit requirements. Those who do not live within the city limits or will be effecting District land or easements are still required to be permitted through the PLSLWD.

To assist those who still require a PLSLWD permit, the District has developed a Permit Information & Rules handbook [2.2 MB]. The handbook describes the District's permitting requirements and includes forms, checklists, and a copy of the permit application.

For more information about the District's permitting program, including application deadlines, contact the District office at 952-447-4166.

In addition to local municipality permits, a construction stormwater permit from the MPCA may also be required before construction begins.

Additional Contacts and Resources

City of Prior Lake	http://www.cityofpriorlake.com
Engineering Dept	http://www.cityofpriorlake.com/engineering_permits.shtml
Water Resources Dept	http://www.cityofpriorlake.com/WaterResources.shtml
City of Savage	http://www.cityofsavage.com
Engineering Dept	http://www.cityofsavage.com
Water Resources Dept	http://www.cityofsavage.com/water-resources
City of Shakopee	http://www.ci.shakopee.mn.us
Engineering Dept	http://www.ci.shakopee.mn.us/engineering.cfm
Spring Lake Township	http://www.springlaketownship.com
Scott County	http://www.co.scott.mn.us
MPCA Construction Stormwater Permit	http://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/stormwater/stormwater-c.html
Site Design Resources and BMPs
Urban Small Sites BMP Manual	http://www.metrocouncil.org/environment/Watershed/BMP/manual.htm
MPCA Protecting Water in Urban Areas Manual	http://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/pubs/sw-bmpmanual.html
Center for Watershed Protection Stormwater Practices for Cold Climates	http://www.stormwatercenter.net/Cold%20Climates/cold-climates.htm
International Storm-water Best Management Practices Database	http://www.bmpdatabase.org/
MPCA - Plants for Stormwater Design	http://www.pca.state.mn.us/publications/manuals/stormwaterplants.html